Confirmed Tuning Box Solution for AGP + Exhaust

I’ve spent a few hours translating http://www.gpabarth.com and they’re all having remaps done.   Seems like its a tuning box, a piggyback unit if you will.

Here’s the translated text from Italian tuner Scorpion Tuning.  I think you get the jist…

Additional Power Point Abarth SS + + + Bravo Mi.To
NEW ABSOLUTE!
Centralina additional run completely digital, assembly plugin play without problems of recovery and performance insured GTECH!
Montabile even for Bravo Tjet and new Mi.To 155CV.

183CV and well 295Nm with fitting in just 5 minutes and removable at any time without leaving traces!
The unit has been tested and certified by TÜV German and ensure reliability as the car of the series. Also available for the version with SS 200CV and 324Nm of torque

Price only Euro 599.00 VAT INCLUDING !!!!!!!!

Want an exhaust too?  Look at this bad boy…

Translated here…

From August you can order our sports exhaust in stainless steel with regular EC approval. Available with different types of output including double round 80mm, and 90mm double-round centre exit!
Prices on request!

Abarth 500 Launch News

From my source in the trade

In January only between 150 and 200 Abarth 500′s will come to the UK.  They will all be white with leather (suprise me!)  £13500 otr, £850 for the leather.  No further options will be available on the first run of cars.

The ‘reserve your Abarth’ section on Fiat UK http://www.fiat.co.uk/500abarth/ has taken 103 deposits.  Plus dealers have taken direct deposits too.  Obviously some people who have placed the deposit on the website will not want one of the first cars with limited options.  But there wont be many left – best get down to your dealer and snap one up!

Abarth Grande Punto ‘esseesse’ kit fitted price..

Wait for it…

£4200 fitted…  thats FOUR THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED POUNDS in cheque speak.

It’s not that it’s not worth it.  The cost of the parts and labour is about right.  It’s just FOUR THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED POUNDS to add to your hatchback that you can’t get a discount on anyway.  Your Grande Punto would then cost £17700, thats SEVENTEEN THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED POUNDS + any optional extras.

Drivers Republic Video of the Abarth Grande Punto

Just a little teaser, but looks fun!

http://www.drivers-republic.com/dr_tv/?videoid=1923dfa2d3e94546b7da1605396011f8&area=clips

Abarth Grande Punto Insurance

I’m very happy!  With our present insurer the Abarth will only cost an extra £60 a year to insure over the Grande Punto Sporting MJet we have at the moment.  Even better, the ‘esseesse’ is only £30 more again!

One of the advantages to being ‘past it’ hehe!

EDIT:  I’ve just been looking at elephant.co.uk and done a few quotes and each time the GP T-Jet 120 is the same price as the Abarth… how odd, better take them up on it before they realise!

Fiat franchise will not be required for Abarth

An interesting atricle from motortrader.com.  Fiat have said that the next wave of Abarth dealers do not have to be existing Fiat dealers.  I’m very happy to hear that.. It great to seperate the brand even further from Fiat.

Car dealers looking to represent the Abarth brand will not necessarily need to hold another Fiat Group franchise.

The relaunched Fiat performance arm is looking to increase its current 10 outlets in the UK to 13 by the end of the year, and eventually aims to have between 15 and 20 sites.

According to Abarth head of brand Ivan Gibson, these could be alongside Fiat or Alfa Romeo centres, or bespoke units dealing only in Abarth.

Speaking to Motor Trader at the launch of the Grande Punto Abarth, Gibson said the brand was a completely separate business from the rest of Fiat, with its own factory in Turin. “We are not tied to, supported by or subsidised by Fiat – we are 100 per cent on the Abarth payroll,” he said.

The existing 10 Abarth outlets are located within Fiat dealerships but Gibson emphasised that finding dealers with the right attitude to the brand was the key.

“We need to see passion and enthusiasm for Abarth – some dealers can wave around large chequebooks, but that’s not what it’s about,” he said.

Performance upgrades of cars’ engines and chassis are rated as important as sales and servicing. All dealers will offer the upgrade services.

“These cars are very different to the norm with a lot of work going into them, they are not just badge-engineering,” said Gibson.

The Grande Punto Abarth will be followed early next year by the Abarth version of the 500 supermini.

Gibson anticipates selling 800 Grande Puntos in a full year, and 1,500 500s.

Abarth Grande Punto Options

Greg left a comment asking what the options were on the Abarth GP -here you go!

