Road Test Special Abarth 500
Interior
Fantastic cabin mixes retro
touches with plenty of
high-tech kit. The thick-
rimmed steering wheel
feels great while the
pod-like rev-counter gives
the cabin a motorsport
feel. Sport seats do a
great job of holding you in
through corners
ance air fi lter along with Essesse badges.
These goodies arrive at your Abarth
dealer from Italy in a wooden crate, which
Facts and fi gures: Abarth 500
carries a unique plaque. Once its contents
On the road price £13,600
have been fi tted to the car, it’s given to the
Engine/capacity 4-cyl, 1,368cc petrol
owner – a neat bespoke touch in keeping Peak power 135bhp / 5,500rpm
with Abarth’s racing history.
Peak torque 206Nm / 3,000rpm
Whichever model you choose, the Abarth
Transmission 5spd, man/fwd
500 doesn’t disappoint. With its muscular
Boot capacity 185 litres
Kerbweight 1,035kg
styling and a beautifully detailed cabin, it’s
EuroNCAP rating/Insurance group Five stars / 13
no surprise to learn that of the 700 Abarth
Basic warranty 3yrs 60,000 miles
500s coming to the UK this year, Fiat already
has orders for 60 per cent of them. 0-60mph 7.9 secs
30-70 thru gears n/a
AT A GLANCE
30-50 in 3rd / 4th n/a
Hot hatch fans are going to fall head
50-70 in 5th / 6th n/a
Top speed 127 mph
over heels in love with the Abarth 500.
Braking 60-0/30-0 mph n/a
It’s very fast and lots of fun – not to
Fuel economy (combined) 43.4 mpg
mention one of the best looking hot CO2 emissions 155g/km
hatches ever made. Most drivers will
be happy with standard model, but
Airbags/electric windows/parking sensors seven/yes/no
we certainly wouldn’t put people off
Auto gearbox/stability/cruise control no/yes/no
the faster Essesse model. It may be
Air conditioning/leather/split-fold seats yes/£800/£150
Metallic paint/xenons/keyless go £375/no/no
expensive at just over £16,000 but it’s
sat nav/alarm/heated seats £240/no/no
an absolute riot!
RIVALS: MINI Cooper S is quicker than the Abarth, but costs more. Renaultsport Twingo and Peugeot 207 GTI offer great value and performance
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
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