We hate to say it but the Romeo Ferraris Abarth 500C above looks like a giant coca cola Fiat 500. At least, that’s out cynical take, but in any case this is one highly spec’d Abarth 500C with a classic glamour design from Romeo Ferraris. It has been created to celebrate the design firm’s 52nd anniversary and features two-tone, high gloss chrome paint work in the same colours as the firm: red and silver.

Abarth has occupied itself with the performance end of things, remapping the engine, providing a larger turbine and brand new exhaust system which can take power from 140 to 203 hp. Other features are a new suspension system, Brembo brakes with 280 mm discs, new differential and 8×17″ alloy wheels. The interior has Romeo Ferraris design with black leather seats, featured stitching and red chrome trim.

Romeo Ferraris Abarth 500C Anniversary Edition

Continue reading: Romeo Ferraris Abarth 500C anniversary edition

A new Abarth 500C “Esseesse” edition will be revealed at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. The model will have the added performance of the ‘SS’ kit, improved handling and better safety. The new Abarth 500C will be presented at the show in the newly introduced Grigio Campovolo and Grigio Pista colours, with white chrome trim. Additional features of the new Esseesse family member will be a “Record Monza” exhaust system with dual mode, Blue&Me satellite navigator and a new five-speed gearbox from the second quarter of this year.

Also at Geneva will be the new Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari with Blue Abu Dhabi and Grigio Titanio livery, designed to celebrate the success of the special edition model of the same name. The 695 Tributo Ferrari went on sale in July in 2010 and has sold 1,000 units since then, with half of those going to the UK, French, German and Japanese markets. The 500 model has provided Abarth with huge success. About 1,800 Abarth 500C models have been sold since mid-2010, adding to another 1,400 Abarth Punto Evo models.

Okay, so the new Fiat 500 has become a retro icon, and that this particular version is an Abarth 500C designed by Fenice Milano, but is it really worth making this model at a cost of 500,000 euros? The Abarth 500C by Fenice Milano called “La Dolce Vita Gold and Diamonds 200 hp” has exactly what its name suggests.

The white pearl paint job contrasts with the 24 carat gold accessories, and there are a few diamonds sprinkled around the rear vision mirrors and of course, the iPad console. Other features include teak inserts in the floor, alcantara seats and black roof cover. On the technical front, work from Romeo Ferraris includes 200 hp, sports suspension, custom exhaust and Brembo brakes. Despite the economic downturn, some people still just don’t know what to do with their money….

Abarth 500C Dolce Vita Fenice Milano

Continue reading: Abarth 500C by Fenice Milano costs 500,000 euros

We’ve been waiting to see all the pics of the new Abarth 500C and the Abarth Punto Evo and finally they’re here. The two tuned Fiat models have had their official presentation this week, and while we new most of the details already, it’s nice to see some more images of the cars.

The Abarth Punto Evo is equipped with the new 1.4 Multiair engine with 165 hp. It has torque of 250 Nm at a maximum of 2,250 rpm and can hit 100 km/hr in 7.9 seconds. It has a new ‘manettino’ function in front of the gear shift, that switches between Sport and Normal modes: controlling the steering, suspension and braking modes.

The Abarth Punto also has TTC (Torque Transfer Control: which automatically switches on in sports mode), ESP and seven airbags. It has Brembo brakes and McPherson suspension. It consumes an average of six litres of fuel per 100 km and produces 142 g/km of CO2 emissions. More details on the Abarth 500C after the jump.

Abarth 500C and Abarth Punto Evo

Continue reading: Abarth 500C and Abarth Punto Evo: full galleries

These live pics of the Abarth Punto Evo and the Abarth 500C come from their press debut and our colleagues over at Autoblog.it. We’ll be presenting their test drive, soon, as well, as they get to take the hot hatch and tuned cabrio for a track spin. The Abarth Punto Evo has a 1.4 Multiair engine with 165 hp and 250 Nm of torque in total. The Abarth 500C is equipped with the Fiat 1.4 Multijet engine with 140 hp. Not that we’re jealous or anything, but we think our colleagues will be having some fun…

Abarth Punto Evo and 500C live pics

Continue reading: Abarth Punto Evo and 500C live pics

Abarth has released pricing for the local Italian market before its open day at dealerships this weekend. The Abarth 500C starts at 21,000 euros for a standard version, or 22,700 euros if you want a twin colour body. It’s equipped with the 1.4 T-Jet with 140 hp and has six-speed electro-hydraulic transmission with paddle shift (which will also be available on the Abarth 500 from 2011). The 500C SS kit will also be available by the end of the year with new suspension, alloy wheels, dedicated disc brakes and some software updates to the engine. The Abarth 500C SS will have about 165 hp, maximum.

