The Fiat Grande Punto Abarth has been officialy revealed. The Fiat Grande Punto Abarth will be powered by a 1.4 liter 4 cylinders in line, 4 valves per cylinder turbo engine. The Fiat Grande Punto Abarth will develop 155 hp at 5500 min and 206 Nm of torque at 5000 rpm (230 Nm of torque at 3000 rpm in "sport" mode).
Fiat Press release:
A glorious past, a winning idea for the future
A glorious past becomes the present, an all-conquering passion that is as strong today as it ever was: this is the inspiration behind
Fiat Group Automobiles’ plan to re-launch the Abarth name. Always synonymous with tough, spirited cars, challenges, passion and thrills, Abarth is back with a new range to whet the appetites of all sports car enthusiasts.
The novelty lies in the modern-day interpretation of everything that Abarth used to do in the past - starting with motor-racing, followed by prototypes and vehicle conversion kits, and even fashion accessories representing the Abarth style. An expression of the ultimate racing lifestyle, the new
company will be active on several fronts: firstly, in the world of motorsport, an environment strictly related to competition, one-make trophies and cars prepared for private customers. Second, the commercial environment, including tuning – hence the production of conversion kits – not forgetting the extensive licensing and merchandising operations.
In short, Abarth is creating a world all of its own, a world that revolves around the core values that led to its great success in decades gone by: innovative design, state-of-the-art materials, and love for detail. Behind it all is
an absolutely genuine passion for motoring, not to mention the company’s human and technological assets, and the professional pride of the thousands of people – technicians, workers and executives – who have come and gone from the factories, offices and race tracks.
The target of Abarth’s first project, later to be extended to other models, was the Grande Punto – on sale in Italy from September. It will be on the market in Switzerland by the end of the year, and will also be available in other countries during the course of 2008. There will hardly be time
to draw breath between each launch: between now and the end of 2008, no less than four new product launches have been planned. The brand’s development plans will force it to expand its production capability in the short term, and within a few months, Abarth’s new home will have been completed at the Mirafiori plant. The new premises will group together the company’s manufacturing, design and management divisions.
This fast pace explains the decision to give Abarth its own brand, managed by an independent company (Abarth & C. S.p.A., 100%-owned by Fiat Group Automobiles) whose distribution is entrusted to an exclusive commercial organisation covering four levels: flagship service centres, dealers, specialised tuners and workshops.
Agile and quick off the mark (in the best Abarth tradition), Abarth & C. S.p.A is in the hands of Chief Executive Officer Luca De Meo, and covers three areas of activity: Business Operations, Engineering & Manufacturing Operations and Racing Operations. The first division, led by Antonino Labate, has the task of designing the products and services for the customisation and tuning of standard sports cars, organising the sales and service network, and managing Abarth’s merchandising and licensing operations.
The second area, Engineering & Manufacturing Operations, is headed by Paolo Ollino. He is responsible for technical development and production, together with the tuning and servicing of competition cars, and developing the car customisation and tuning products. The division works in partnership with the Engineering & Design division of Fiat Group Automobiles (led by Harald Wester).
Finally, the Racing Operations division, led by Claudio Berro, has the task of coordinating Abarth vehicles' entries in national and international motorsport competitions, organising the championships reserved for private customers, and managing relations with racing and rallying clients and sponsors.
Last but not least, Abarth can rely on the assistance of Paolo Martinelli, director of the Engine Division (Racing Operations) at Ferrari until October 2006, and currently head of the Petrol Engine Development Division at Fiat Powertrain Technologies.
Grande Punto Abarth 1.4 turbo (155 hp)
The launch of the Grande Punto Abarth is a tribute to the army of little Fiats from days gone by, that were given a tough, dynamic and sporty edge by the “magic hands” at Abarth: scorpions with a real sting in the tail, igniting the passion of thousands of drivers with a taste for challenge, speed, and Italian flair. Today, the Grande Punto Abarth is aiming to evoke the former glory of those high-performance vehicles by offering the public, especially younger drivers, the chance to enter the world of competitive racing in complete safety, at affordable prices.
