Quote:
Originally Posted by spin9k
Since peps have mentioned FWD cars, here's a car that just might make the cut of 'real competition' at least performance and weight wise, with it being significantly lighter with only slightly less HP. Beyond that it looks to expressly setup as a track car... and only a step or two away from a true race car of a sort.
Live Fiat Abarth 500 Intro 11/16 1:30 PST
The press conference will also be shown on Fiat USA's new Abarth site http://www.fiatusa.com/abarth/ in about 3 hrs from now.
Autoblog has some info and the press release http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/16/2...ormance-to-am/
Reading the (extremely long and detailed) Press Release and given the number of times they mention the word "Track" you'll begin to wonder if this wasn't a street car at all, but a track car only (it isn't).
Certainly it looks like a toy, maybe a slot car... but with a turbocharged 1.4-liter MultiAir-equipped engine including two intercoolers, it delivers an estimated 160 horsepower (119 kw) and 170 lb.-ft. (230 n·m) of torque into an estimated 2200 lb chassis, it portends to be one hella fun car to put on and drive like a maniac  |
I rented a Fiat 500 once. Fun ride (but the short wheelbase makes for a lot of jostling around on uneven surfaces) and pleasing interior. I'd try the Abarth over any FWD subcompact (Yaris, Fit, base Mini)... its specs blows past the competition. The next size up from the 500 is the Fiat Sedici (sedici = 16 in Italian = 4x4 = rebadged version of my SX4 AWD). The wheelbase is more livable on that one.