2007 Abarth Grande Punto S2000

Auto Car | 2007 Abarth Grande Punto S2000 | The Fiat Grande Punto Abarth S2000 is racing in the Italian Rally Championship 2007, driven by Giandomenico Basso, with co-driver Mitia Dotta. The Fiat Grande Punto Abarth S2000 a normally aspirated 2000 cc engine (270 hp) and 4-wheel drive. The Fiat Grande Punto Abarth S2000 develops 270 hp at 8250 rpm and 222 Nm of torque at 6500 rpm.

A competitive car with a racing destiny, through the Racing Division the Grande Punto Abarth S2000 is taking part in the Italian Rally Championship 2007, driven by Giandomenico Basso, with
co-driver Mitia Dotta. It is also taking part in the IRC (Intercontinental Rally Challenge) with Anton Alen, Andrea Navarra and Umberto Scandola behind the wheel.

Fitted with a normally aspirated 2000 cc engine (270 hp) and 4-wheel drive, the new Grande Punto Abarth S2000 is the successor to the car which won the European and Intercontinental Rally Challenge in 2006, with Giandomenico Basso and Mitia Dotta, and also triumphed with 7 wins in the 2006 Italian Rally Championship.

It should be remembered that the cars produced to date, approximately 25, have been ordered by various racing teams both in Europe and further afield, to compete in international and national rallies. On the strength of this advanced technology, the new Grande Punto Abarth S2000 is leading the two championships with the same determination.

Claudio Berro, the director of Racing Operations at Abarth & C. Spa, can rely on personnel with extensive motor-racing experience, and a prestigious team of drivers.

Engine

- 4 cylinders in line, 1997 cc, transversely mounted (developed by FPT Racing)
- Power: 270 hp at 8250 rpm with flange 64 (as per technical regulations)
- Max torque 222 Nm at 6500 rpm.
    Transmission

- 6-speed gearbox with sequential control, frontal engagement and cut-off during changes, unique housing and interior for single supply (as per technical regulations).
- Mechanical front, central and rear differentials with ramps and clutches to modify the locking percentages.
- Single-supply rear differential with multi-plate clutch to limit torque
- Specific drive shafts, car-side tripod joints and wheel-side constant velocity joints
- Specific steel propeller shaft with two branches and intermediate chassis support.
Suspension

- McPherson strut at front
- McPherson strut at rear
- Specific front cross member
- Specific rear cross member
- Adjustable dampers.

Brakes

- Monolithic front caliper (4 pistons)
- Front brake disc 355 mm for asphalt, 300 mm for gravel
- 4-piston rear caliper
- Rear brake disc 300 mm.

Bodywork

- Front and rear bumpers widened to a maximum of 1800 mm
- Rear spoiler (dimensions restricted by technical regulations) for enhanced stability by boosting the aerodynamic load.

Wheels

- Asphalt rims 8’’ x 18’’, gravel rims 6.5” x 15 “
- Asphalt tyres 20/65-18, gravel tyres 19/65-15, snow tyres 10/65-16.


Source : www.zercustoms.com

1958 Fiat Abarth - Abarth Berlina 750 Corsa

Auto Car | 1958 Fiat Abarth - Abarth Berlina 750 Corsa | This 1959 Fiat Abarth 750 Berlina was restored in 2003 by Chip Starr and was raced with SOVREN from 2004 to 2006. It is missing its original engine but has a race ready 1000cc unit installed. Find it here on eBay in Portland, Oregon. Special thanks to BaT reader Jeff S. for this submission!

An amazing 1958 Fiat Abarth 750 Berlina, this car was delivered new in Englewood California, has covered only 29k miles from new with 2 owners, it was in storage in Colorado for nearly 40 years from 1967 until 2006 when it was brought to California. The motor was rebuilt and the original tires replaced with new.

The paint is mostly original, everything seems to be there including the original window stickers and oil sticker in the engine bay, jack, spare and wheel wrench. It's totally rust free and accident free but has many small dings and dents from its time in storage. A true time machine and an incredible example of a really rare car, complete with original rubber floor mats, original Abarth seat belts, steering wheel and tacho.

