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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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Here’s a peek at the Abarth 500 and Abarth Grande Punto models presented at the Abarth Race Day, which was held earlier this month. Other special and historic models which were also present included the 595 and 695 Essesse, 850 and 1000 TC, 124 Abarth Sport Spider, Ritmo Abarth and Autobianchi A112 Abarth.

Participants had the opportunity to see the finals of the Abarth Selenia trophy, with its Abarth 500 Assetto Corse models, and take a couple of turns around the track, meeting official drivers like European champion Giandomenico Basso, Luca Rossetti and Umberto Scandola. Check out the Abarth tuned models in the gallery.

Source | Autoblog.it

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After the launch of the new Fiat Punto Evo, the Abarth Grande Punto also gets an update. Housed in a new look Abarth Punto will be the 1.4-litre Turbo MultiAir engine with 170 hp, soon to debut on the Alfa MiTo Quadrifoglio Verde (or Alfa MiTo clover leaf).

This would suggest that the future version of the Abarth Punto Evo EsseEsse could reach 200 hp, but it also indicates that we may soon see an Abarth with dual-clutch technology. The new Alfa MiTo will feature the new c635 six-speed transmision, built in Italy and having also dry dual-clutch technology. It will appear on the MiTo, future Alfa Milano and probably many other vehicles of the Fiat group. So fingers crossed that we will see an Abarth Grande Punto Evo with this technology - it would be car to test drive!

Source | Autoblog.it

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The Fiat Grande Punto becomes Punto Evo and we should also see an Abarth Punto Evo version in the future. This rendering shows it with a Fiat 500 look to the front of the car and new air intakes. The rear probably needs a little revision, with the plastic inserts a bit out of place, but overall this take on the Abarth Punto Evo from Infomotori is not bad at all, and could be quite similar to the final version.

The interior should also get a reworking from the Centro Stile Fiat, or Fiat Style Centre, to adopt an aggressive sports look so typical of Abarth style. The engine to be used will be the new Multiair unit with a turbocharged 170 hp, while the SS version will take that figure to 200. The Abarth Punto Evo will be presented sometime in 2010.

Source | Infomotori

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