The Fiat 500 Abath is the tuned version of the 500 subcompact that was introduced to rave reviews in 2012. Surprisingly tiny, it still manages to be a competent four-seat city car. Using a 1.4-liter four-cylinder MutiAir engine as its basis, Fiat has added a liquid-cooled turbocharger that boosts the engine from 101 horsepower and 98 lb-ft of torque in the standard 500 up to a relatively whopping 160 ponies and 170 lb-ft in this little stinger.

Power is sent form a five-speed manual gearbox to a set of 17-inch low profile meats. A puller rather than pusher, the front wheels deliver all the oomph while the rear with its twist axle setup offers wide track stability. Traction is stellar in this prime example of a torquey beast in a miniature package.

An Abarth-tuned suspension is front and center with a lowered geometry, beefier springs, bigger brakes and wide Pirellis. The end result is a car that asks to be driven as though it’s on the Stelvio Pass in the Italian Alps.

In addition to the Abarth, the 500 can be had in standard and 135-horsepower Turbo configurations. The Abarth has lots going for it, but one thing that keeps coming front and center is the raspy sound from its exhaust. Clearly there’s something special here.

producer: fiat usa
period: 2013