Introducing the Fiat 500 Abarth Assetto Corse

The genes were already in place for a racing version so surely it was only a matter of time. We can now reveal that the wait is over with the introduction of the 500 Abarth Assetto Corse which will be limited to a production run of 49 units.

By: Clinton Deacon

May 15, 2008 at 9:02am ET

Add Motor1.com as a preferred source in Google

Comment

When the Fiat 500 Abarth was unveiled, the genes were already in place for a racing version so surely it was only a matter of time. We can now reveal that the wait is over with the introduction of the 500 Abarth Assetto Corse which will be limited to a production run of 49 units.

The Car was producted in a collaboration between the Fiat Group Automobiles Style Centre and the Abarth Engineers and Designers. It sports a full racing outfit starting with an aerodynamic spoiler, wide bumpers, screen-printed grilles, wide track white 17’ special ultralight racing wheels, low ride sports racing mirrors and check out those two carbon air intakes on the hood with the Abarth scorpion logo. The rear gets a white winged spoiler, a badge bearing the Abarth logo and a twin exhaust pipe. The racing look is completed with a pastel grey livery with red Abarth side stripes.

The interior is completely stripped of all the production accessories making the car lighter and faster and gets a racing approved roll-bar resulting in a weight reduction of 180kg, and the driver position has been shifted nearer to the center of the car. Beneath the hood we find A 1.4-liter 16V turbo producing 200 bhp with peak torque standing at 300Nm at 3000 rpm – the kind of figures we had been hoping for in the production Abarth SS version, lets wait and see.

Full Specifications

Engine	4 cylinders in line, 4 valves per cylinder, 1368 cc. Power output: 200 KW (147 KW) at 6500 rpm. Peak torque 300 Nm at 3000 rpm. Garrett GT 1446 fixed geometry turbocharger. Special reinforced water and air sleeves.
Transmission	M32 6-speed gearbox
Suspension	McPherson layout at front, special racing shock absorbers, coaxial spring with nut for adjusting height of car.
Rear	inter-connected arms, special racing shock absorbers, springs with nut for adjusting height of car.
Steering	Electric power steering with racing tuning
Brakes	Brembo radial front calliper with four pistons M4X40. • Perforated, self-ventilating front brake disc, ø 305 mm x 28 mm. • Rear calliper with ø 36 mm piston. • Rear brake disc, ø 264 mm x 11 mm. • High-performance Racing brake pads.
Body	Rear spoiler and front bumper splitter.
Chassis	Reinforced cage structure, welded to the bodyshell. What do you think? View Comments Lightened interiors, Sabelt Racing safety setup. Optimised driving position, shifted towards the centre of the car.
Wheels	Painted, forged aluminium wheels, 7” x 17”. Tyres:205/50 ZR17
Weight	930 Kg