Source : bringatrailer.com

2010 Abarth 500 R3T

Auto Car | 2010 Abarth 500 R3T | Abarth introduced its latest racing gem at the 51st Sanremo Rally. The new Abarth 500 R3T will lend its name to a promotional rally trophy in 2010, due to join the two track events (European and Italian) planned for the Abarth 500 Assetto Corse.

For Abarth, this marks a return to promotional trophy events, a niche it has made its own for more than thirty years. Since 1977, to be precise, when the first ever Autobianchi A112 Abarth Championship was held, followed by trophies for the Fiat Uno, Uno Turbo, Cinquecento, Seicento, Punto Kit and Super 1600, Stilo, Panda Kit.

The Abarth 500 rally version will be type approved for Group R3T, the category for turbocharged cars up to 1600 cm3 in capacity. This class will be the future of the specialism because it represents a good compromise between car cost and performance. Ideal for private drivers and young people who want to show their worth in a true racing car, capable of outstanding performance by any standard.

The Abarth 500 power unit is 1368 cm3 with a Garret GT 1446 fixed geometry turbocharger capable of delivering a power of 180 hp (132 kw) at 5500 rpm.

The gearbox is sequential, front meshing with 6 speeds and includes a multiplate self-locking differential, twin plate clutch and special half-axles.

Great care has been taken to ensure the suspension can be adjusted to obtain a ride suited to each driver's individual driving style. The racing shock-absorbers are adjustable, with coaxial spring and wheel to alter the ground clearance plus special shims to adjust the caster and camber angles.

The 7” x 17” OZ asphalt rims are designed for 19/62-17 tyres.

The Brembo brakes are all disc, ventilated at the front with 4 callipers, solid disc at the rear with brake distributor and governor. The handbrake is hydraulic.

The Abarth 500 is equipped with a special welded roll-bar integral with the body, the required safety devices and FIA type-approved seats with 6 seat belt anchorage points.

The weight is the lowest set by the regulations for this category: 1080 kg unladen.

Great care has also been taken over the details, beginning with a livery that is most decidedly in keeping with tradition, complemented by a lovingly crafted interior and instruments.

The Abarth promotional trophy regulation and timetable will be circulated in the coming weeks.

Technical Specifications
Engine: 1.4 litre four-cylinder
Aspiration: Turbocharged
Maximum Power: 180 hp (132 kW) @ 5500 rpm
Maximum Torque: -
Transmission: Six-speed sequential
Drivetrain: Front-wheel drive

Source : www.drivebulletin.com

2010 Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari

Auto Car | 2010 Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari | It has already attracted critical acclaim in both hard top and convertible form, and as a potent esseesse version. Now the Abarth 500 is arriving in even more exclusive style – as the Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari.

Every Abarth reflects the high performance brand’s direct connection with competition, and the new 695 Tributo Ferrari takes these links to a new level, with stunning performance matched to perfect day-to-day usability.

This exclusive car – just 152 examples of the Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari will be available in right hand drive form in Britain – is priced at Euros 35,500 (£29,600). On the outside the new car’s livery is inspired by Ferrari’s models, with carbon wing mirrors and Corsa Grey wheels and front air intakes.

Powered by a 1368cc turbocharged engine, producing 180bhp at 5500rpm and 250Nm torque at 3000rpm, the 695 Tributo Ferrari can accelerate from 0-62mph in seven seconds and has a top speed of 140mph. However, the frugal engine can return 43.3mpg on the combined cycle.

The car features a comprehensive list of equipment which includes:

-five airbags
-electronic stability programme (ESP)
-torque transfer control (TTC)
-Sport button
-power steering
-automatic climate control
-Xenon headlights
-Blue&Me hands-free infotainment
-Abarth leather steering wheel
-‘Record Monza’ dual-mode exhaust
-Abarth Corsa by Sabelt seats
-17-inch alloy wheels

Mounted behind the steering wheel are the paddles
for the electro-hydraulic Abarth Competizione gearbox which has manual and auto modes. Pressing the Sport button on the dashboard activates a more racy setting for the gearbox, engine control unit and steering for an even more responsive drive.

The original Abarth 695 was introduced in the mid-1960s. The pinnacle of this series was a 38hp engine – though fine-tuning could raise this to over 50hp.