The UK car has the leather dash as standard – in mainland Europe its only standard when you get the leather seats.  We also get cruise control as standard – and a locking fuel cap(!)

List of all options:

Climate control £250

Black Metallic paint £375

Red paint £250

Skydome £550

Alternative 17-inch alloy wheels £500

Stripes and mirrors (white cars only) £100

CD autochanger £100

Leather interior £850

I’d like to know if the armrest is available.  In Italy it’s €60.  But it’s not on the UK list.  Perhaps it only comes with the leather?  I may just have to order one from the Fiat parts bin and fit it myself.

Abarth ‘Elise’ Roadster Confirmed…Maybe

I don’t know how much faith to put into Auto Express – Apparently Abarth has come to a ‘special agreement’ with Lotus.  I just fear this is the same rumour thats been flying around the internet for a few weeks now and it’s taken the artist at Auto Express a week to design a photoshop car…

Carefully read between the lines of the article here… Auto Express

Mr.C’s Abarth Grande Punto

Mr.C very kindly invited me to come up and have look at his Abarth Grande Punto yesterday.

It’s only 2 days old and he’s already not sure about the colour – what do you think?  I really like it against the tungsten wheels.

All Abarth Grande Punto’s come with the tinted glass on the rear half of the car. Mr.C, like me wouldn’t choose it personally as it’s a bit ‘yoof’

Here’s a close up of the ‘alternative’ wheels – they’d have to be made of gold for that price! But they do look good nonetheless.

Great to see a RHD interior, love that leather dash!

Thanx again to Mr.C for the cup of tea and the opportunity to come and have a look.

Platts Garage Abarth Demonstator

Sean up at Platts has been busy getting his demonstrator looking as loud as he can!

It’s a replica of one of the first publicity shots of the AGP S2000 rally weapon:

Here’s a couple of other images that he’s sent me…

What do you think?  I was apprehensive before I saw it, but now I absolutely love it.  Just imagine it with the ‘esseesse’ wheels on it!

Platts can have it fitted for you for £350 – this will include the sun strips on the front and rear screens and the red mirrors of course!

Do you think a greying 31 year old could get away with driving a car that looks like that… Be honest!

Telegraph Review of Abarth 500

A shining review of the Abarth 500!

The Telegraph

Round-up of the press reviews on the Abarth Grande Punto

Car Magazine

The Mirror - From Richard Hammond, no less.  Wrong pic, and saying it wont hit here till next year – poor journalism again!

Channel 4

IC Liverpool ?

Autocar

4Car Top Ten Abarths

A brilliant article showcasing some of the great Abarth cars from the last 50 years or so…

http://www.channel4.com/4car/ft/feature/feature/15455/

Abarth Launches in, wait for it, Harrogate?!

MOTORING journalists from across the UK descended on Harrogate this week after the town was chosen for the UK relaunch of one of the industry’s most historic brand names.

Pictured - Ivan Gibson, head of brand for Abarth, far left, with Peter Newton, PR Director for FIAT and Nick Lawson, General Manager of Hotel du Vin in Harrogate.

The Abarth name had its heyday in the Fifties and Sixties when it came to symbolise speed, courage, performance and modification.
Fiat has now decided the resuscitate the heritage brand and relaunch it as a stand-alone brand with its headquarters in Turin and its own workforce and designers.
The Grande Punto supermini is the first model to get the Arbarth treatment and Fiat said it chose Harrogate for the launch because it was in an area steeped in motoring history.
Peter Newton, Fiat’s public relations director, said: “It was here that the RAC rally started many years ago and right nextdoor is the Harewood Hill Climb.
“Hill climbing was part of the Abarth brief in the Fifties and Sixties and we used part of the Harewood route for our journalist test drives.”
Mr Newton said Harrogate was also chosen because of its proximity to beautiful scenery and relatively quiet roads.
“Harrogate and the surrounding area not only offers fantastic views but even in July and August it has roads that are relatively quiet and ideal for test driving.”
The Fiat team and members of the UK motoring press have been staying at Hotel du Vin in Harrogate where 15 Grande Punto Abarths have been lined up, including one show specimen in the hotel’s rear courtyard.
“Abarth is a well known competition and fast car brand and Carlo Abarth became a legend for creating fast cars that were still affordable,” explained Mr Newton.
“The new Punto is a fun car for enthusiastic drivers and we felt Harrogate was the perfect location to launch this new product and relaunch the heritage Abarth brand.”