Abarths are now at FIAT of Tacoma

The 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth may be small -- smaller than even a Mini Cooper -- but it's a heavy car.

With a curb weight of about 2500 pounds, the 500 Abarth isn't pound-heavy -- it's heritage-heavy. Just look at all the stylized scorpion badges. The 500 Abarth has eight of those badges on its exterior alone, if you count the wheel centers, and all of them remind you of one thing: a reputation for performance that's as large as the 500 is small.

This is the car the most fervent Fiat fans have been waiting for, ardently avoiding local dealers for fear of cracking and buying a regular 500. It certainly looks the part, especially our tester, turned out in Rosso paint and the optional gunmetal-colored 17-inch wheels, red brake calipers peeking out from behind the spokes. The rear valance has the requisite vents to match the restyled front air dam, with inlet and exit ducts for the twin intercoolers mounted just forward of the front wheels. The interior gets a restyled shiftknob and a chunky, flat-bottomed steering wheel. And those Abarth badges...well, they do the intended deed.

Open the hood and you're greeted with a red plastic engine cover that isn't quite long enough to hide the most significant revision to the little 1.4-liter Multiair engine: the small Garrett turbocharger that puts 160 hp and 170 lb-ft of torque on tap. As in the good old days, the heart of any Abarth is the engine, and this one pushes out nearly 60 percent more hp than the standard car. While the engine is somewhat different from the European version despite its identical horsepower to the premium esseesse (Italian for SS) model, the transmission is the same -- a five-speed manual unique to the Abarth (an automatic is not available).

The engine fires with a throaty burble, the din exiting via twin chromed exhaust tips -- a far cry from the normal car's mild rasp. Setting off, a mash of the throttle sends the boost gauge twirling and the Abarth leaps forward, picking up steam north of 4000 rpm and revving strongly to redline. Torque steer, a valid concern with high-output front drivers, is virtually nil in a straight line, thanks in part to an active locking differential that's tied into the new three-mode electronic stability control program. At the dragstrip, we recorded a 0-60-mph time of 6.8 seconds -- 3 seconds faster than the 500 Sport -- and a 15.3-second quarter-mile run with a trap speed of 89.8 mph. The last Mini Cooper S we tested (the Cooper is a primary 500 competitor despite its slightly larger scale) was roughly half a second quicker to 60 mph, but a full second quicker to the quarter mile. A standard Cooper was just over 1 second slower in both categories.

Like the Abarths that have come before it, the 500 Abarth has been tuned to be a well-rounded sport coupe. Engineers tweaked the 500's front MacPherson strut design and added Koni dampers and shorter coil springs that are stiffer by 40/20 percent front/rear.

 

 

 

Abarth also added its own front control arms, beefier anti-roll bars front and rear, and reinforced the rear axle and coiled spring mounts. An Abarth tweak to the electronic power steering makes it 10 percent quicker and improves road feel compared with the 500 Sport's. Front brake disc diameter is increased by an inch to 11.1 inches, and our tester's optional alloys were wrapped in sticky 205/40R17 Pirelli PZero Nero rubber.

75 Great Reasons to Choose Fiat 500 Over the BMW MINI....Come get you FIAT at Tacoma

75 Great Reasons to Choose Fiat 500 Over the BMW MINI

Overall Comparison, Fiat 500 vs. MINI:

1. The Fiat 500 base price MSRP is $4600 less (-23%) than the base BMW Mini MSRP.
2. The Fiat has a 5 star European NCAP rating for driver & passenger safety. Mini has a 4 star rating on driver & passenger safety. Mini has 5 stars for rollover protection only.
3. The Fiat has a better aerodynamic CD; Fiat: .35, base Mini: .37, Cooper S: .39
4. The Fiat base weight is 352 pounds less than the Mini’s base weight.
5. The Fiat’s maximum passenger/cargo capacity is 970 lbs., 154 lbs more than Mini’s 816 lbs.
6. The Fiat’s 34.8 ft. turning radius is 3 foot tighter than the Mini’s 38 ft.
7. The Fiat’s ground clearance is 4.1 inches; the Mini’s ground clearance is 5.5”.
8. The Fiat has lower insurance rates than the Mini yet the same warranty; 4 years, 50K miles.
9. The Fiat has 3 year 36K free maintenance, includes car rental and is transferable!
10. The Fiat suspension sub frame is attached w/o rubber isolators that could fatigue or wear out.
11. Fiat has a standard theft alarm, but it’s a $500 option on BMW Mini.
12. Fiat parts prices compare lower in price than BMW Mini parts.

Exterior Comparison:

13. Fiat has 14 exterior colors but only two are $500 extra. Mini: 7 of 10 colors are $500 extra!
14. The Fiat is taller overall with more upright seating position for better road view than the Mini.
15. Fog lights on Fiat Sport & Lounge are standard. Fog lights for base Mini cost $250.
16. The Fiat Lounge has fixed glass sunroof standard. Mini has no such thing.
17. The Fiat electric sunroof is an $850 option but the Mini sunroof option costs $1000.
18. The Fiat has quieter DBA noise level at idle and at speed on the road.
19. The Fiat has lower emissions than the Mini as well as lowest in class.
20. The Fiat has Bi-Halogen Headlights with daytime running lights.