"Abarth and Ferrari are both iconic names in Italian automotive history," says Ivan Gibson, head of Abarth in the UK. "Their passion and dedication helped to create a reputation for sporting excellence in Italian cars around the world, and this new Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari upholds that tradition with some style."

The Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari is available to special order only, through Abarth’s 17-strong UK dealer network.End of Abarth 695 Fiat 500 Tributo Ferrari Price review.

How much would you be willing to pay for a Fiat 500? Fifteen grand? Twenty? Thirty? How about nearly $50,000. That's how much the crème-de-la-crème Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari is going for now that it's reaching the market.

For a quick refresher, the special-edition 500 was unveiled almost a year ago at the Frankfurt Motor Show. It packs a 180-horsepower 1.4-liter 16-valve turbocharged four-pot, beefed-up suspension, wheels and brakes and a special paint scheme inspired by its big brother, the Ferrari 430 Scuderia. A scant 152 examples are being produced in right-hand drive for the British market, and each is carrying a whopping price tag of £29,600, or about $47k in American greenbacks.

Now the 695 Tributo Ferrari may be the ultimate manifestation of the Fiat 500 to date. It may even be the next best thing to a Ferrari, though we doubt it. But is it worth $47,000? Fiat will surely sell the entire production run, but then "value" isn't the objective value it once was. Check out the press release after the jump, images in the twin galleries below and weigh in with your own thoughts.

Source : www.auto-power-girl.com

2011 Fiat Punto Evo Abarth

Auto Car | 2011 Fiat Punto Evo Abarth | A few months after the premiere of the (facelifted) Punto EVO, and Abarth has announced that it has prepared its own version of the three-door supermini packing a 1.4 liter turbocharged Multiair four-banger that will debut alongside the souped-up 500C that we told you about earlier today at next week's Geneva Motor Show.

Fiat's performance division has sourced a larger turbocharger from Garrett in order to lift output to 165-horsepower and 250Nm of torque (at 2,250 RPM). 100 km/h rolls by you in 7.9 seconds, meaning there's got to be more than just a power boost to make this worthy of the Abarth name. And there is.

In the handling department, the Abarth provides a beefed up suspension consisting of McPherson struts up front and a torsion-bar-eqipped "semi-independent" rear suspension out back. Combined with a new, bigger anti-roll bar and 20% stiffer springs, the Abarth should make a standard Punto EVO feel like a boat - or so to say.

Aerodynamics have improved over the outgoing model and more than couple of beauty enhancements have also been made.

Abarth's Punto EVO has changed thus: a wider front bumper, realigned air inlets/outlets, redesigned rear bumper (featuring a carryover diffuser with new details and reorganized reverse/fog lights), color-matched side-skirts and new rear spoiler, different satin finish on the exhaust tips, new 17-inch wheels, and a fresh set of graphics. All that, and they've gone back to the old badge (shield versus circle).

Inside, drivers have access to optional Sabelt racing buckets and a new vehicle dynamics system that allows them to control braking/steering/engine characteristics with a 2-mode lever (Sport and Normal) housed on the center tunnel. The selected driving mode appears on the dashboard, while a shift light (Gear Shift Indicator, or GSI) resides in the Jaeger-filled instrument panel.

Other features to be found on Abarth's latest hot-hatch include Start&Stop technology and Torque Transfer Control (TTC), which provides a locking differential that is automatically activated in sport mode.

While output has gone up, so has fuel economy and green-ness with the hot hatch returning a combined 6.0 lt / 100km (39.2 mpg US) with CO2 emissions of 142g / km.

Now the real good news (as if no one saw it coming): an SS kit which pushes the envelope even further.

The SS features lowering springs and 18-inch wheels in white or titanium, while output is cranked up to 180-horsepower and the brakes are beefed up with new pads and vented discs. Oh, and the air filter is tagged with the phrase "Powered by BMC". Details, details.

Source : carscoop.blogspot.com

2011 Abarth 500C Esseesse

Auto Car | 2011 Abarth 500C Esseesse  | 2011 Fiat 500C Abarth esseesse are designed to improve performance, handling and safety without having to sacrifice the car’s low emissions and fuel consumption. It launched the world premiere at the 2010 Paris International Motor Show.

