NF500 / mille miglia

It’s been almost three months since we published the first, full and official 500 Abarth press release on NF500, but today, to coincide with Abarth’s appearance at the Mille Miglia and unveiling of the 500 Abarth Assetto Corse, Abarth have published a further release, many of which is repetition, but does include some previously unpublished details of the new car.

First of all, we have another confirmation that the car will go on sale via the exclusive Abarth dealer network from July 2008, but NO details of where these dealers will be located, and if and how the release will be staggered for different markets.

In terms of styling, the twin exhausts will be embossed with the famous Abarth scorpion logo as a nod to Abarth models of the 1960s. At the front, it’s all about aerodynamics and feeding the engine with cool air. The three part pattern formed by the front air intakes features a larger central intake than on the basic 500, and the slot above the number plate housing is also wider than standard. To the side of the bumper are what Abarth refer to as “nostrils”, which appropriately enough allow two corresponding intercoolers (which can be seen through the openings) to breath. Abarth also claim that the rear roof spoiler and “slide” attached to the base of the body is not only for show, but planned carefully to enhance the aerodynamic characteristics of the Fiat 500.

The Abarth logo also “floats” on a finned surface that acts as an additional air intake. Abarth badges are positioned on the sides, crossed by a three-coloured thunderbolt, exactly as on the Abarth 595 and 695 Abarth of the 1060s, to symbolise the brand’s racing vocation. The wheel rims, available in 16 and 17 inch sizes, come in different styles: from multispoked rims to rims bordered by holes (the reference to the forged wheel motifs of the 1970s is clear).

On the inside the 500 Abarth features specific instruments and an analogue pressure gauge used to measure the turbo pressure. The main gauge, with sporting graphics, is lipped on top to offer further protection against glare while the three-spoke steering wheel incorporates moulded grips for the thumbs and is levelled off at the base to ensure increased passenger room and space for adjustment. The aluminium pedals with rubber inserts also reflect Abarth’s racing heritage and flavour, as does the leather trimmed sports gear knob and unified seats with the head restraints incorporated in the backrest. This is all topped off by a roof trim and side inserts in black, intended to give the passenger compartment a hi-tech, sporty look, and hopefully not too claustrophobic!

Official photographs are still frustratingly thin on the ground for those of us yet to see this car in the metal, but there are some good detail shots of the items mentioned in this latest press release on Flickr, especially this set from the Geneva motorshow.

Technical specifications:
500 Abarth 1.4 16v Turbo T-Jet 135 bhp

1. Engine - 4 cylinders in line, 4 valves per cylinder, 1368 cm3.
2. Power output: 135 bhp ( 99 KW ) at 5500 rpm.
3. Peak torque: 206 Nm at 3000 rpm in SPORT BOOST mode.
4. Supercharging by means of a fixed geometry IHI RHF3-P turbocharger.
5. Transmission - 5-speed gearbox C510
6. Suspension - Front: MacPherson layout and anti-roll bar
7. Rear: inter-connected arms layout on torsion beam with anti-roll bar
8. Lowered sports suspension.
9. Steering - Dualdrive Electric power steering in SPORT mode.
10. Brakes - ZPH 4.1.2 floating front calliper, ø 54mm piston.
11. Self-ventilating front brake discs, ø 284 x 22 mm.
12. CII 34 floating rear calliper, ø 34 mm piston.
13. Rear brake discs, ø 240 mm x 11 mm.
14. Wheels - Standard: 6.5”x16” aluminium wheels
15. Tyres: 195/45 R16”
16. Option: 7”x17” aluminium wheels
17. Tyres: 205/40 R17”
18. Ecology level - Compliance with the Euro 5 CEE-F5 standard
19. CO2 emissions - 155 g/km
20. Fuel consumption - Urban consumption (lt./100km): 8.5 (33 imperial mpg)
21. Mixed consumption (lt./100km): 5.4 (52 imperial mpg)
22. Extra-urban consumption (lt./100km): 6.5 (43 imperial mpg)
23. Performance - Top speed: 205 Km/h (127 mph).
24. Acceleration (0 to 100 km/h (62mph)): 7.9 sec.

