|
Price |
|
-- |
Production |
|
-- |
|
Engine |
1.4
liter inline-4 |
Weight |
-- |
|
Aspiration |
turbocharger |
Torque |
-- |
|
HP |
140
hp @ 5000 rpm |
HP/Weight |
-- |
|
HP/Liter |
100
hp per liter |
1/4 mile |
-- |
|
0-62 mph |
8.1
seconds |
Top Speed |
-- |
(from Abarth Press
Release) ABARTH 500C: adding power to a style icon
Style: a sports convertible
The brand new Abarth
500C is the result of developments in both style and performance.
This is not the first time that Abarth has undertaken the
performance tuning of a convertible and the company has used all its
past experience to improve both stylistic and technical factors.
While the eye is
inevitably drawn to the new body finish, based on elegant two-tone
colour schemes, the extended, dynamic-looking spoiler instantly
reminds you that the Abarth 500C is first and foremost a high class
sportster. In addition to enhancing the aggressive appearance of the
500C, the spoiler effectively boosts CZ loading and creates a
smoother air flow.
The looks of the Abarth
500C have also benefited from the new design 17” diamond finished
alloy wheels, including the sought-after diamond finished 5 petal
white wheels.
Another strong point of
the Abarth 500C is its exceptional interior climate and acoustic
comfort. Thorough aerodynamic research has minimised turbulence with
the roof open, allowing the sound of the road and engine to be
enjoyed to the full. The new car therefore delivers a more complete
sport driving experience and enhanced enjoyment. In an Abarth 500C,
you can experience all the thrills of a real sports car. With the
roof up, performance is on a par with a hard top. When the roof
down, the range of sensations and emotions is dramatically extended,
and includes all the pleasures of feeling the wind in your hair and
the sound of the twin tail pipes.
The roof is electrically
operated and slides along guides in the car’s sides to let you enjoy
your Abarth 500C all year round. A true object of design, the Abarth
500C’s roof stands out for its elegant, electrically controlled
movement and its impressively finished and carefully administered
technical features, including a glass rear window and third brake
light built into the spoiler. The soft top comes in a choice of two
colours (black or titanium grey), to suit the classic Abarth colours
as well as the 2 two-tone colour schemes created specially for the
car: one overtly sporting (black and race white) and the other in
two elegant shades of grey. Finally, a coloured graphic runs around
the two-tone body, simultaneously dividing and uniting the two souls
of the car: below, all the performance of a true sportster, above,
all the elegance of a convertible.
Performance: Abarth tuning
The 500C is a true
Abarth, as its 140 HP 1.4 Turbo T-Jet engine clearly shows.
Performance is impressive: 0-100 km/h in only 8.1 seconds and a peak
torque of 206 at 2000 rpm. An engine that not only delivers
thrilling performance but also makes the Abarth 500C extremely
pleasant to drive day in, day out.
The engine is a 4
cylinder, 16 valve, unit of 1,368 cc, fitted with an IHI RHF3-P
fixed geometry turbocharger. The unit delivers exciting performance,
pushing the car to a top speed of 205 km/h and accelerating it from
0 to 100 km/h in just 8.1 seconds. These exceptional figures are
also the result of an overboost function engaged by pressing the
“Sport” button, which modifies engine control unit mapping, turbo
pressure, and steering wheel loading. Yet despite its true Abarth
spirit, the 500C still only consumes 6.5 l/100 km in the combined
cycle.
The car’s sporting yet
flexible engine is also environmentally friendly and already
conforms to the strict Euro 5 standards soon to be introduced.
On top of its superb
engine, the Abarth 500C boasts all the technical content of the
model from which it is derived, including TTC (Torque Transfer
Control) The most obvious innovation, of course, is the race-derived
“ABARTH Competizione” gearbox, fitted as standard.
It was 1949 and Karl
Abarth officially began marketing the first product, a race-derived
gearbox with steering wheel control for the Fiat Topolino, capable
of delivering quick gear changes in sporty driving conditions. With
the same philosophy, more than 60 years later, the “ABARTH
Competizione” is offered as standard on the Abarth 500C. This
electro-hydraulically actuated, 6-speed gearbox is operated by
steering wheel paddles and controlled by a system that maximises
economy and performance when driven hard.
The innovative MTA-derived
(Manual Transmission Automated) system is based on a conventional
mechanical gearbox on which the traditional gear lever has been
replaced with an actuator electronically controlled by the TCU
(Transmission Control Unit) to optimise gear changes and mechanical
efficiency. The gearbox can be used in two modes: auto for maximum
comfort, and manual for maximum performance. “Sport” mode can be
engaged in both gearbox modes and reduces gear shift times.
The new “ABARTH
Competizione” gearbox makes driving even more fun thanks to
race-derived functions like steering wheel paddle-shifting, just
like on a real super-car.
Further confirmation
that the 500C is a genuine Abarth comes from the fact that a
specific “SS” tuning kit is currently being developed specially for
it, offering an even higher level of performance.
The Abarth 500C is aimed at customers seeking everything the
scorpion brand represents in terms of performance and innovation,
plus the ultimate in style and versatility.
Safety
The Abarth 500C
incorporates all the safety systems already installed on the Abarth
500.
Designed to conform to the strictest standards, the Abarth 500C is
one of the safest vehicles in its class. Stable and effective
braking, exhilarating acceleration from a 140 HP engine, and
ultra-reliable handling mean that the Abarth 500C will get you
through even the tightest scrapes without you batting an eyelid. The
500C is equipped as standard with 7 airbags (two front, two window
and two side airbags plus one driver knee airbag): a record for this
class of vehicle. The new version is also equipped with
sophisticated technical solutions to maximise active safety and
control: these include ABS with EBD (Electronic Braking
Distribution), a sophisticated ESP system (Electronic Stability
Program), ASR (Anti Slip Regulation) traction control, Hill Holder
to facilitate starting off on slopes, and HBA (Hydraulic Brake
Assistance) to help with emergency braking.
The Abarth 500C also
features two advanced control systems: “TTC” (Torque Transfer
Control) and “GSI” (Gear Shift Indicator). TTC improves the transfer
of torque from the engine to the wheels and in particular gives
excellent handling on bends, making sports driving safer and more
fun than ever. GSI (Gear Shift Indicator) provides a signal on the
instrument panel (a LED that flashes five times) to tell you when to
change gear. In Normal mode, GSI tells you that changing up will
help reduce fuel consumption. In Sport mode, the signal means that
changing gear will give you better performance.
Finally, the Abarth 500C is fitted with dynamic systems and
comfort-enhancing equipment to ensure that occupants enjoy luxury as
well as safety on all types of journey. Take the suspension system
for example. The front suspension is based on independent McPherson
struts, while the rear suspension is semi-independent, with an
inter-connecting torsion bar. Specially developed by Magneti Marelli,
both suspension schemes have been optimised specifically for the
Abarth 500C to ensure superb handling and the highest possible level
of comfort.
