More Details of the Abarth Grande Punto ‘esseesse’

More questions answered by the chaps on the official Italian Abarth blog http://www.abarth.it/blog

I’ve translated what I can and it seems that if the parts that are taken off the Abarth when fitting the ‘esseesse’ kit are in good condition, the dealer may negotiate a price to buy them back, or you’d be more than welcome to sell the parts on the best way you know how…  The official website may even have a part of their website to allow you to sell them there.

The 18″ wheels will be white or titanium.

The seats you see in the prototype images and videos will be available in an accessories range available from Abarth dealers along with aluminium pedals and footrest.

And now the performance figures – 0-62 mph in 7.5 seconds and 134 mph ! Brilliant

Here’s another video from the site of the esseesse:

Thanks to abarth.it/blog for the youtube videos!

Abarth Grande Punto Seats

Possibly one of my favourite things about the Grande Punto Abarth is its seats.

These are the fabric ones that are a sort of Alcantara and look brilliant…

Problem is, the leather ones are really turning my head. I’ve got a feeling that they’ll be about £750 as an option.

I probably wont get a choice as I’m gonna try and grab one of the first in the country in ’1949 White’ but if one is coming in with leather then I’ll definitely choose it over one with fabric seats.What do you think?

Only 6 Sleeps…

….till I go for my mini break in Turin!

First on my list of places to visit is Officine Abarth on Corso Marche in Turin, i’ll take a few photos, have a chat with the sales guys, see if I can get any more information about the UK launch…

While I’m there I’m gonna really really try to get a test drive, or at least get the sales guy to take me out in an Abarth Grande Punto…

I’ll let you know how I get on!

Can’t Wait For An Abarth?

TT Centre will import a LHD one for you. It’d be brand new and you’d be first owner. They say the price would be circa £14,459 – not bad if you’re really in a hurry to get one…

But hold it right there before you jump on the phone!  If you were to get a cheap flight to Turin as I’m doing next week (£30 return) you can get one and drive it back yourself for approximately £13,000 with UK VAT paid.  Now that would be a bargain!

Abarth Grande Punto Acceleration Video

This video gives a good idea of the acceleration of the Abarth Grande Punto – it was filmed on an Autobahn – allegedly!

Abarth Grande Punto Video

Bit of a boring one this, at least it’s got a classy tune to go with it!

Thanx to carscoop.blogspot.com!

Abarth Grande Punto Driving Video

Thought you may like to see this, obviously a bit of propaganda rather than an unbiased review but still good fun to watch

Thanx to carscoop.blogspot.com!

Where Do The Used Parts Go When You Fit The ‘esseesse’ Kit?

I’ve been asked about this a few times.  If you’re replacing all these expensive parts with even more expensive parts, what happens to them when they have been taken off the Abarth Grande Punto?

I’ve done a bit of research and in my broken Italian I have worked out that they are given back to you in the same wooden boxes that the kit is delivered in.

Seems like some lucky GP Sporting T-Jet owners will get some very accessible upgrades… eBay anyone?

Abarth Grande Punto Other Colours

All the press pictures of the Abarth Grande Punto seem to show the ’1949 White’ colour and it’s been hard work trying to find images of the other colours – but never fear, I’ve managed to dig up a couple:

 

It’s got to be white for me, but certainly the other colours make a very good case for themselves, dontcha think?

Apparently if you choose the red or black, the essesse kit for the Abarth Grande Punto will come with graphite coloured wheels…

Official ‘esseesse’ Details

Looks like the injectors and spark plugs aren’t in the Esseesse kit now…

There will be 2 stages of the kits fitted by the Abarth dealers.

1. The assetto kit gives enlarged perforated disc brakes front and rear, performance front brake pads,  high-performance springs lowering the car a further 15/20mm, new alloy wheels painted white 18″ complete with 215/40 ZR18 Pirelli Pzero tyres.

2.  The esseesse kit includes everything in the assetto kit plus a BMC Carbon Dynamic induction kit, a new Garrett turbocharger, twin exhaust rear box with chrome tips, a new ‘map’ on the ECU to bring the power to 180hp, and an esseesse sticker kit including a special engine cover.

Still no prices I’m afraid

Abarth Grande Punto Around Mugello

I love this track in Forza Motorsport 2, and love it even more now I’ve seen this video of an Abarth Grande Punto hooning round it!

Abarth Grande Punto ‘esseesse’ Kit

Here’s what the esseesse kit provides:

4 18″ OZ Superturismo wheels and tyres
Performance exhaust backbox
Garrett turbocharger
Front drilled and grooved brake discs
Rear uprated brake discs
Uprated brake pads
Uprated and lower springs and the esseesse decal kit

Yum, that’s gonna be pricey – Abarth Italy haven’t released the kit yet so we don’t have prices yet, but expect it to be in the region of £2000-£3000, ouch!

Abarth Grande Punto

This is what the blog is about – the Abarth Grande Punto…

These are the specs:

Engine:4-CYL, 1368cc, turbo

Power: 155hp@5500prm

Torque:170lb/ft@3000rpm

0-60mph: 8.2 sec

Top Speed: 129mph

I currently have a Fiat Grande Punto Sporting 1.9 mJTD with 130hp. A fun little car, but it will be part-exchanged at the first opportunity for one of these. My plan is to try and grab one of the first ones in the country, but this is no easy task at present as the biggest Fiat dealers in the UK don’t have a clue – or are not letting on yet – as to when the Abarth is launching.

We’ve been told by Fiat that there will be only a few – maybe 10 Abarth dealers in the UK and they will have to set aside a separate part of their dealership for the Abarth brand. I’ve hassled Mangoletsi to see what they will be doing as I expect that they will be one of the said 10 dealers. I’m on their list to be called as soon as they have any information, but I can’t wait!

Abarth Grande Punto Turbo Gauge

Wow! Look at this!

You can scroll through the fuel computer options and display a turbo gauge

How cool is that? The icon looks like the turbo icon from Chase HQ – remember that?

Welcome to my Abarth blog

Hi, I’ve been spending many hours on the web and phone trying to find out more information about the UK launch of the Abarth Grande Punto.  This was getting me nowhere, so I decided to stick it all down in a blog… I hope you enjoy it!