AUTOXY: 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth

I will be starting a category for all the cars prepped for SCCA Solo or Autocross classification, and will be calling it the Autoxy, or Autocross autopsy (see what I did there?). First on the list, the 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth. 

Photo Cred: Alejandro Aviles

With the popularity of the hot hatch on the rise nowadays, such as the Focus and Fiesta ST, the Fiat 500 Abarth, and all the cool Peugots and Renaults that Europe decides to deprive us of, they are popping up everywhere. And I'm excited about it, because these are the cars that will turn people into car enthusiasts. They're cheap, they're quick, they're fun, and they are all that one step above the car that the general person may have been considering buying anyways. The perfect temptation. 

So the Fiat 500 Abarth fits in the market perfectly. With an MSRP of $22k, you get yourself a turbocharged 1.4l four-cylinder ball of fun. For those of you wondering how the Fiat does straight off the showroom floor, unfortunately, I have no idea. But I can tell you that this one in particular was extremely fun to drive. Here are the goods, straight from car-owner Mr. Setherley himself:

Suspension:

25mm front sway bar Neuspeed

28mm rear torsion bar Neuspeed

Road Race Motorsports front chassis braces

Road Race Motorsports front upper chassis brace

Bilsteins RSS coil overs

Stoptech Cryo slotted rotors front and rear

EBC red stuff pads

Team Dynamics 16"X7" pro race 1.2 forged wheels 13.6 lbs

Toyo R1R 205/50/16 (junk) lol

Road Race Motorsports stainless braided brake lines

Motor:

Road Race Motorsports cold air intake

Road Race Motorsports upper motor heat shield

Road Race Motorsports cat-less down pipe

Road Race Motorsports dual exhaust 2.5" straight

PTP Lava turbo blanket

PTP down pipe blanket

Road Race Motorsports ultimate ECU

Forge Motorsports recirculating BOV

Craven Speed short throw shifter

SS Designs Fabricated front brake cooling ducts.

Misc:

Abarth 695 Ferrari Tributo shift knob

Color matched chrome accents

PIAA bulb upgrades

Tint

Blacked out lighting

Blah blah blah.

So it's had a little work done. I was Shawn's first SCCA Solo instructor at the beginning of the season when the car had little work done, and clearly he's been hooked. The car that was originally bought for a girlfriend has been turned into the weekend warrior, and I was fortunate enough to jump in for a co-drive at a Washington DC Region SCCA Solo night event.

First off, the car sounds absolutely menacing. The closest description to the tone of the exhaust would have to be a cross between a diesel truck, and flatulence, but in the absolute coolest way possible. The Abarth did great out on course, and once you pushed it through the turbo lag, the car is shockingly quick in a straight line. The car from the factory makes 160hp and weighs in at just around 2500lbs, and in ST trim Shawn has adjusted both of those specs in the more exciting direction. I definitely underestimated the tug of the Fiat when it hits its sweet spot.

Unfortunately, I felt that with the setup the way it was, it didn't have the rear-end dependability of its pioneering competitor the Mini Cooper S, which currently holds the title of my favorite FWD car. Possibly linked to the twist-beam axle rear suspension of the Fiat vs. the IRS of the Mini, the Fiat wasn't dancing for me like I find the Minis capable of doing a little more naturally. And in it's current trim, it is outclassed in "STC", competing against the '89 to '91 Civics that have roughly a 600lb weight advantage over the Fiat that is required to meet the modern safety standards, which tends to cause cars to really pack on the pounds.

Photo Cred: Alejandro Aviles

Overall, I personally would rate the new Fiat 500 Abarth quite highly. It would make a very cool daily driver that doubles as a fun regional Autocross/Track Day car. The Fiat is a great value on the new car market today, especially for someone looking to take their "Point A to B" car-stable to the next level.