The press conference will also be shown on Fiat USA's new Abarth site http://www.fiatusa.com/abarth/ in about 5 hrs from now.

Autoblog has some info and the press release http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/16/2...ormance-to-am/

Reading the (extremely long and detailed) Press Release and given the number of times they mention the word "Track" you'll begin to wonder if this wasn't a street car at all, but a track car only (it isn't).

Certainly it looks like a toy, maybe a slot car... but with a turbocharged 1.4-liter MultiAir-equipped engine including two intercoolers, it delivers an estimated 160 horsepower (119 kw) and 170 lb.-ft. (230 n·m) of torque into an estimated 2200 lb chassis, it portends to be one hella fun car to put on and drive like a maniac

 

We had it for 2-3 years here already.
Nice looking car, nice sound but still underperforms vs the cooper s.
The essesse peppered up version is really nice though.

Oh... don't forget that it shares a fair bunch of Fiat Panda parts, they share the same platform. Think mx5\rx8.

 

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the Euro Abarth ony 135 bhp/152 lb-ft torque? With the US version getting an extra 25hp/18ft-lbs of grunt, it may be more competitive. The only unknown being the ultimate weight of the US version. Let's hope it doesn't go past 2300lbs!

 

Yes, that's the standard abarth.
You get the essesse only.

They're fun to tune and the engine is nearly indestructible. A direct evolution of the 1.0 fire

 

Isn't the SS version the car the Michael Schumacher drove at the Race of Champions 2 years ago? I guess that car had 200 HP? in a little tiny 2300 lbs car? damn...

I rented one here last month. Granted it was the "basic" car but it was FUN to drive to the limit.. even using the very vague 6 speed automatic transmission designed for the US...

I grew up in Latin America and my car was a Fiat 600 Abarth... I then put a Fiat 850 Abarth (1150) engine in it... talk about power 1150 cc in the back of the car.. I destroyed 2 transmissions in a matter of months while driving with the back lid open... Great times indeed... before I "grew" up and started driving the Alfa Romeos, but I still miss that feeling of my 67 Abarth...

Carlos

 

Great Carlos! the 200hp kit is another power up, the standard essesse is 160hp.
We have a bunch of those 1150cc engines pushing 140rwhp here, and some 100hp 850cc units. Awesome engines. Even a 1.6l 265hp ITB screamer.
The good news is that the newer multi air very solid. the 1.4l flies up to 280hp easily with the right mods.
While not the best city car the Abarth makes up for a fun toy to mod. It has its handling limits but oh well... at least it doesn't flex like a cooper s when you put semislicks on.

 

What's up Carlos? How have you been? My GF's mom just bought a standard one and I was not impressed when I drove it, her sisters new Mazda 2 was better to drive IMO.

 

With a U.S. driver, I think it'll likely be heavier.