ROAD TEST
ABARTH 500
Following on from the success of the Abarth Grande Punto, the Fiat Group has launched the Abarth 500.
The popular city car has been revamped as the Abarth engineers have got their hands on the 500. The model is one for the driving enthusiasts – Abarth claims that this car is so good that it has the driving dynamics of a bigger performance car.
LOOKS
It definitely looks the part in the classic white colour and the red is also just as good looking. The Abarth boffins have given the 500 a longer body and the car has also been lowered when compared to the regular 500. Alterations compared with the regular 500 include adding sporty side skirts, a much larger roof spoiler, and a deep aerodynamic diffuser at the rear.
ON TEST
All versions of the new Abarth 500 feature a zesty 1.4-litre 16v turbocharged engine, which has been designed to be responsive throughout its entire rev range.
The 135bhp Abarth 500’s performance is brilliant, the car has a top speed of 128mph top speed and its no slouch. It will do the zero to 62mph sprint in a time of 7.9 seconds. The car was well balanced and the steering was very accurate making driving a pleasure.
When comparing with the Fiat 500, the Abarth has had the suspension comprehensively re-designed and it is equipped with Torque Transfer Control to improve its poise through corners even more. This was a boon and the car felt glued to the road when ‘pushing on’.
The second car we tried was the Grande Punto Abarth ‘Esseesse’ and boosts engine power to 160bhp using a re-mapped ECU (Electronic Control Unit), it also has a new air filter, as well as uprated brakes and springs along with unique 17-inch wheels.
The £2500 ‘Esseesse’ conversion has to be carried out within 12 months or 20,000km of the car’s first registration and can only be undertaken by Abarth’s skilled network of technicians.
We drove the Abarth 500 up the Gurston Down Hillclimb (near Salisbury in England), a mecca for motorsport fans and both cars were fantastic, you can really feel the difference between the Abarth 500 and the Abarth 500 ‘Esseesse’. The ‘Esseesse’ sprints down the straights and was firmer and held its line around the corners a little tighter.
INTERIOR
On the inside you can see that the car has a sporty feel to it. The one-piece leather-covered sports seats hug the driver and front passenger, and the thick-rimmed flat-bottomed steering wheel looks classy and feels chunky. For the full sporty feeling, Abarth has added a dash-mounted turbo boost gauge and gear shift indicator to help you get the most out of the Abarth 500’s performance.
SAFETY
Abarth claims the 500 is a reassuringly safe car as its based around a Euro NCAP five-star winner, it comes with seven airbags and a host of electronic safety systems.
The car features a robust braking system features ABS anti-lock braking with EBD (Electronic Brake Distribution) and HBA (Hydraulic Brake Assistance) to ensure maximum stopping power when required. There’s also an ESP (Electronic Stability Program) to ensure control is maintained at all times, while Hill Holder makes for stress-free starts on a slope.
Optional equipment includes 17-inch wheels, Abarth leather interior, an electrochromatic anti-dazzle mirror, automatic climate control, and chequered roof stickers. There’s also Blue&Me MAP which employs motor racing technology to help drivers improve their skills at the wheel through telemetry, in addition to offering regular satellite navigation.
So what's this Blue&Me?
The Fiat Group use Blue&Me in a host of its cars. Blue&Me MAP allows drivers with motorsport aspirations to monitor and analyse their skills behind the wheel. Employing know-how acquired from electronics expert Magneti Marelli’s exploits in motor racing, a real-time telemetry screen displays the engine’s RPM, gear selected, and vehicle speed. Should the driver take his car on a lap of a motor racing circuit, such as Brands Hatch or the Nürburgring for example, and if he or she is using one of the motor racing circuits pre-loaded on an SD card, satellite tracking will show the exact position of the car on the race circuit, and its lap time. On a race track that isn’t on the database, a slow lap with the ‘circuit acquisition’ feature in operation will record all relevant details.
This is a brilliant piece of kit and ideal for any 'track day'.
Blue&Me MAP is much more than simply a tool for sporting drivers. Using Bluetooth connectivity, it enables drivers to interact with the in-car audio system and control the satellite navigation safely and without taking their hands off the steering wheel. Navigation instructions appear in the main instrument cluster for enhanced safety. And because this navigation device is portable, drivers can take it with them to use as a map on the move.
PRACTICALITY
The great thing about the Abarth 500 is that theoretically you could use the car as an every day commuter. On the subject of 'greeness' the car emits 155g/km of CO2 nasties - not bad for such a sporty little number and the maker claims that this car will return 43.4mpg on the combined cycle.
AT A GLANCE
| Name/Price: | Abarth 500/From £13,600 |
| Engine/power: | 1.4-litre 16v/135BHP/160bhp |
| Co2 emissions: | 155g/km |
| Official Combined fuel economy: | 43.4mpg |
IMN VERDICT
The Abarth 500 is the second car to wear the revamped Scorpion badge and just like the Abarth Grande Punto, this pocket rocket has impressed just as much. 'Push on' and the Abarth will put a smile on your face, it has great handling, and it is agile and nippy. A brilliantly packaged car for any driving enthusiast.
Simon McBride