Abarth turns up the heat on 500C!

By Sam Hardy

24th July 2009

Meet the scorpion-badged drop-top with a real sting in its tail! Auto Express has learned that Fiat is planning to launch a hot version of its cheeky 500 Convertible to follow in the footsteps of the Abarth 500.

The newcomer will rival the MINI Cooper, Cooper S and even JCW Convertibles with a combination of storming pace, head-turning good looks and a neat roll back roof – for a price that’s likely to undercut the British models by a long way.

High-ranking Fiat sources have made no secret of the fact that a performance 500C is in the product plan – prototypes have already started testing at the company’s Balocco track. And with the success of MINI’s drop-top range, the Abarth 500C is inching closer to showrooms.

Power will come from the same 1.4-litre turbocharged T-JET four-cylinder petrol engine as in the regular Abarth 500. This delivers 135bhp, although a 160bhp version will be offered in the top-of-the-range Esseesse model.

Desirability is guaranteed, while the handling promises to be thrilling, too. While MINI engineers had to overcome a loss in bodyshell rigidity when they removed the roof, Abarth will have no such problems.

As the 500C features a simpler roll-back open roof, it retains its roof rails and pillars, and thus maintains nearly as much stiffness as the hard-top. This design also means the Abarth 500 won’t be much heavier than the tin-top performance version.

The entry-level 135bhp car has 15bhp more than a Cooper Convertible – giving 0-60mph in around eight seconds and a top speed of 130mph. Plus, customers will be offered a wide range of personalisation options, so the Abarth 500C should be another sales
smash hit.

Prices for the entry-level model are set to kick off from around £16,000. The dealer-fit Esseesse special – which should sprint from 0-60mph in 7.4 seconds – is likely to command a price premium of around £2,500. Sales of both models are scheduled to start in the spring.

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