From 15th to 18th May, Abarth will be taking part in the 26th edition of the ‘Mille Miglia 2008’, a historical re-enactment of the ‘finest race in the world’, to quote Enzo Ferrari.

Abarth will have its own exhibition space at the Mille Miglia Paddock in the Fiera di Brescia, home to the world premiere of the ‘500 Abarth Assetto Corse’: the small yet powerful car due to feature in track races from next year, designed to rekindle the spirit of the ‘595 Abarth’, a car created by Fiat and engineered by the mechanical genius of Karl Abarth. To bring home this point, an historic 595 Abarth will be displayed side by side with the new car, along with a new 135hp 500 Abarth model, which will go on general sale from next July.

Abarth’s participation in this event, so unique and packed with tradition, symbolises its strong relationship with the past and significant link with the origins of the brand. Abarth cars from 1949 (the year when Abarth & C. SpA was set up) to 1957 (last edition of the 1000 Miglia race) were the stars of what has now become one of the most famous races in the world.

Full Abarth press release and technical specifications follow:

Abarth returns to track racing, and it has chosen to do so with its new ‘500 Abarth Assetto Corse’, the baby supersports car from Abarth, due to be produced in a Limited Edition (49 cars).

The new vehicle, designed by the Fiat Group Automobiles Style Centre and produced by a team of Abarth Engineers and Designers will be the star of track races from next year and its creation confirms Abarth’s racing vocation.

The Assetto Corse version of the petite 500 Abarth takes up the baton from its forerunner, the ‘595’ that notched up numerous successes and great victories from 1963 and led to the coining of the description ‘small but deadly’.

The cars sports a full racing outfit: wide track, white 17’ special ultralight racing wheels, low ride, sports racing mirrors and a place for a number on the sides. Available in pastel grey with red Abarth side stripes, the ‘500 Abarth Assetto Corse’ reveals an assertive front end that houses a badge bearing the Abarth logo and, below this, wide bumpers complete with an aerodynamic spoiler and screen-printed grilles to replace the plastic louvres on the standard production version. In addition to the classic bonnet clips, the bonnet houses two carbon air intakes bearing the Abarth scorpion logo.

The rear part of the car features a white winged spoiler, a badge bearing the Abarth logo and a twin exhaust pipe.

The Abarth identity is expressed to the full with a thunderbolt logo on the side representing the brand’s racing image and a red band and four white chequers on the roof, just as on the winning Abarth 850TC version of the 1960s.

Inside, the ‘500 Abarth Assetto Corse’ is equipped with a roll-bar type-approved for racing that is completely hollow to make the car lighter and faster. The car weighs approximately 180 kg less than the road version. The anatomical seats, the steering wheel (special for racing) and the carbon door panels make the 500 Abarth Assetto Corse a real baby sports car with a indomitable character all of its own .

Abarth has also thoughtfully provided a clothing set for the driver, that will be delivered in an original Abarth-branded leather bag. Owners of the ‘500 Abarth Assetto Corse’ will therefore be resplendent in overalls, helmets, gloves and shoes, all meticulously branded with the ultra-new ‘Assetto Corse’ logo produced for the limited edition of the car.

500 Abarth Assetto Corse Technical specifications

500 Abarth 1.4 16V turbo 200 bhp ‘ASSETTO CORSE’

• Engine - 4 cylinders in line, 4 valves per cylinder, 1368 cc.
• Power output: 200 KW (147 KW) at 6500 rpm.
• Peak torque 300 Nm at 3000 rpm.
• Garrett GT 1446 fixed geometry turbocharger.
• Special reinforced water and air sleeves.
• Transmission - M32 6-speed gearbox
• Suspension - Front: McPherson strut, special racing shock absorbers, coaxial spring with nut for adjusting height of car.
• Suspension - Rear : inter-connected arms, special racing shock absorbers, springs with nut for adjusting height of car.
• Steering - Electric power steering with racing tuning.
• Brakes - Brembo radial front calliper with four pistons M4X40.

Unfortunately Abarth have not released official photographs of the vehicle at this time (other than the computer images above), but Italiaspeed have a nice collection on their website.