The Return of Abarth

Fiat reveals new hot hatch and Rally derivative in Geneva

Fiat has resurrected the legendary Abarth nameplate from the 1950s and ‘60s for an unveiling at the Geneva motor show. Scheduled to make its long awaited comeback in both tuning and Rally form, the Grande Punto Abarth will appear on the manufacturer’s show stand beside its cousin, the Abarth S2000.

In the early ‘50s, ex-motorcycle racer Carlo Abarth started combining his racing activities with products for the mass market, and began to build his famous conversion kits – with the now reputable exhaust silencers – for standard production cars. These Abarth enhancements increased power, top speed and acceleration of the cars. Racing was the ultimate advertising conduit, and Carlo’s success on the racetrack in the Fiat Abarth 750 cars in the late 1950s garnered financial backing from Fiat. The Abarth name was eventually bought up entirely by Fiat in 1971.

This year, the Grande Punto Abarth and S2000 reappear under the design and manufacturing verve that only Fiat could muster. The Punto Abarth creates 150bhp from an inline 1.4-liter turbocharged four, though 98 RON petrol will apparently raise power by 5bhp. An add-on tuning kit which will appear later in the year is claimed to boost power to 180bhp, nearly twice as much power as the basic non-Abarth version. Peak torque of 152lb.ft is said to be achieved at 2000rpm, with 170lb.ft obtained at 3000rpm by activating a ‘sport’ mode.

With a six-speed gearbox, MacPherson front suspension (with anti-roll bar) and a torsion beam rear axle, the car will surely paint grins on drivers’ faces. The brakes have been heavily revised, employing 305mm ventilated discs at the front and 264mm rear discs. Distinctive 17-inch aluminium alloys riding on 215/45-17 tyres further differentiate the car from its lesser stablemates.

Fiat’s Abarth S2000 Rally car features a 2-litre lump, belting out 270bhp and 163lb.ft peak torque, achieved at 6500rpm. A six-speed gearbox with sequential control, frontal engagement and cut-off during changes will be the performing shifting duty, powering all four wheels.

Rally racing conditions being what they are, Fiat’s S2000 uses a MacPherson suspension layout front and rear, utilizing specific cross members and adjustable dampers.

To slow the rotation of the Michelin asphalt, dirt and snow tyres mounted on Goodrich rims (18-inch for asphalt and 15-inch for dirt), the Abarth S2000 has monolithic front calliper brakes with four pistons mated to 355mm front discs for asphalt, or 300mm for dirt roads. At the rear, a four piston rear calliper setup with 300mm discs is charged with the task.

A wide front and rear wing - up to a maximum width of 1800mm - has been fitted, and a massive (essential by technical regulations) rear spoiler serves to increase stability of the car, boosting aerodynamic load.

Fiat’s Racing Department will be entering in the 2007 Italian Rally Championship with driver Giandomenico Basso and his navigator Mitia Dotta. On the international scene, the Grande Punto Abarth S2000 will compete in the IRC (Intercontinental Rally Challenge) with drivers Andrea Navarra, his navigator Guido D’Amore, and young Umberto Scandola and Anton Alen.