Abarth cars are a mix of sporty yet elegant looks and safe driving experience, yet always with sporty performance levels. The esseesse kit for the 500C turns the scorpion-branded convertible into a genuine open-topped sports car: 160 HP, maximum torque of 230 Nm, top speed of 209 km/h and acceleration from 0-100 km/h in just 7.6 seconds.

Inside, the car features Abarth Corse by Sabelt seats in black leather with a distinctly sporty design and an Abarth Blue&MeTM MAP satellite navigation system complete with telemetrics developed with Magneti Marelli.

The Fiat 500C Abarth esseesse comes with an elegant Campovolo grey and Pista grey two-tone livery with a white chromatic liner, an element that divides and at the same time combines the two ’souls’ of the car: the elegance of a cabriolet above and the out-and-out sporty performance of the esseesse kit below. The Fiat 500C Abarth esseesse is exhibited with an original Record Monza exhaust silencer (dual mode with variable counterpressure) that enhances the engine sound above 4000 rpm and, with an Abarth Blue&MeTM MAP satellite navigation system with telemetrics.

The kit for the Abarth 500C tunes the 1.4 16v Turbo T-Jet power unit to achieve a maximum power of 160 HP (117 kW) at 5750 rpm and in Sport mode, a maximum torque of 230 Nm at 3000 rpm with the performance of an out-and-out sports car: top speed is 209 km/h with acceleration from 0-100 km/h in just 7.6 seconds. As with the Punto Evo, the 500C maintains its Euro 5 compliance even once the kit has been installed, with CO2 emissions equal to 151 g/km.

Safety is always the focus with Abarth tuning, as evidenced by the upgrading of the braking system and adjusted ride: the esseesse kit for the 500C includes perforated, ventilated front disc brakes (diameter 284 mm x 22 mm), perforated rear disc brakes (diameter 240 mm x 11 mm), high performance front brake pads, front and rear Koni shock absorbers with FSD valve, specific red springs set lower than those on the original car, Abarth esseesse 7” x 17” ET35 alloy wheels painted white or titanium, combined with 205/40 ZR17 tyres.

Source : www.carshowp.com

2009 Fiat 500 Abarth esseesse

Auto Car | 2009 Fiat 500 Abarth esseesse | The Fiat 500 Abarth with the “esseesse” kit is another important piece of the jigsaw in the already ambitious project of Fiat Group Automobiles. True to Abarth tradition, the “esseesse” kit comes in an elegant wooden case and can only be sold and installed by the official network of Abarth converters, guaranteeing compliance with the highest testing and safety standards.

In detail, the kit allows the 1.4 16v Turbo T-Jet engine to achieve a maximum power of 160 CV (147 KW) at 5750 g/min with peak torque of 230 Nm at 3000 g/min in “Sport Mode”. The result is a truly thrilling performance: top speed is 211 km/h with acceleration from 0-100 kph in just 7.4 seconds. In line with the Abarth concept of preparation, the “esseesse” kit uses perforated and ventilated front brake discs (diameter 284mm x 22mm), perforated rear brake discs (diameter 240mm x 11mm, high-performance front brake pads, springs that are specially lowered in comparison to the original car and Fiat 500 Abarth esseesse 7″ x 17″ ET35 alloy wheels, finished in white or titanium, teamed with 205/40 ZR 17 Pirelli Pzero tires.

The Fiat 500 Abarth esseesse kit is topped off by the specific air filter powered by BMC, four tire pressure sensors, “esseesse” badges for the engine hood and the tailgate, and a specially designed, highly original key cover.

The 2009 Fiat 500 Abarth esseesse (SS) was revealed at the 2008 Paris Motor Show. The car is the hot version of Fiat's MINI rival, designed to go toe-to-toe with the likes of the MINI Cooper S and Ford Fiesta ST185.

The Fiat 500 Abarth SS features an extensive bodykit which comprises of a deep front bumper with integrated driving lights and a couple extra air intakes, lower and more prominent side skirts, and a sportier rear bumper with twin tailpipes and a mock air diffuser insert. White multi-spoke race inspired alloy wheels complete the cosmetic upgrades.

