Fueled by Passion
It’s a long-standing tradition that Italian design is driven by passion. That dictum holds true for any industry touched by Italian hands. And so it was with that penchant for passion the FIAT 500 Abarth was born. The performance derivative of the playful yet practical FIAT 500 takes everything you love about the 500, and dials up the style and performance in a way only an Italian automaker can.
It’s no secret subcompact cars aren’t always the most fun to shop for. They can be boring, unimaginative, and a chore to drive. The 2015 FIAT 500 Abarth happily does away with all those concerns and infuses some much-needed drama into the subcompact segment. After all, the Italians don’t have a word for boring.
Powertrains and Performance
The 2015 FIAT Abarth is a spicy little meatball that acquits itself incredibly well on the road. It’s powered by a turbocharged 1.4-liter MultiAir® engine that serves up 160 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque (when equipped with a five-speed manual transmission. You can also relinquish shifting duties to the Abarth’s new-for-2015 six-speed automatic; however doing so drops horsepower to 157 while boosting torque to 183 pound-feet. In truth, it’s not a noticeable enough difference to deter or sway you in either direction. So we simply recommend going with what you’ll feel most comfortable driving on a daily basis.
Whether buzzing around town or hitting your favorite country roads, the 2015 FIAT Abarth is an absolute hoot to drive. Its agile handling and nimble nature deliver a unique driving experience, and one that helps differentiate it from its more conservative counterparts.
Of course, practicality has never been Italian automaker’s strong suit but you wouldn’t know it by looking at the Abarth’s fuel economy figures. Manual transmission Abarth models earn an EPA estimated 30 mpg combined (28 city/34 highway),* while automatic model earn 27 mpg combined (24/32).* Indeed, the Abarth is the type of car that wholeheartedly encourages you to drive and drive hard. Better still, you can do so with confidence knowing you won’t have to pay for it later at the pump.
Features and Trims
The 2015 FIAT Abarth is a sporty hatchback that seats four and starts at $22,495.**
Standard equipment highlights include 16-inch aluminum wheels, bi-functional halogen projector headlamps, high beam daytime running headlamps, and integrated TomTom® Navigation with BLUE&ME™. Power door locks and power windows with front one-touch down feature are also standard.
The Abarth can also be outfitted with a number of available packages, including a Comfort and Convenience package, which adds automatic climate control, satellite radio and heated front seats. Audiophiles can also upgrade to a Beats™ Audio package, which adds premium speakers with a trunk-mounted subwoofer and satellite radio.
But that’s not all. Standalone options include 17-inch forged aluminum gloss white wheels, 17-inch forged aluminum hyper black wheels, and a number of other color and interior options to help personalize your Abarth even further.
Design
No matter which angle you view the 500 Abarth from, you know this car is different from anything else. In fact, the FIAT 500 is easily one of the most distinctive designs in recent history, and the Abarth version is only more eye-catching.
Featuring unique body panels nearly everywhere you look, the Abarth is simply more aggressive no matter how you cut it. From the front, a unique bumper directs airflow to the intercoolers that route air from the turbocharger. The design is mimicked on the rear bumper, with dual exhaust tips peeking out underneath an aerodynamic diffuser.
Inside, that same personality reminds driver and passengers this is no normal FIAT. The seating position provided by the unique high-performance bucket seats provide a commanding view, while the design itself lends well to keeping drivers supported during spirited maneuvers. A dash-mounted boost gauge is a fun way to keep track of what your Abarth’s turbo is doing, and once again serves to remind you of the pocket supercar you’re in command of.
Safety
Fun may be a primary focus in the 2015 Abarth but that doesn’t safety takes a back seat. Standard safety features include stability and traction control, antilock disc brakes, hill start assist, a driver knee airbag, front side airbags, side curtain airbags and active front head restraints.
Bottom Line
The 2015 FIAT Abarth is a new breed of subcompact car; one that delivers miles and miles of entertainment. Its energetic yet efficient engine punches well above its weight, while its sharp handling whimsical styling, and signature Italian personality help distinguish from the riff raff littering the segment.
For more information, or to schedule your test drive, contact or visit us at 3Birds Template.
*EPA estimates. Your mileage will vary depeding on driving habits and conditions. Use for comparison purposes only.
**MSRP excludes destination, taxes, title and registration fees. Starting at price refers to the base model, optional equipment not included. A more expensive model may be shown. Pricing and offers may change at any time without notification.
Image: FIAT
