FRS/BRZ vs. Fiat 500 Abarth
 

Seriously.

The Abarth was just announced today for North America, and it will have 160hp and 170ft-lbs! Also weighs just 2500lbs with all that torque.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...h500specs1.jpg

It also looks quite awesome:

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...en/abarths.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...thinterior.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...ntercooler.jpg

So anyway, I drove a Fiat 500 Sport last weekend at a "ride and drive" at the local Autoshow. I'm an autocrosser and generally know what I'm doing around a tight cone corse, so I flogged it pretty good (scared the ride along guy a bit) and I REALLY enjoyed it!

Due to the size and the visibility, you can REALLY hit an apex in this car and get the car right on top of the cones. The steering was VERY sharp, and the ride was VERY solid, I was impressed. Power was crap of course due to the crappy automatic, but after that test drive I instantly moved the Fiat up to near the top of my list.

With the Abarth coming out, I suspect I'll have to pick between the two at some point. I suspect the pricing will be similar to the FT86 models but lets make a quick run down of which might be better than which in each important category:

Horsepower - FT86
Torque - Abarth
Curb Weight - Abarth
Weight distribution - FT86
Handling - ???
Styling - Subjective, leaning towards FT86
Mileage - Possibly quite similar numbers
Reliability - Unknown, but assuredly much better with the FT86

And of course the Abarth is FWD and the FT86 chassis RWD, but as to which will be quicker or more fun to drive? Time will tell...

They both look like fun car to drive, and I don't mind owning either one. To me at least, FRS seems like alittle more serious sports car, whereas the abarth has a bit more personality and charm.

Nice little car. Hope they build enough so they'll be around in 20 yrs or so when I wanna pick up one for my daughter's 17th b'day :)

I think they look hella ugly!!!

I've heard great things about the abarth. I'm happy it'll hit the us and I plan on testdriving one for sure.

FR-S for me, Abarth for the wife, and Trailer for the kids?

I drove LOTS of 500 Abarth, the most powerful had the Grande Punto essesse turbo, bigger IC, full exhaust and map, for 200 bhp and 235 lbft, plus Brembo brakes and tuned suspensions.
It was this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=es3fbX0mOVU
It was fast and a lot of fun but it's no sports car, the centre of gravity and the seat position are too high, it jumps around on every little tarmac imperfection becasue of the short wheelbase and unsofisticated suspension geometry and it struggles to get the power down. Also the 5 gear 'box is rubbish.

The chassis and a lot of parts are took straight from the Panda, which is one of the cheapest car you can buy, and it shows.

I also heard the gearbox was the weak link with the Abarth. I think it's a pretty cool car, just not something I'm in the market for right now. The J-Lo commercial kills it for me, too. I like the logo though!

Is it quite a special thing anyway, both inside and outside, but in Italy it has been on sale for a while now and it's lost its appeal as a novelty.

I hope they'll sell tons in the US as we have a very strong exhaust line-up!

Yeah most of Europe has had them for quite some time.. damn US rarely gets interesting import cars early in their life..

At least we'll be able to try the car finally :)

Love that it's turboed...very nice. But Ummmm.....NO.

I think the 500's are cool looking little cars, and the Abarth certainly sounds like fun to drive. However since I'm not rolling in cash and able to afford a stable of cars this one is pretty far down on my list of potential purchases.

both versions with 135 and 160 hp were tested in germany, not much difference.
Fiat uses something called TTC, some sort of simulated slip differential through brake control, it makes the car significant slower.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qqiMP5q4fc

That's the one thing that kills this car for me.