Photo FIAT Auto press
FIAT Abarth 500 Assetto Corse is a real baby racer
Story and photos by Roberto Motta
Coming soon to a Chrysler dealer near you? That would be great, for the Abarth 500 Assetto Corse would make an neat showroom package. Abarth has come back to the track with its new baby 130 mph supersportscar that is named after the famous line of Abarth “Assetto Corsa” (race trim or race ready) models built in the 1960s.
Based on the Fiat 500, the Abarth Assetto Corsas were the fastest 500s ever produced. Until, of course, this latest and larger version from a revitalized Officine Abarth.
Unfortunately, all 49 of the Limited Edition models are spoken for. Will Abarth build more?
The first race of the Trofeo Fiat 500 Abarth was won by Manuel Villa.
Designed and produced by a team of Abarth engineers, this is a full racing conversion: wide track, white 17-inch special ultralight racing wheels, low ride height and sports racing mirrors. Inside, the Assetto Corse is equipped with a roll-cage type-approved for competition, sports anatomical seat, racing steering wheel and carbon door panels. It is powered by a four cylinders in line, four valves per cylinder engine with a displacement of 1368 cc. (83.48 ci). It is turbocharged by a Garrett GT 1446 turbocharger and produces 190-200 hp at 6500 rpm. The car use a M32 6-speed gearbox, has a weight of 930 kg (2050 lb) approximately 180 kg less than the road version, and has a top speed of 210km/h
(over 130mph). A trick like this just might help sell the mainstream, more energy minded 500s in the U.S.
Paolo Scudieri hard braking at the Ascari curve.
Currently, the hot Abarths are all the rage in Europe. The Trofeo Abarth 500 races are a part of race weekends which include the Ferrari Challenge-Pirelli Trophy and the CSAI Championships. The star of the series is the Abarth 500 Assetto Corse, each one prepared directly by the Officine Abarth, then delivered to the responsible teams who will compete for the Trofeo (Trophy). The drivers must have a race driver’s license and must pass a special course with the CSAI Federal School. Abarth also offers a service in circuit paddocks, organization and meeting center for the competitors. In every race there is a VIP car that will be entered for a famous figure from the automotive, sport or entertainment worlds.
Laurent Blomet (#33 and Davide Uboldi (#2).
The Trofeo Abarth 500 consists of six events in two heats. The starting grid for the second race depends on the best lap times that the driver achieved in the first race. There is a prize pool of 4,500 euros to be split among the first five drivers in each race, and the overall winner will be given an Abarth 500.
The first races of the 2009 Trofeo Abarth 500 season, was on March 29th at the Monza circuit, the same weekend as the Ferrari Historics and Challenge events (see last week’s VeloceToday). Manuel Villa and Nicola Baldan were the overall winners.
Olindo Deserti’s car after his accident. The car is badly damaged, but the driver is unharmed.
Next will be Mugello on 3 May 3rd, followed by Imola on May17th, Magione on June 7th, Mugello on September 27th and Vallelunga on October 11th. This will conclude the Italian Abarth 500 Trofeo, but there will be even more Abarth activity when the Abarth 500 European Trophy debuts in May. Every race will be supporting the WTCC-World Touring Car Championship events: The first event is on May 31st in Valencia (Spain), continuing on June 21st at Brno (Czech Republic), July 5th at Porto (Portugal), July 19th at Brands Hatch (GB), September 6th at Oschersleben (Germany), closing at Imola on September 20th.
Jeff Lane a his museum in Nashville let me drive a Fiat 500 that was temporarily in the USA. Wotta disappointment: with all the moden gizmos and safety features etc. it was a little pudgy lump. It was well damped, I admit, but it felt isolated from the road and it felt heavy. I unconsciously might’ve been comparing it to the 595SS we sold in ’70 for $1900 but I really “wanted to want” a Fiat 500 and now I really don’t. A gap is developing in automotive product lines between regular cars and “track day” or “special race series” cars–howzabout some stripped-down models that are sporty and, gasp, actualy cost less because they are de-contented?
I feel guilt agreeing with the legendary Anatoly Arutunoff, but at least I am in good company. I guess I am up there with Abarth nuts the world over with a Double Bubble, Abarth Simca duck tail and a 2300S Fiat coupe undergoing rebuild to world record breaking specs. The top of the line 500 in Australia sells for $32,000 – considerably more than anything remotely comparable. There can be little doubt that an Abarth version will be more, perhaps $40,000. This is the same as a Subaru WRX, Volvo C30 T5, MX5 and, lest it be thought I am losing the plot entirely, I know they are all very different cars, but loyalty has a hard time winning over simple value for money. If the base car sold here for $20,000 or less, it would doubtless go like hot cakes, but they are just too expensive unless it is a money no object buy. It must be the fact that they are far better value elsewhere in the world. Does anyone have comparable prices elsewhere? Nevertheless, thanks for the article. By the way, there are 2 Integrales for sale here at present with low mileage, both under $29k.
I too find the new Fiat 500 cute, but not good value. My customers seem to agree, because even with the current economic times, more and more of them are spending their money on restoring real Abarths or building nice Abarth replicas. There is something about the older cars, perhaps their simplicity, that endears them to young and old.
I WANT ONE!—-Preferably Abarth,but any will do. I still miss my ’66 Fiat Abarth 695SS. Bought it new thru Faza Motorsports and picked it up at the Abarth factory. Moan!!