Here is another official video released by Abarth starring the new 500 for the American market. The futuristic footage shows us in a Matrix sort-of way what it is that Abarth does to the regular little Fiat city-car to turn it into a track-hungry mischievous kid.

The American version of Abarth 500 was unveiled just a few days ago at the Los Angeles Auto Show but Abarth has announced four new models that will soon be available for the European public: 595 Turismo, 595 Competizione, 695 Assetto Corse and Punto Scorpione. The whole lot will be introduced at the upcoming Bologna Motor Show.

View the full Fiat 500 Abarth USA photo gallery

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Fiat released the first promotional videoclip for the 500 Abarth, which has been introduced these days to the American public at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The footage begins with a nice lady trying to seduce a passer-by talking in Italian and then.. well, you will see it for yourself.

The American Abarth version of the 500 is equipped with a turbocharged 1.4 litre Mutiair engine delivering 160 hp and 230 Nm of torque, and is expeceted to become available in Fiat showrooms in the first quarter of 2012, although no official dates have been announced yet.

View the full Fiat Abarth 500 USA photo gallery

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The US version of Fiat 500 Abarth is about to get introduced to the North American markets at the imminent Los Angeles Auto Show. As previously reported, the model will be very similar to the European version, although it will use slightly modified braking system and suspension, a different exhaust and a different aerodynamic kit. The car on display in L.A. will be equipped with a turbocharged 1.4 litre Mutiair engine delivering 160 hp and 230 Nm of peak torque.

The MacPherson scheme of the front suspension has been optimized with 40% stiffer springs and a 15mm lower ride height, while on the rear there is the suspension of the 500 Sport model, just 20% stiffer. FSD Koni’s dual-valve frequency selective damping shocks allow for plenty of adjustability for improved comfort and smoothness as well as driving performance. red calipers are coupled with 282 mm front and 242 mm rear ventilated discs on the front . The Abarth version of the 500 comes with standard 16″ wheels, but 17″ rollers will also be available upon request.

In the cabin there are specifically designed performance seats with racing harness pass-throughs and accent stitching throughout, aluminum pedal covers, black leather steering wheel and shift knob with red accent stitching. Tech-lovers can opt for the TomTom navigation with Blue&Me hands-free, all bundled into a 4.3-inch touchscreen display.

View the full Abarth 500 USA photo gallery

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Fiat released a 23 seconds long video-teaser starring the 500 Abarth in view of its imminent unveiling at the Los Angeles Auto Show (November 18-27). The main goal of this clip is obviously to build up the suspense just days ahead of the official presentation, but still it offers a few revealing glimpses of the upcoming model. However, we need to wait just another couple of weeks to see the final product with the due calm.

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Abarth will officially introduce their version of the Fiat 500 for the North American countries at the next Los Angeles Auto Show (November 18-27). The well-known Fiat’s subsidiary - whose badge graces the most sporty models from the Turin-based carmaker - will present its own standard and “esseesse” 500s, both powered by MultiAir 1.4-litre turbo engine. Just like in Europe, the main distinguishing features from the standard Fiat 500 will be upgraded braking system and suspension and the aerodynamic kit. Besides, the car will also use a bigger front bumper in order to abide by the local safety regulations.

Abarth’s standard 500 engine delivers 135 hp whereas the “esseesse” configuration produces up to 165hp. No further details have been released in regard to prices and availability, they will tell us about that in LA.

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The Fiat 500 has done well for itself so far in America (or not?), but the US Abarth 500 is on its way to show just what the little rocket can do when tuned by the scorpion badge. The US Abarth 500 will debut at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show in November, and will be a number one competitor to the Mini Cooper on that market. How much room for compact sports models there is in America is anyone’s guess, but apparently the US-spec Abarth 500 will get a more powerful 175-hp 1.4-litre turbo Multiair engine than its European cousin can boast. And that should give it some extra appeal. Here’s to seeing where Fiat can take this little bomb, too.

Source | Autoblog.com

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Stay with us on the making a tribute line here as we say that Italian SACS boat builder has made this tribute to the Abarth 695 which was a tribute to Ferrari in the first place. Got it? After previous collaborations with Lancia and Abarth, SACS has created this “Abarth 695 Tribute Ferrari” dinghy which doesn’t come with any technical details at this stage.

What we do get is talk of the style of the new boat, which comes in various colours, featuring Abarth tribute badges, carbon-look panels and red stitching. Only 199 of these will be made and if it happens to be equipped with any one of the three 350-hp V8 outboards that SACS fitted to its previous Abarth effort, it could sell well.

