Car Photograph - 2014 Fiat 500C Abarth v2 by John Straton

2014 Fiat 500C Abarth v2 is a photograph by John Straton which was uploaded on September 7th, 2014.

2014 Fiat 500C Abarth v2

Looking at Fiats new 500C Abarth as an exemplar, one wonders if Fiat intentionally builds cars to fulfill decades-old Italian-car... more

by John Straton

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Title

2014 Fiat 500C Abarth v2

Artist

John Straton

Medium

Photograph

Description

Looking at Fiats new 500C Abarth as an exemplar, one wonders if Fiat intentionally builds cars to fulfill decades-old Italian-car stereotypes, wherein occasionally glaring flaws are overcome by charisma. My Puntos interior is so cheap, one Fiat devotee says to his friend, but check out that mini-Maserati styling! His pal agrees: I know what you mean! The exhaust note of my Spider is so lusty that I dont care that it gave me scurvy.

So what a shock it wasnt to discover that the recently introduced Fiat 500 Abarth has a few quirks, such as uncommunicative steering and the lack of a sixth gear that makes for high-strung highway driving. Butas one must say of any Fiat or Alfa or Maseratiwhat about that exhaust note, that charisma? To that, we respond by saying that the turbocharged 1.4-liter engine may be the best-sounding four on the market. Good thing, because Fiats new convertible version, the 2013 500C Abarth, should make the hardtop Abarths auditory redemption all the more audible.

Just as it says on the box, the 500C Abarth marries Fiats topless 500C with Abarth go-fast upgrades. Take a standard 160-hp Abarth, add the regular 500Cs 33-pound power-folding fabric roofwhile the C in 500C stands for 'cabrio,' the top is more of a giant sunroof than anything else, with the door rails staying in placeand you have Fiats debut at the 2012 L.A. auto show. (The 500C Abarths L.A. reveal was spilled by the auto shows organizers last month, after government documents leaked earlier this year revealed Fiats plans for a U.S.-market topless Abarth.) Other than the roof, which trims headroom just slightly from the normal Abarth, nothing else has changed. Both cars dimensions are identical, and the 500C Abarths drivetrain delivers the exact same amount of power (160 hp) and torque (170 lb-ft) to the front wheels through the same five-speed manual transmission used by the hardtop.

Thus far, this isn't too impressiveespecially considering that just as on the decaf 500C, the Abarths folding roof will add a few-thousand-dollar surcharge to the hardtop versions $22,700 base price. But while the 500Cs cabrio lid doesnt do much to create the feeling of a roadster, opening it will give occupants unobstructed access to an exhaust note and engine burble that deliver on every Italian-car clichou could come up with.

Sales begin in the spring, and its closer to then that well get official pricing info. No matter what, the 500C Abarth likely will be expensive for what it is. Buttheres that word againFiat is even throwing in a free track day with every purchase. The Italians fulfill their prophecy once more

Uploaded

September 7th, 2014