Fiat Abarth 500 2012 Review
The Abarth 500 is a tiny car with a big heart. This little (or should it be a bambino?) Italian sports car is guaranteed to please anyone who likes to sit behind the wheel.
In Australia we love our cars hot, so the decision was made to import only the top model Abarth 500 Esseesse (trying to say "SS" with an Italian accent and suddenly "Esseesse" makes sense!).
VALUE
The Australian lineup includes the standard Abarth 500 Esseesse and the Abarth 500C Esseesse convertible, our review car was a closed coupe.
The Abarth 500 comes standard with power side mirrors, climate control air conditioning, power windows, an Interscope audio system with radio, CD and MP3. Much of the audio system control can be handled using the Fiat Blue&Me handsfree to minimize driver inattention.
This model is not only different in appearance: the Abarth 500 has a reinforced suspension, perforated brake discs and stylish 17×7 alloy wheels (huge for such a small car) in a style unique to this model.
TECHNOLOGY
The Abarth 500 Esseesse has a four-cylinder, 1.4-liter turbocharged powertrain located under the front hood and driving the front wheels. It delivers 118 kW of power and 230 Nm of torque. As such, it is completely different from the original 1957 rear-engined Abarth.
Design
It's not just about the way it rides, it's also about the retro styling, which on our sparkling white test car was further enhanced by stylish red side stripes with "Abarth" lettering. The Abarth "scorpion" badge, proudly placed in the center of the grille, and the wheel hubs leave no doubt that this petite machine is something of an outlier when it comes to biting in the tail.
Speaking of the tail, take a look at that big spoiler and huge exhaust tips. The brake calipers and exterior mirrors are also completely painted red.
The lowered suspension is emphasized by a body kit that neatly fills the space between the front and rear wheels and continues with air intakes in the rear bumper. A deeper front spoiler improves aerodynamics and also supplies additional air to the cooling system and engine.
SECURITY
Collision avoidance or minimization features include ABS braking with EBD (Electronic Brakeforce Distribution) and HBA (Hydraulic Brake Assist) for maximum stopping power. There is also ESP (Electronic Stability Program) for maximum control at all times. The Hill Holder provides an easy hill start for riders who prefer not to use the handbrake.
If you still manage to get it wrong, there are seven airbags. The Abarth 500 received a five-star EuroNCAP rating, which is not easy to achieve in such a diminutive package.
DRIVING
Acceleration is heavy, but not in the spirit of a full-fledged sports car like the Subaru WRX that the Abarth is likely to be compared to. Rather, the Italian bambino has enough power that requires the driver to keep the car in the right gear to get the most out of it.
To maximize the driver's contribution, a turbo gauge is installed on the dash when the Sport button is pressed. We enjoyed pushing the little engine to the red and listening to the purposeful sound it made when it was running at full blast. Abarth also included a normal mode for those who feel inclined towards it - I can't say we tried it for long.
We liked how the Abarth's sassy personality came through in the torque pulling the handlebars when the gas pedal was pressed to the floor at low speeds. Abarth engineers installed a system called Torque Transfer Control (TTC) that acts as a kind of limited slip differential to limit understeer and counteract the annoyance of hard driving on rough roads.
The feedback through the steering wheel is excellent, as is how the hot little Italian can control the throttle. It's great driving pleasure and everyone who has driven the Abarth has come back with a smile on their face.
Unless they were driving on rough and prepared Australian back roads, where a smile on a face could turn into a grimace caused by a stiff suspension. This is exacerbated by the short wheelbase of the "baby".
VERDICT
Want to own a Ferrari or a Maserati but are about half a million short of the asking price? Then why not take your own test drive in a much more affordable car from the same Italian sports stable? Or maybe you already have one or two Ferraris in your garage and now you want to buy a toy or two to pamper your kids with?
Fiat Abarth 500 Esses
Price: from $34,990 (mechanical), $500C from $38,990 (auto)
ENGINES: 1.4L turbocharged 118kW/230Nm
Transmission: five-speed manual or five-speed automatic
Acceleration: 7.4 seconds
Thirst: 6.5 l / 100 km