If the idea of rocketing around in something that small with that much power makes you a bit nervous, you could try the Abarth Punto Evo with the 1.4 Multiair engine. It costs about 19,400 euros and you get more bang for your buck with 165 hp, 250 Nm and an acceleration time to 100 km/hr in 7.9 seconds. For a tuned car, the Abarth Punto is not bad on fuel consumption with about 8.1 litres for 100 km. It gets a DNA switch to choose between Sport and Normal driving options, too.

2010 Abarth Punto Evo

Source | Autoblog.it

The Abarth Punto Evo and Abarth 500C were the only models occupying the Abarth stand at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, but we think the Punto Evo and the SS certainly make up for the lack of anything else. The Punto Evo is equipped with the 1.4-litre Multiair ’standard’ engine with 165 hp, while the Abarth Punto SS model has 180 hp and more aggressive styling, including 18-inch alloy wheels and brake cooling outlets. The Abarth Punto Evo also debuts with new “manettino” feature in front of the gear stick, which manages the engine, brakes and steering modes in Sport and Normal.

The Abarth 500C is one very chic, hot little cabrio for your city ride, equipped with the 1.4 T-Jet with 140 hp. It’s on show in a black-white colour combo, which is the only alternative to the grey tint seen in the official Abarth 500C pics. It comes with two transmission options: the ‘Abarth Competizione’ five-speed gearbox, or the MTA electro-automatic with steering wheel paddles. According to the press conference, the Abarth 500C will also get its own SS version, but no further information was available. The Punto Evo and 500C will both be available on sale from May this year.

2010 Abarth Punto Evo live pics Geneva

Continue reading: Abarth Punto Evo and 500C live at Geneva

This week’s 2010 Geneva Motor Show will see the new Abarth Fiat line-up on display with the Abarth 500C and Abarth Punto Evo announced. The Abarth 500C is the first open top version for the tuning company, and will be equipped with the 1.4-litre T-Jet engine with 140 hp and 206 Nm of torque. It comes with either the “Abarth Competizione” transmission with five speeds, or the MTA gearbox with steering wheel paddles.

The Abarth 500C can reach 100 km/hr in 8.1 seconds and has a top speed of 205 km/hr. Fuel consumption is 6.5 litres for every 100 km, while CO2 emissions measure 155 g/km. It has the Torque Transfer Control system (TTC) which manages torque distribution and acts like an autobloc differential.

The Abarth Punto Evo is a strong offering from the company, with the impressive 1.4-litre Multiair featuring with 165 hp and 250 Nm of torque. It has a six-speed manual transmission and reaches 100 km/hr in 7.9 seconds with a top speed of 213 km/hr. With its Start/Stop technology, it complies with Euro 5 norms and consumes six litres of fuel for every 100 km and has CO2 emissions of 142 g/km.

Continue reading: Abarth Punto Evo and 500C: Geneva motor show preview

The Italians are impatient to see what the next Abarth Punto Evo will look like, perhaps something like the rendering above or the Abarth Grande Punto after the jump. It is only a question of when the new Abarth Punto will be presented, as Sergio Marchionne has already confirmed the Abarth models for 2010: the Punto Evo, the 500C and perhaps even a 500 TC.

The Abarth Punto Evo is sure to have the new Multiair engine with 170 hp, meaning in the future the EsseEsse model will have 200 hp. The 500 TC stands for “Turismo Competizione” and was originally the name given to race cars based on street-legal models.

The big question is why Abarth should focus on just two models and get extreme handling out of the A and B segments represented by the Fiat 500 and Fiat Punto Evo. Frustrated with these tuned versions and lack of style, some Italians are asking where Alfa Romeo is in all this. Alfa represents a true, stylish sports brand with plenty of pedigree, and the Italians want to know why Abarth should be the only brand representing Fiat in the world of racing.

Perhaps Sergio Marchionne knows something we don’t about Alfa Romeo and its future, or perhaps we should wait a little longer and see what comes out of the Alfa-Abarth-Maserati mix. Whatever the case, there’s more than one Fiat/Alfa Romeo fan peeved that the 500 and Punto get the tuned treatment when money could be invested seriously in Alfa Romeo sports style, too. As one comment on Autoblog.it reads: “You can’t ever be a passionate fan of cars until you’ve got yourself an Alfa Romeo.”

Source | Autoblog.it and Caradisiac via Autoblog.com

More from our friend Theophilus Chin with this rendering of the Fiat 500 roadster. The Fiat 500 is successfully continuing its evolution, after the standard model was developed into the Abarth 500 and the Fiat 500C. Coming in the future will also be the Abarth 500C, and the much-expected US debut of the Fiat 500 in 2011.

The Fiat 500 in the US will be assembled at Fiat-Chrysler facilities in Mexico, which will also produce the 500 Giardineria, or 500 station wagon version. The Fiat 500 is aiming for further competition with the Mini and the broadening of the range will go blow-for-blow with the new Mini Coupe and Mini Roadster concepts presented at Frankfurt.

Source | Autoblog.it