NF500 / new fiat 500 abarth

So says Auto Express, who’ve whipped up some photoshop images of how they believe the new Fiat 500 Abarth will shape up when launched later in 2008.

Auto Express have changed their view about the forthcoming line up from previous articles, and now seem to agree with our own predictions of a 135 hp Abarth and 155 hp Abarth SS, while their earlier predictions of a 180 or 200 hp Abarth SS version have shifted to an official tuning kit offering a power figure somewhere in that ballpark.

The piece doesn’t really say or show anything new for 500 devotees, but as you can read the article for free online there’s no harm in reading a little more 500 hype as the UK launch creeps ever nearer. You can see the photos and read the report on the Auto Express website

Car magazine online have some excellent photographs and some interesting thoughts on the new Fiat 500 Abarth SS which was recently caught on camera during testing.

The photographs show quite dramatic modifications to the exterior styling, not only for function, such as the front lower bodywork and grille, but also for style and sound, such as the extremely beefy looking twin rear exit exhausts.

In terms of performance and power, Car are hedging their bets at anywhere between 165 and 180 hp for this true pocket rocket.  The Abarth SS is shaping up to be a real winner in our eyes!

Read more, see all the photos over at Car.

Auto Motor und Sport have published a longer video of the new Fiat 500 Abarth during testing at the Nurburgring.  The video shows nothing new in terms of detail, but we thought it well worth a watch and bringing to wider attention.

Unfortunately we can’t show the video here as embedding has been disabled, but you can watch it all over on YouTube.  Enjoy!

The online version of Car Magazine is carrying some very good spy photos of the new Fiat 500 Abarth in testing in Germany.  The photos appear to be from the same sessions that the photogrpahs of the 500 Abarth shown on WorldCarFans.com came from.

This time however the snaps show the red 500 Abarth test vehicle fleeting along in the pouring rain.  See the full photo set and read Car’s opinions on their website.

During the press conference for the launch of the new Fiat 500, which was broadcast via the official Fiat 500 website, Fiat Automobile’s CEO Luca De Meo revealed to the assembled members of the media that the new Fiat 500 Abarth, possibly the most exciting variant of Fiat’s new baby, will be officially unveiled for the first time to the public at the Tokyo Motorshow, which takes place in October 2007.

Most people had their money on a public début at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show, but De Meo revealed Fiat had other ideas while fielding questions regarding the importance of the new Fiat 500 in the Asian markets, where the mini car segment is extremely important and fiercely competitive.