Chrysler is offering today a preview of the 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth, ahead of its debut next month. The 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth will be premiered at the 2011 LA Auto Show, and it will probably go on sale in the following months. This marks the debut of the performance version of the Fiat 500 (Cinquecento) on the North American market. The USA version of the 500 Abarth is powered by the same 1.4-liter MultiAir turbo engine as the European model, which means it has an output of 135 BHP (99 kW) at 5500 rpm and 206 Nm of torque at 3000 rpm in Sport mode. The power is sent to the front wheels via a 5-speed C510 transmission.
Fiat's specifications say that the 500 Abarth is able to rocket its tiny rear end from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.9 seconds and that it can reach a top speed of around 128 mph.
In comparison to the standard 500, the Abarth comes with a stiffer suspension, bigger brakes, a two-pipe exhaust system and other racing-inspired parts.
The 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth price and availability for the USA market will be announced at a later date.
