Abarth's revitalization has begun. Its new home at the Mirafiori plant is complete, grouping together its manufacturing; design, and management divisions. Abarth is again its own brand, managed by Abarth & C. S.p.A., 100% of which is owned by Fiat Group Automobiles.

Abarth & C. S.p.A. is in the hands of Chief Executive OFficer Luca De Meo, and covers three areas: Business Operations (Antonio Labate); Engineering and Manufacturing Operations (Paolo Ollino, working with Fiat Group Automobiles' Engineering & Design division led by Harald Wester), and Racing Operations, led by Claudio Berro.

Last but not least, Abarth can rely on the support of Paolo Martinelli, director of Ferrari's Engine Division for Racing Operations until October 2006, and currently head of the Petrol Engine Development Division at Fiat Powertrain Technologies. Martinelli's CV includes designing Ferrari's V10 Formula 1 engines.


Luca De Meo has been clear that Abarth should operate from greater independence from the rest of Fiat, restoring its competition credentials. Abarth is believed to be working on a standalone, 2011 halo model based on the 3^rd-generation (2010) Lotus Elise. Possibly weighing less than 1,000 kilograms, the roadster will a Fiat turbocharged, direct-injection four-cylinder gasoline engine producing roughly 240 horsepower.


Recalling the fondly remembered 112-horsepower Abarth 1000 TC, Abarth in the Summer of 2008 debuts a 135-horsepower (@ 5,500 rpm) version of the Fiat 500, with turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder developing peak torque of between 180 and 206 newton-meters (@ 3,000 rpm), this latter available at the touch of a button, for short blasts. It's good for a 7.9-second 0-62 mph time.

Lower, with (much) stiffer shocks; springs, and stabilizers, the 500 Abarth wears 16-inch wheels shod with 195/45s. Like the MINI Cooper Works, whose price it beats by 10,000 euros, the Abarth features stability control which attempts to emulate a front differential, using individual control upon all four brakes to prevent understeer.

Inside, there's a turbo gauge; aluminum pedals; red leather, and a steering-wheel squared-off at its base, Audi style.

The Esseesse package boosts power to 160 horsepower; the Assetto Corsa option, to 200. These are heady numbers for a car which weighs just 920 kilograms.


Abarth's scorpion badge makes a comeback at Geneva 2007, on the Fiat Grande Punto, giving Fiat's B-segment car a turbocharged 1.4-liter engine producing 155 brake horsepower and mated to a 6-speed manual. It gets 17-inch wheels; 215/45 low-profile tires; Brembo brakes, and a new exhaust. A Sport Boost button hops the torque @ 3,000 rpm up from 152 foot-pounds to 169. 0-62 mph? 8.2 seconds.

Its front and rear tracks widened by 6 millimeters, the Grande Punto Abarth rides much better than its 500 Abarth stablemate - and it's a good deal more compliant than the MINI Cooper S, too, although it lacks that car's immediacy on turn-in.

All-around disc brakes are standard, with thicker front stabilizer (19 millimeters); 20% stiffer front springs, and a 10-millimeter lower stance, versus the regular car.

Two tuning packages are offered: Assetto and Esseesse. The first upgrades the chassis, including brakes and suspension, incorporating ventilated and cross-drilled front brake discs; cross-drilled rear discs; softer front brake pads; shorter (by 15-20 mm) springs, and 18-inch white-painted alloy wheels shod with 215/40 ZR18 Pirelli P-Zero tires.

The Esseesse package includes larger Garrett turbocharger; new injectors; larger-diameter exhaust; freer-flowing air filter, and revised engine control unit, boosting engine performance to 180 brake horsepower (@ 5,750 rpm) and 200 foot-pounds of torque (@ 2,750 rpm). 0-62 mph? 7.5 seconds.

A high-performance diesel will also be available: the R3D, with 1.9-liter four-cylinder producing 175 horsepower.


Carlo Abarth (1908-1979) founded sports and competition-car company Abarth in 1949. Recognizing the volatility of motor racing, Abarth builds high-performance exhausts and similar equipment for third-party customers, in addition to designing cars in its own right, including the coupé Scorpione and 205A Berlinetta GT.

The company came under Fiat ownership in 1971. Fiat's better efforts with Abarth include the 850 TC coupé and WRC-winning 124 Abarth.