Fiat Grande Punto Abarth

[Barakka]

Fiat are planning a re-launch of the Abarth brand, pushing it as a premium sports model rather than just a line of bodykits and accessories.

First up is the Grande Punto with two versions, the Grande Punto Abarth:

Using a 1.4 Turbo petrol engine developing 150 bhp, production shots are now being shown:
http://www.egmcartech.com/2007/09/20...-punto-abarth/

Then the premium model is the Grande Punto "esse-esse" or SuperSport:

Using the same 1.4 Turbo engine but running at 180 bhp and having a few modifications thrown in (suspension, Brembos etc.)
Recently shown at Frankfurt the images here:
http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/1...thssiaafz5.jpg
http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/1...hss2iaaev5.jpg
http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/9...thssiaaxe7.jpg
http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/3...thssiaaks8.jpg
http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/1...thssiaaxq8.jpg
http://img363.imageshack.us/img363/7...hss2iaaxp6.jpg

Also being shown was the Grande Punto S2000 Rally car:


Using a N/A 2.0 engine and developing 270 bhp on a 4x4 platform they are apprently selling quite quickly, although doubtful if it will ever be seen on the roads.

Next up from the Grande Punto will be the new 500, only spy-shots available so far, but also rumoured to have the same 1.4T engine.



Interesting that Fiat use Max & Paddy as their test drivers though !

[longbow360]

Interesting that Fiat use Max & Paddy as their test drivers though !

Good shout!

Seriously though, i think the punto should be great, but i'm too sure about the 500 (love the standard car, but this seems like marketing)

What excites me more about these cars is the way Fiat have done it, finally using the Abrath name in all its glory, and completley getting rid of all the fiat badges. Not so much a halo car, for the brand, but almost like another marque entirely!

roll on the abrath coupe!

[Barakka]

What excites me more about these cars is the way Fiat have done it, finally using the Abrath name in all its glory, and completley getting rid of all the fiat badges. Not so much a halo car, for the brand, but almost like another marque entirely!

Totally Agree ! Apparently Fiat are going to seperate the Abarth brand in a similar way to how Renault seperate Renault Sport, and there are rumours that Fiat are going to pick the 10 best dealers in the UK and only they will be Abarth dealers.

roll on the abrath coupe!

This one ?



Based on the Panda platform and again running the 1.4T engine and a target price of EUR 18,000, although obviously only at concept stage.

[longbow360]

yeah, that'll be the one! lovely looking car, and has "mx5 beater" written all over it!

One question though. on the "esse esse" what is the bump over the windcreen supposed to be and what is it's purpose? Is it supposed to be a faux airscoop like the rally car has? A wrongly placed "gt40 helmet bump"? who knows but the styling is great, and sure to be seen in many a tesco carpark, being worn by 1.2l active's!

[longbow360]

Official site here as well, which can be "tuned" to english!

http://www.abarth.it/home.asp?lan=eng&test=

even the engine block looks cool with the scorpian badge!

[Zak33]

Italy is coming to get my soul!!!

[Vimeous]

Blooming gorgeous
Me want!
No offense to the Renault boys but the esseesse makes the Clio Cup look a bit weedy

Am I the only peep who's not overly impressed by the 500? Like the Mini I reckon it's traded charm for trendy and lost out on the way. Need to see one in the flesh and hopefully have this initial impression reversed.

[badass]

yeah, that'll be the one! lovely looking car, and has "mx5 beater" written all over it!

As long as its RWD then it may well be an MX-5 beater but that one looks FWD to me

[Lowe]

Blooming gorgeous

No offense to the Renault boys but the esseesse makes the Clio Cup look a bit weedy

That's because they were designed with subtlety in mind... There was a whole advertising campaign about this.

The 197 however looks a bit more of the part, especially the shortly released Cup version. The Punto looks good, but I'll wait till I see one on the road before I judge - promo marketing shots always look good with the extra stickers/big rims etc..

[longbow360]

As long as its RWD then it may well be an MX-5 beater but that one looks FWD to me

Yeah, your right there I suppose. it's based on the fiat panda so it's defo front wheel drive. Should still be good though.

Seen the pictures for the 500 abarth too, and i'm not so impressed. This DOES seem to be marketing, to join the the mini cooper, but we will have to see. I really like the 500, and the website is great! It's amazing the amount of options it has, so the abarth does have a chance!