Source : www.lincah.com

2011 Abarth Punto Evo esseesse

Auto Car | 2011 Abarth Punto Evo esseesse | Carlo Abarth loved to call himself a ‘creator of cars that are tuned, not prepared’. Bolstered by the success of the recent conversion kits (one Abarth 500 in three is converted using the official kit), Abarth has expanded its range by launching the world premiere of the esseesse kits for the new Abarth 500C and Abarth Punto Evo models in Paris. These are designed to improve performance, handling and safety without having to sacrifice the car’s low emissions and fuel consumption.

The Abarth Punto Evo esseesse is exhibited with a Campovolo Grey body, named after the airfield, still operational today, that is located opposite the company’s historic headquarters in Corso Marche, Turin. This was where the young Karl Abarth used to buy paint for his cars, the very same Campovolo grey shade used for aircraft. In detail, the Abarth Punto Evo on show combines this particular colour with an Abarth band in the body shade and 18” alloys in a special titanium-coloured esseesse design. Inside, the car features Abarth Corse by Sabelt seats in black leather with a distinctly sporty design and an Abarth Blue&MeTM MAP satellite navigation system complete with telemetrics developed with Magneti Marelli.

In detail, the kit allows the 1.4 16v Turbo MultiAir power unit to achieve a maximum power of 180 HP (132 kW) at 5750 rpm and in Sport mode, a maximum torque of 270 Nm at 3000 rpm. The result is truly thrilling performance: top speed is 216 km/h with acceleration from 0-100 km/h in just 7.5 seconds. Even once the kits have been installed, the CO2 emissions guaranteed by the MultiAir remain unchanged (142 g/km) to ensure that the car maintains its Euro 5 compliance.

Consistent with Abarth’s concept of performance tuning in utmost safety, the esseesse kit includes perforated, ventilated front disc brakes (diameter 305 mm x 28 mm), perforated rear disc brakes (diameter 264 mm x 11 mm), high performance front brake pads, front and rear Koni shock absorbers with FSD valve, specific red springs set lower than those on the original car, Abarth esseesse 7” x 18” ET39 alloy wheels painted white or titanium, combined with 215/40 ZR18 tyres.

The make-up of the conversion kit for the Abarth Punto Evo is completed by a special “powered by BMC” air filter, an Abarth silencer with twin tail pipes, and esseesse badges for the engine cover and tailgate.


Source : www.flylyf.com

Abarth 205 Vignale Berlinetta

Auto Car | Abarth 205 Vignale Berlinetta | Austrian born tuning expert Carlo Abarth was one of an all-star team that was involved in Piero Dusio's ambitious Cisitalia project immediately after the War. By 1949, Cisitalia's financial position quickly worsened and Abarth decided to jump the sinking ship. As compensation for his efforts, Dusio gave him several examples of the latest '204' model in various states of completion. They were modified to the extent that a rebadging to Cisitalia-Abarth 204A was warranted. These cycle-fendered sports cars were raced with considerable success by the 'Squadra Carlo Abarth' in 1949.

Encouraged by the good results on the track and funded by the ever increasing sales of his exhaust systems, Carlo Abarth established Abarth & C. to manufacture complete cars. The first of these made a victorious debut early in March of 1950 when Guido Scagliarini won the 1100 class in the Coppa InterEuropa at Monza. Fitted with a new coupe body, it was confusingly referred to as an Abarth 204A. Today it seems more likely that the car was actually the first of three Abarth 205s built around a brand new platform chassis. The 204s used a distinctly different tubular frame.

Both cars do share the Fiat sourced four cylinder engine. Fitted with Abarth's tuning kit, which consisted of a revised intake manifold, two Weber carburettors and a bespoke exhaust, the tiny 1089cc engine produced an impressive 83 bhp. The four-speed gearbox was also sourced from Fiat. The potent drivetrain was fitted in a very straightforward box-section steel platform chassis. Alfredo Vignale was commissioned to build the lightweight aluminium body. The beautiful design came from the pen of Giovanni Michelotti. Included, of course, were the three portholes on the front fenders that were typical for Vignale's bodies.

