2012 Abarth 500C Cabrio Italia

Abarth at the 64th Frankfurt International Motor Show

Abarth will be at the 64th Frankfurt International Motor Show with a stunning stand with three major world débuts to underscore - yet again - the brand's unique position on the international motoring stage.
The Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari was the shining star during the last edition in September 2009. The fastest and highest performing road-going 500 ever, arising out of joint venture between Abarth and Ferrari, it was a challenge that Abarth picked up with enormous success. Over the past two years the Giallo Modena, Blu Abu Dhabi and Grigio Titanio versions have been added to the Rosso Corsa livery exhibited in Frankfurt in 2009, for a total of 1,695 vehicles. Since its launch in July 2010 more than 1,300 vehicles have already been delivered, crossing the European borders and reaching as far as Mexico, Quatar, the Arab Emirates, Australia and Japan.





The exhibition of these vehicles confirms the success of the new slogan, 'Abarth, a world of performance since 1949', recently publicized in a multimedia campaign with the usual special emphasis placed on digital media.

Moreover, a premier in the Digital World as well is being presented in Frankfurt: 'Abarth 24h Mobile', the first I-phone application with which the brand intends to reach all its customers and fans in mobility. It is an extremely interactive and easy to use application. It has product features created for Abarth car owners and enthusiasts who can register and take part in all brand events and interact with the official social networks of the brand using the application.
The Frankfurt International Motor Show is also an opportunity to take a look at the two pillars of the Abarth business model: roadgoing cars and the world of racing. During 2011 more than 6,400 cars have already been sold (Abarth 500 saloon and convertible and Abarth Punto). Together with the already mentioned results of the Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari, these figures contribute to confirming the good results the brand has recorded between its relaunch and today. Suffice it to say that since 2008 the brand has enjoyed continual growth, as evidenced by sales of nearly 36,000 Abarth Grande Punto and Abarth 500 vehicles sold, in addition to approximately 9000 performance kits designed for the two models.



The growth in Abarth's sporting activities was also constant in 2011, consolidating the brand's presence both in rallies and on the track, in Italy and throughout Europe. As far as rallies are concerned, the official team with Luca Rossetti and Matteo Chiarcossi is competing with success in the Italian Championship with Abarth Grande Punto S2000 cars, while the Rally version of the Abarth 500 is used in the Abarth 500 Rally Selenia Trophy. Track activities have met with great success. The tried and tested single-make Abarth 500 Selenia Italia and Abarth 500 Selenia Europe trophies, have been joined this year the Scandinavia championship. And at the end of 2011 there will be anticipation for the debut of the 500 Assetto Corse also in Latin America with the Abarth 500 Panam Trophy.

The undertaking of the single-seater Formula Aci-Csai-Abarth cars continues with the intention of allowing young drivers to show their mettle at the wheel of an experience-building single-seater car at an accessible price, with the Italian championship at its second edition and with the debut of the Formula Abarth European Series Selenia championship.

Last but not least, Abarth returns to the Frankfurt International Motor Show with a stunning stand where major world débuts mingle with tried and tested models to underscore - yet again - the brand's unique position on the international motoring stage. The design idea that inspired the space is simplification: the architecture does not use a language to interpret the brand but acts as a foundation to enhance its values. Abarth and its world take centre stage and the brand exhibits itself to the public in all its pureness and simplicity, in its maximum essence. This approach focuses attention on the three new Abarth cars, positioned in an extensive space with three areas of light; a huge LED display representing the central element of the scenery forms an ideal backdrop for the cars. Technical drawings of Abarth engineering are ideally exhibited under a glass floor, visible to all, as used to happen with cars when their rear bonnet lids were partially raised.

Abarth Specialties World Premiere


The three specialties on hand in Frankfurt embody the sportiness, heritage and undisputed racing spirit essence of Abarth.

Abarth 500 'Cabrio Italia'
Sportiness is interpreted with Abarth elegance and style by the first car on display: the Abarth 500 'Cabrio Italia' in a special Blu Abu Dhabi livery - tribute to Italian design in the year of the 150th anniversary of Italian unity - combined with an electrically operated black top and tinted rear windows.

Born with a strong 'Turismo' vocation, it will accompany the 2011 Automotive Giro d'Italia after the world debut in Frankfurt. This is a legendary sporting event that returns after 110 years since the first epic edition to celebrate the 150 year anniversary of Italian Únification, travelling more than 1,500 km, just like the Abarth Limited Edition.

Distinguished by a special chrome '500 Cabrio Italia' plate with satin effect, 150 cars will be produced with a 1.4 Turbo T-Jet engine that delivers an impressive 160 HP (118 kW) and maximum torque of 230 Nm at 3,000 rpm in Sport mode.

The engine is a 1,368 cm3 4 cylinder 16 valve unit (turbocharged with a fixed-geometry IHI turbocharger) that delivers exhilarating performance. Top speed is 211 km/h while acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h takes place in just 7.4 seconds. This is partly achieved by the over boost function, activated by the 'Sport' button that modulates control unit mapping and turbo pressure in addition to load on the steering wheel. Yet this typically Abarth performance comes with very frugal fuel consumption: 6.5 l/100 km over a combined cycle. For the first time combined with the 160 HP engine, the Abarth 500 'Cabrio Italia' also offers a 5-speed manual gearbox that exalts personal driving style through a more direct relationship with the car. In terms of safety, the Abarth 500 'Cabrio Italia' follows the Abarth 500C standards. ( posted on conceptcarz.com)

In addition, as on all the other Abarths, it offers standard the TTC (Torque Transfer Control) device that by improving the transfer of drive torque to the wheels, enhances the car road holding without compromising the fun to drive it. Finally, this new special series is equipped with the 'esseesse' brake system - consisting of perforated self-ventilated front brake discs and fixed four-piston caliper - which makes this car even safer, higher performing and more fun than ever before. This special series is equipped with Xenon headlights with dipped and main beam functions for improved light emission and excellent efficiency under all weather conditions. These elements deliver three times the light intensity and duration of standard halogen lamp headlights.

The 'Abarth Corsa by Sabelt' seats in natural leather with backrest in carbon fibre embellish the new Abarth 500 'Cabrio Italia'. Thanks to this, these seats offer a perfect blend of racing characteristics - light weight (10 kg less than the standard seat) and the ability to restrain the body against lateral and longitudinal forces, thanks to body support strip elements filled with mono-layer padding - with the ergonomics and comfort of road seats. The interior is embellished by pedals and gear lever knob in Alutex aluminium glass fibre material and running board in carbon fibre with dedicated 'Cabrio Italia' graphics. The dashboard is the same Blu Abu Dhabi shade as the body and a chrome plate with the same graphics is housed on the central console with sequential numbering to demonstrate the exclusive Limited Edition version.

Moreover, an Abarth Blue&MeTM MAP satellite navigation unit with a telemetric function developed in conjunction with Magneti Marelli is integrated in the dashboard.

Steering wheel in black leather with double stitching and the mirror covers in the shade of magnesium complete the aesthetic features. The 10-spoke 17' rims with diamond effect, also magnesium in colour, are embellished by the yellow Brembo front callipers.

Source - Abarth