The Grande Punto Abarth is fitted with a 1.4 turbo petrol engine, delivering 155 hp. Combined with a 6-speed manual gearbox, the engine gives the car a top speed of 208 km/h, accelerating from 0-100 km/h in just 8.2 seconds. The Grande Punto Abarth is not just a high performing little car – it is also safe, and environmentally friendly. Safe because the tuning is not limited to the engine and the aerodynamics: the car’s brakes and set-up have also been redesigned to cope with the improved performance. It is also eco-friendly because, despite having far more horsepower than the model on which it is based, it complies with the same legislation on noise and emissions (Euro 4 approved engine).
Developed by Abarth’s designers along with the technicians who produced the Grande Punto Fiat (one of Europe’s most successful cars), the Grande Punto Abarth is factory-built, and is subject to all the regulations and checks applied to standard models.
The raw power and elegance of the Grande Punto Abarth are instantly visible. Compared to a standard Punto, the track has been widened by 6 mm, it has 17” alloy wheels and red stripes bearing the Abarth name along each side. The front bumper is specially designed and houses the main beam headlights set in a black surround, while the larger air intakes, adapted to cater for the new engine’s cooling requirements, are enhanced with an exclusive Abarth design. Finally, the skirts, the wheel arch rims and black plastic underbody complete the fairing on the lower section, profiled to boost aerodynamic performance and extending as far as the tapered rear bumper. The Abarth badge is of course clearly visible, positioned in the centre of the front grille, the rear hatch and even on both sides, at door handle height.
However, most of the Abarth treatment relates to performance: the engine, brakes and set up. The 4-cylinder 16v engine (1368 cc supercharged with an IHI fixed geometry turbocharger) delivers 155 hp at 5500 rpm with a maximum torque of 206 Nm at 5000 rpm. When “power boost” mode is activated, the maximum torque increases to 230 Nm at 3000 rpm (a good 10% more), and the electric power-assisted steering modifies the setting to give a sportier feel. There are disc brakes on all wheels, and the front brakes are ventilated with a Brembo fixed dual-piston caliper.
The suspension is based on the tried and tested set up of the Fiat Grande Punto (McPherson strut and anti-roll bar, torsion bar suspension at the rear), suitably modified: the anti-roll bar has been widened (diameter 19 mm), the front springs are 20% firmer, and the set up has been lowered by 10 mm. After this treatment, the vehicle will provide impeccable road holding while maintaining a high standard of comfort. Evidence of the importance given to safety when the car was designed (especially for younger drivers), is that the ESP comes as standard and cannot be deactivated.
The Abarth touch is equally apparent inside the car: the charismatic figure of the scorpion on one side of the dashboard, for example, while the “carbon effect” central console is decorated with a textured cube motif. That’s not all: the instrument panel has a sporty design, with the same look for the steering wheel and gear stick, finished in black leather with red stitching. Last but not least, the seats have also been beautifully designed with built-in headrest, lumbar support and two wings providing lateral thigh support (on request, the seats and central dashboard section can be finished in full grain leather).
Technical specifications: Grande Punto Abarth 1.4 turbo (155 CV)
Engine
- 4 cylinders in line, 4 valves per cylinder, 1368 cc
- Power: 155 hp at 5500 min
- Max torque 206 Nm at 5000 rpm (230 Nm at 3000 rpm in “sport” mode)
- Drive-by-wire accelerator controls with no mechanical connection
- Supercharged with IHI RHF3-P10.5 fixed geometry turbocharger.
Transmission
- 6-speed gearbox
- Dual hose external gearbox drive.
Suspension and steering
- Front with McPherson strut and anti-roll bar
- Torsion bar suspension at the rear
- Lowered sports suspension
- Electric power steering with “power boost” mode.
Brakes
- Fixed front caliper: Brembo M4x40, dual piston
- Ventilated front brake disc ø 305 mm x 28 mm
- Rear caliper with piston ø 54 mm
- Rear brake disc ø 264 mm x 11 mm.
Bodywork
- Deepened front and rear bumpers
Wheels
- Aluminium alloys, 7” x 17”
- Tyres: 215/45-17