After its spectacular Monza debut, the 204A / 205 Coupe was shown during the 1950 Turin Motor Show. It was the first time Abarth displayed his cars at this most important show. A second example was finished shortly after and both were raced in the major Italian events that season. The third example was completed early in 1951 and was more luxuriously appointed as the two racing cars. Fitted with a slightly larger version of the four cylinder engine, it was shown during the Turin shown in 1951. Prized at the level of a two-litre Ferrari, Abarth struggled to find customers for his small Coupes and in the end only three were built.

The huge expenses of the racing efforts weighed heavily on the fledgling company and Abarth decided it was wise to cease racing and focus on developing the successful exhaust systems for the foreseeable future. The platform chassis first used on the 205 would serve on as the basis for several show cars and eventually the Abarth 207 racing car introduced in 1955. Amazingly all three Abarth 205s have survived and are in the hands of caring owners. They remain as the first in a long line of Abarth racing cars that made their mark on small-displacement racing for several decades.

Although originally referred to as a 204A Coupe, it is believed that this car received the chassis 205101. It was first raced at Monza to a class win in the Coppa Intereuropa. A week later it finished sixth overall in the Targa Florio and second in class. For the Mille Miglia, extensions were bolted on the nose and tail to make the car more efficient but it was forced to retire. In 1951 it was acquired by an Italian customer, who in turn sold to the United States. Here it was raced at Torrey Pines in 1954 but again failed to finish.

Chassis 205101 was then retired from active service an lived a peaceful life in American ownership. That was until tragedy struck in 1981 when during a fire a ceiling failed covering the delicate Berlinetta in rubble and a 1911 Overland. All seemed to be lost until Scott Emsley salvaged the remains of the Abarth in 1984 and commenced with a ground up restoration. Damaged both by the ceiling and heat, it would have been understandable that most of the body was discarded. In a monumental effort, Emsley managed to restore the complete body without having to replace a single panel or use any filler.

The restoration was completed in time for the 1989 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. This hugely impressive work was awarded with a second in class at Pebble. A year later the car and its restoration were prominently featured in the May 1990 issue of Road & Track Magazine. Since then Emsler has shown the car at numerous events, including the 2005 Quail, a Motorsports Gathering where it is pictured. More recently he decided to part with the little Abarth. The new owner brought the car, still in immaculate condition, back to Europe for the 2009 Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este.

Source : www.ultimatecarpage.com

Abarth Grande Punto

A massive silver scorpion, pincers spread wide, tail poised, greets you warmly as you walk through the door. The wall to your left is covered in black-and-white photographs showing victorious drivers and cars. There is a familiar red and yellow shield on the wall and new merchandise is tastefully laid out on shelves and racks. Peer round the corner and if you’re not already sold you soon will be, because sitting in the middle of everything is an Abarth 695, rear bonnet propped open. Outside, brightly lit red and white letters proclaim the return of Officine Abarth to Corso Marche in Turin.

The Fiat group is enormously lucky. If any other company wanted to launch a sporting brand (Abarth will be a standalone fifth marque alongside Maserati, Lancia, Alfa Romeo and Fiat) it would have to start from scratch. It would have to convince the public of its intentions, its philosophy, its pedigree. But Abarth is already known and loved the world over. It has enormous amounts of goodwill and Fiat seems very aware of this.

The name comes with responsibilities, however. If the new Abarth is to be a success then it will have to embody what everyone fondly remembers from when Carlo was at the helm. It bodes well, therefore, that the S2000 rally car has been campaigning very successfully all this year, long before there was a road car to market.

But now there is a road car, the Abarth Grande Punto, and it’s being displayed in this flagship showroom where we’re also about to settle down for the press conference. Although clearly based on a Fiat Grande Punto, you won’t find a single Fiat badge on it. There are scorpions on the wheels, a shield on the bonnet, a shield and tricolour lightning bolt on each flank, more shields inside, but not a single four-letter word beginning with ‘F’.

The colour scheme of all the launch cars is ‘1949 White’ (1949 being the year Abarth first came into existence) with red detailing. It gives them a certain Porsche RS look, which I suspect some will love, while others will be pleased to hear you can choose from Speed Red or Scorpion Black paint instead.

