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Weekend roadtest : Abarth Punto EVO and 500C
publication date: Jul 24, 2010
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author/source: Robin Roberts & David Miles
The Abarth high performance range is evolving in
the UK.
Abarth 500C and the Abarth Punto EVO have been added
to the range available from the country’s 19 dealers and will be
instrumental in expanding these to over 25 by the end of next year.
Abarth,
a famous name from Italian motor sport of the 1950s, will also be
taking orders for the Tributo Ferrari 695 highly tuned version of the
500 which is going to cost an eye-watering EURO 35,500. Global
production of this tribute to the original hot 695cc Abarth of 60 years
ago will be limited to 1,695 cars, with just 150 coming to the UK.
For
enthusiasts seeking still more power for their Abarth models, this
autumn will see the availability of Esseesse tuning kits which will cost about
£2,700 and lift power output to at least 160bhp, along with other
improvements.
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Ivan Gibson, head of Abarth in the UK, said it has
now established itself as a standalone operation, reports DAVID MILES.
“The
UK is the second largest market behind Italy for Abarth models and in
2009 UK Abarth sales totalled 1,381 units of which the 500 hatchback
accounted for 1,134 registrations. These numbers were 50% ahead of our
target, they were the right cars at the right time,” he said.
He added, “Instead of taking sales from current Fiat customers we
have been selling to well-healed enthusiasts and we have taken a number
or Porsches in part exchange.”
Commenting on estimated UK sales
for the two latest Abarth models Gibson said that the 500C version
should achieve 300 to 400 UK sales this year and around 1,100 next year
depending on supply. Out of that total the Esseesse enhanced versions
take 40% of sales.
With regard to the Abarth Punto Evo the
overall take-up for standard models has been good since its launch
earlier this year so the Abarth version could achieve 700 sales this
year and around a 1,000 in 2011.
Commenting on media reports
that the Abarth brand could be added to other makes of cars other than
Fiat, Gibson said, “It is very unlikely we would move outside the Fiat
family group but we do have plans to produce bespoke Abarth models in
the next 12 months.”
He added, “The famous Abarth heritage
determines the types of models we could add to the range.”
Encouraged
to reveal more he said, “Depending on the state of the European new car
market we should expect to see in 2011 Abarth Speedster and Roadster
type models which would be based on the Fiat 500 platform. For the end
of 2012 Abarth already has a ‘hard-core’ two-seater sports car planned.”
Abarth
currently sells 12,500 vehicles a year globally but this will increase
to around 22,000 in 2011.
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| | The new Abarth 500C (above) takes its cue from the hardtop
version and not only has a remapped and slightly more powerful 140bhp
1.4 engine but has a unique Competizione gearbox, developed by Abarth.
|  | This 5sp manual transmission automated box comes with wheel mounted paddles and console buttons (left) to transform it into a fully automatic box. The responses can be finely tuned by the driver using a Sport button on the console to give edgier gearchanges, firmer steering and more engaging traction control with tauter handling.
Firmer springs and shock absorbers come with the Abarth 500C compared to a the standard Fiat 500C.
The new powertrain allows the Abarth 500C to hit 60mph from standstill in about 8secs and a maximum 128mph while limiting emissions to 151kgm CO2. | The Abarth 500C has distinctive front end with a
deeper spoiler, new lights and big air vents to improve engine
breathing, reshaped side skirts, extended roof spoiler and twin
exhausts.
Special wheels and tyres together with bi-colour paint work
further distinguish the Abarth 500C.
Inside, there is a flat-bottomed
steering wheel, powered windows, mirrors, air con and new height
adjustable high backed figure hugging leather sports seats.
The
Abarth 500C costs £17,500. |  | | | |  | The reworked Abarth Punto EVO develops the MultiAir 1.4
litre engine to produce165hp, about 10pc more than standard, and with a
six speed gearbox it is good for a 0-62mph time of under 8secs, maximum
133mph and can still give a best all round fuel economy of over 47mpg
and emissions of 142gkm.
This also has a distinctive front, side and
rear appearance through special body kit, paint detailing and twin
exhaust pipes and 17-inch wheels, while under the skin are retuned
shocks and dampers. | | Inside there is the handling enhancing “manettino” or
‘little lever’ Sport Switch (above) to fine tune the throttle, steering and
differential, and options include sports seats and telemetry technology
to improve driving style. Unusually for a performance hatch, Abarth
Punto EVO is fitted with fuel saving Start&Stop electronics to cut
consumption by up to 10pc in urban driving. It costs £16,500. | | First impressions | | The firmly sprung Abarth Punto Evo looks stunning and
makes all the right noises you would expect while the transmission is
direct if not particularly quick when making changes.
Steering is
firm but not as communicative as some might think although the brakes
are well up to coping with a rapid run over the Yorkshire Moors or a few
fast laps of Teesport Circuit (right). |  | It has little roll around tight corners and generally
copes well with poor surfaces but some bumps make their presence felt in
the cabin, although the seats do a good job of supporting the
occupants.
With just three doors the rear access is something of a
fiddle but the big front doors ease your passage into the front pair.
It
has good pull from rest and once underway the power provides easy
motorway cruising with plenty of flexibility mid range to minimise
changes if you want an easy drive.
|  | The Abarth 500C is a different proposition.
It feels
like a very nimble car and the steering gives more feedback while the
brakes lack nothing in power or progression.
The choice of a full or
semi-automatic transmission is desirable but in practice the sequential
box is not the smoothest in operation unless you carefully match engine
revs to road speed to avoid a jerky up or down-change. Ratios give smart getaway from rest but you have to make
use of the transmission to maintain steady or rapid progress on some
hilly and twisting roads. | It is very enjoyable and responsive to
gearchanges and it has a failsafe mode if you fluff a change. The
addition of the column paddles for up and down-changes has obscured the
stalks for lights and wipers.
The console selector provided buttons
for neutral, reverse, auto/manual and 1 but was not immediately clear to
use. Arranged as a quadrant rather than a single plain front to back
action is unusual but with familiarity it works well.
The Abarth 500C
had a smoother ride than I experienced in the Abarth Punto Evo but it
held onto the road as well as the bigger car and felt far more agile and
responsive to changes of direction.
Inside the seats were
particularly comfortable and well padded but the column only adjusted
for rake and not reach, whereas it went in both directions in its
stablemate. |
In conclusion, Abarth Punto Evo and 500C are important
additions to the range, both for dealers and enthusiasts for the brand,
and their style and performance will make them fashionable and
desirable.
©Robin Roberts
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