And here comes yet another version of Fiat (Abarth) 500. It’s getting more and more difficult to choose a car these days. In this particular case (talking about Fiat 500) the emerging versions seem to have no end.
You can have regular 500 or “cabrio” version. If You like more edge – You can choose Abarth 500. Still not satisfied? You can have the Assetto or Esseesse tuning package installed, by Your local dealer, if the original raw version is not enough for You. In few months Abarth 500 will be available in “cabrio” version . Read more…
A little more about my recent little friend: Below You will find a new Abarth 500 commercial.
I wish they drove the car a little to show what it can do there. But the important guys from marketing company decided to show how the car “looks” and shines instead:)
Regardless… The impression the commercial makes is pretty good. Leaves some mystery about the car performance, as it shows only some revving and RPM At the same time speaks pretty obvious that we see a “sporty” toy… that makes You feel good.
Although the engine sound it makes is a little disappointing through the speakers, in real life it sounds better. I assure You. Now we just have to wait for a movie that the Abarth 500 will be a star in (like “Italian Job” had it’s Mini).
I wrote few words about Abarth 500 few posts ago. Last week I went to Abarth car dealer to take it for a test drive. And it was FUN! Fun… powered with 135 HP 1.4T engine, 0-62 mph in 8 seconds, top speed…who cares? (205 km/h – 127 mph). I know that these numbers are not impressive at all, but You have to remember that the car is only 11,5 feet long (3,5 meter). Of course they could make it more powerful, but this way they left something for tuners.
Abarth… Where’s Fiat?
You see the Fiat 500… You know it’s the Fiat… Everyone around can see this is a Fiat… but You won’t find the Fiat badge anywhere on it. That is the “Abarth way”. Fiat decided to draw a thick line between their regular cars and sporty versions, not by adding some GT, GTI, Sport or other suffix to the name, but by calling them totally separately: Abarth. And with the name comes a story of many decades of cooperation between these two brands.
The world car market is a complicated thing. Every major producer has it’s strategy, like every country has it’s local taste and characteristic. For ex. the US market doesn’t like diesel engines, don’t care about interior design much, must have huge bumpers. Europe on the other hand likes smaller cars, don’t use hybrids (cause diesel is cheap) and has worse prices on cars
Also there are international brands that work only locally. French trio: Renault, Citroen and Peugeot are not present in US. Fiat and Alfa planned to go accross the ocean in 2010 – but due to current car industry situation, nobody knows if they will. Also brands already present in US, choose models that will be sold in US and Europe separately.
Renault, Alfa, Opel, Honda...
Below You will find a list of 7 cars, that I find to go under category “fun” cars. hey are available to buy in Europe, but were not (so far) introduced to the US buyer. They’re all affordable options.
At the same time speaks pretty obvious that we see a “sporty” toy… that makes You feel good.