The new front bumper, with the main-beam lights set in black surrounds, certainly suits the car, and the design of the 17in wheels wouldn’t look out of place on something from Sant’Agata.
Inside, there is a lovely swathe of smooth body-coloured plastic across the dash, which is then let down by a centre console that has without doubt the worst ‘carbon effect’ I have ever seen. Fortunately the seats are excellent, with particularly good thigh support.

Under the Abarth’s skin is the basic Punto MacPherson strut front and torsion beam rear, but with 20 per cent firmer springs, a ride height lowered by 10mm and a thicker anti-roll bar at the front. The front track has also been widened by 6mm. The biggest disappointment of the press conference is the announcement that ESP is not switchable (although traction control is). Apparently you can’t drive more quickly with ESP off, only more dangerously. Hmm.

You might not be wetting your undergarments with excitement either when I reveal that the Abarth has a turbocharged 1.4-litre engine. It gives the front wheels 153bhp to wrestle with at 5500rpm and 152lb ft for them to tame at 5000rpm. There is, however, a Sport Boost button on the centre console that increases torque to a healthier 170lb ft at 3000rpm.

On paper this leaves the Abarth stranded with the Fiesta ST, drifting between the Mini Cooper and the Mini Cooper S. The ‘Esseesse’ (see text at end of article) will clearly be taking on the S, so we must hope the insurance group in the UK is low enough for the Abarth to be a true young driver’s alternative to the Cooper.

The morning after the press conference we’re all bussed out to Balocco, Fiat’s test track, to drive the Abarth. This sounds great. After all, who wouldn’t want a private track to play on for a few hours? However, we’re restricted to a newly surfaced loop that’s smoother than a green at Augusta, which is not so hunky dory when you’re trying to assess a road car. The Abarth could glide over bumps like an S-class or boing from one pimple to the next like a Panda 100HP, we’re just not going to find out today.

What I can tell you is that the engine is much better than you would expect a 1.4 to be. It’s remarkably unturbo-like and, whilst it needs to be kept on the boil, it sounds good and pulls strongly between three- and five-thousand rpm. The Brembo brakes (305mm discs at the front) do a fine job of wiping off the speed lap after lap, too.

The shift across the six-speed gearbox is light and springy in action but never feels indistinct. A tap of the Sport button increases the weighting of the steering, but, on the track at least, it still feels slightly distant from the conversation being held between the P Zero Neros and the tarmac.

Being unable to turn off the ESP is all the more frustrating because the Abarth is a nicely pointy car, the front end gripping tenaciously and diving keenly for apexes, which suggests that with a little provocation the tail would be willing to play. At least the intervention of the electronics is well managed, allowing a little progressive slip at both front and rear before stepping in.

If you feel slightly cheated of a verdict then I’m afraid it’s a case of take a ticket and stand in line. That the Abarth held up well on track is good news – it hasn’t fallen at the first hurdle. But its real test lies somewhere in Wales or Yorkshire at a later date. The good news for now is that Abarth is back, and it’s not just a marketing exercise.

Essesse
If you think the Abarth Grande Punto seems a bit tame for a car badged with a Scorpion then you’ll be pleased to hear that an Esseesse (that’s ‘SS’ or Super Sport) kit will follow shortly.

The kit replaces the air intake, increases the size of the turbo and remaps the ECU, resulting in 178bhp and a mighty 201lb ft from the little 1.4. The suspension, meanwhile, is lowered by a further 20mm, the front track widened and 18in wheels fitted – inside which nestle drilled discs. Essesse stickers appear on the outside, while inside there are even grippier seats.

We got to drive a prototype at the launch and the first thing you notice is the new exhaust. It doesn’t look much, but the deep, resonating sound has to be one of the best to emerge from an in-line four in years. You can feel the turbo kick-in more noticeably and the Esseesse pulls much more strongly at the top of the rev range, too.

Handling wise, the steering is more precise thanks to the suspension changes and the car corners startlingly flatter and harder.

The Esseesse kit will cost around £3500 on top of a ‘standard’ Abarth Punto. Watch out Mini and Clio!

(www.evo.co.uk)