Interior Comparison:

21. The Fiat has more space within the wheelbase devoted to passenger room.
22. Fiat drivers fit up to the 90th percentile adult, up to 6’ 1” without bumping headliner.
23. Fiat rear seat passengers cover a 70th percentile, up to 5’9 without bumping liner.
24. The Fiat has more rear seat leg room, Fiat 32.2”, Mini has 29.9”
25. The Fiat 500 has 6.5 cubic foot more trunk space than the Mini’s 5.7 cu. ft.
26. The Fiat has a longer luggage floor w/ seats upright, even though it’s shorter outside.
27. The Fiat 500 has a longer luggage floor with the seats folded down too!
28. The Fiat holds 30 cu. ft. of cargo w/ seats folded down; the base Mini only 24 cu. ft.
29. The Fiat’s front passenger seat in base model has a storage compartment. Mini does not.
30. The Fiat has an outboard top seatback lever and in board lower lever for rear passenger egress.
31. Centralized pod instrument bezel on the Fiat is directly in front of the driver, not on Mini.
32. Fiat driver switches, controls and levers are much easier to reach than in the BMW Mini.
33. The Fiat driver has an 8% downward slope view to the road ahead, a steeper angle than Mini.
34. Fiat drivers do not need to turn their head to see the heater controls, only look down.
35. The Fiat gear shifter is closer at hand than the Mini with a very short throw.
36. The Fiat center armrest is standard; the Mini center armrest is a $250 option.
37. Fiat offers heated seats & mirrors for less than Mini’s same $750 cold weather combo package.
38. The Fiat 500 has an HVAC system with micron air filter for the cabin, even on base models.
39. The 500 offers “equivalent temperature” sensors, changing settings based on inside and outside conditions of temperature, humidity and airflow.
40. The Fiat has “Eco-Drive”, a download computer application to review actual driving habits.
41. The Fiat includes an air compressor for tires as standard equipment.
42. Tom-Tom docking feature on Fiat eliminates wires or plug-ins to cigar lighter.
43. The Fiat offers superior “Blue & Me” interactive link w/ steering wheel controls & USB port.
44. Fiat’s Blue & Me system is $400 option, but a similar system is a $1750 package on the Mini.
45. The Fiat BOSE 6 speaker Audio system requires 50% less energy & 30% smaller.
46. The Fiat BOSE audio has amps under the front passenger seat, out of the way.

Performance Comparison:

47. The Fiat manual gets better mileage; the Fiat 30/38 MPG vs. Mini’s 28/37 MPG.
48. The Fiat does not require premium fuel. All Minis’ require at least 91 octane!
49. The Fiat 500 has a better power to weight ratio than the Mini base 1.6 engines.
50. The Fiat has patented Multi-Air valve technology, unavailable on the Mini.
51. The Fiat Pop, Sport & Lounge all have a stainless steel exhaust system standard.
52. The Fiat has hydraulic cam followers and never needs a valve adjustment.
53. The Fiat 6 speed automatic is $1000 option; mates buying the Mini pay $1250.
54. The Fiat automatic transmission has a one touch shifter + or -, the Mini does not.
55. Fiat has a dashboard “Sport” switch to sharpen the steering and auto trans shift points.
56. The Fiat has a 2 second “hill holder” that keeps manual car from rolling back.
57. Fiat has traction control standard. It’s an option on base Mini for $250.
58. The Fiat’s “HBA” hydraulic braking control compensates for pressure in panic stops and lowers actuation time for maximum braking force.
59. Fiat braking “EBD” reads wheel speed data for faster brake response times.
60. The Fiat “ESP” calculates wheel longitude and lateral grip, cutting in when wheel slip is beyond parameters by adjusting throttle input and opposite wheel brake bias.
61. Fiat’s “ASR” reduces wheel slip at all speeds and adjusts torque for grip detected.

Safety Comparison:

62. The Fiat has 7 airbags standard while Mini has only 6. Fiat includes driver’s knee airbag.
63. The Fiat has double seatbelt pretensions to tighten in a crash event sequence. Mini has only
single belt pre-tensioners. All 4 Fiat seats include 3 point belts and reactive head restraints.
64. The Fiat has a lower forward vision angle of 8%, Fiat driver sits more upright.
65. The Fiat’s narrower “A” pillars are of high tensile steel for safety w/ better visibility.
66. The Fiat front & rear seats have anti submarine devices to prevent sliding under belts.
67. The Fiat has breakaway foot pedals in high impact frontal crashes to protect feet.
68. The Fiat has soft energy impact hood area in case the car ever strikes a pedestrian.
69. Fiat’s “FPS” fire prevention switch cuts off valve & inertia switch stops the electric fuel pump in a crash. It even works in a rollover crash.
70. The Fiat’s interior trim is flame resistant. Mini does not use flame retardants.
71. Fiat’s doors automatically lock at 12 MPH+. Mini’s have no speed related device.

Heritage Comparison:

72. Fiat since 1899 is an independent manufacturer. Mini was BMC, now owned by BMW.
73. The original Fiat 500 appeared in 1957, the original Mini in 1959.
74. The Fiat 500 is sold in 90 countries; the BMW Mini… considerably less.
75. Enzo Ferrari drove a Fiat to work daily. Enzo never drove a Mini. Ever.