Source | Autoblog.com

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In an interview with Dan Garcia, Abarth Spain marketing manager, and Spanish autoblog, a project to develop a central-engined Abarth Spider has been revealed. The scorpion-badged spider would be based on the Alfa Romeo 4C and would reach international markets between 2013 and 2014.

More surprising news is that we could also see a Maserati model developed, meaning the Italian brand would also get a centrally-engined model to compete with the likes of the Porsche Cayman and the Lotus Evora. With just a hint of rivalry, Garcia says that the Alfa 4C Concept project was originally under the direction of Abarth.

We’re not sure whether we’re more excited about the Abarth or the Maserati model, although the two will clearly have a different image, market position and price. Hopefully there will be more information to come.

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With the revival in retro cars (and non), the World Rally Championship is looking healthier these days, with more competitors meaning more interest and excitement. After Citroen has been using its DS range to dominate Ford, Mini turned up with its new Countryman SUV and Volkswagen will be on board next year with its Polo WRC model.

Rumours now say that Fiat’s Abarth performance division could join the fray with an Abarth Punto model done up especially to get dirty. Abarth should be no stranger to rallying, participating in national championships with the Punto S2000 and in the IRC with the 500 R3TAbarth.

But we could now get a specific Abarth Punto WRC ready for 2013 or 2014 rallying. It would be chosen over the 500 model given that the S2000 is said to be close to WRC specifications as it is. We’d be only too happy to see the Scorpion brand contribute to a new heyday in WRC, but official confirmation is still pending.

Source | La Picadura del Escorpion via Autoblog

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This Abarth-based concept seen live at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show is a design work from students at Turin’s IED institute. The model has been called Scorp-Ion and is part of a project by seven students enrolled in a Master of Arts in Transportation Design. It is a two-seater coupé model 401 cm long, 109 cm wide and 119 cm tall.

With a wheel base of 235 cm, the Scorp-Ion uses four electric motors per wheel driven by lithium ion batteries. They have been strategically placed behind the seats and under the car floor to keep the centre of gravity as low as possible. The Abarth Scorp-Ion project was supervised by Luca Borgogno, Senior Designer for Pininfarina, and Luigi Giampaolo, designer for Maserati.

IED Abarth Scorp-Ion live at 2011 Geneva Motor Show

Continue reading: Car designers of the future: IED Abarth Scorp-Ion live at Geneva

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The stand-alone twin-seater Abarth roadster model being developed could have its own platform, according to reports, and won’t use a borrowed Lotus or KTM chassis. The model should be an exclusively developed Abarth model as the brand pushes beyond just its Fiat tuning activities and could be a completely new engineering project.

While similarities with a model like the Lotus Elise are expected - namely a mid-engined vehicle with a fixed rear window and lift-out roof panel - reports that Abarth would purchase a Lotus or KTM platform have been denied. Abarth is choosing to work on the model independently, with design and development occuring in-house in a move intended reflect Abarth models of the 1960’s.

While Abarth is developing its own tubular space frame for the car, it’s likely that the new roadster will be equipped with a Fiat engine, possibly the 1.4 Multiair turbo with 170 hp. There’s still no guarantee that Abarth roadster will see production as the green light has not been given by Sergio Marchionne, but if it were to go ahead we could be looking at something quite economical, at about 30,000 euros.

Source | Autocar and Autoblog.it

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Before Alfa fans get carried away with the news that Abarth will start producing performance kits for some Alfa Romeo models, we’d like to first know exactly what models will be tuned. The news broke on Autocar and would have fulfilled a dream for Alfa fans that we’ve already discussed here on Eurocar: the need for Alfa to be the flag-bearer of Fiat sports style, perhaps with some help from Abarth along the way.

However the announcement from Antonino Labate (Abarth sales and marketing) that the Alfa MiTo won’t be getting an Abarth version may put a dampener on things. While the motive makes sense - the MiTo already has its own Quadrifoglio version - it’s a reason that might be carried across to other models, including the new Alfa Giulietta which also has a cloverleaf version. Overall the decision to make performance kits for Alfa has emerged from the union of the Alfa, Maserati and Abarth brands in a sports division within the Fiat group.

But the exclusion of the two latest models begs the question as to exactly which Alfa models Abarth is planning to tune. The guys from WorldCarFans are hailing the possibility of Abarth Brera and Spider models, while the new Alfa Giulia, replacement to the 159 which could appear in 2012, may also get its own Abarth version.

Otherwise the news might not quite satisfy Alfa fans who were hoping for a renaissance of the racing and sports image of the historic Italian brand which this year celebrates its 100th anniversary. See our previous Abarth posts for a look at the new Abarth Punto Evo and Abarth 500C out this year.

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