2012 Fiat 500C Abarth 1.4L Turbo T-JET 5AT (134 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Fiat relentlessly worked on its best-selling model, the 500, and improved it in any possible way it could, and that included a rag-top version for the punchy Abarth version.

Abarth was known for creating some of the most powerful and sporty versions of the Fiat. They were responsible for creating racing cars for the Italian automaker. In addition, it was also involved in upgrading Fiat production vehicles such as the Stilo or the Bravo. But then, the carmaker had a different idea: to involve it in the development of the 500 lineup, and the result was a pocket rocket that was available with either a hard roof or a retractable rag-top.

The Fiat 500C’s exterior didn’t have any Fiat badges on it, just those that showed the “Scorpione” (scorpion) one, specific for the Abarth brand. The regular front fascia of the Italian little car was transformed, and the lower bumper was replaced with one that featured a broad air intake on the lower side of the air dam. Also, there were the round fog lamps and, on the sides, a pair of decorative scoops. From its profile, the 500C boasted red calipers for both front and rear brake discs, plus redesigned side sills. The back of the car was also improved in terms of styling and received a new bumper with side vents and, underneath it, two oval exhausts integrated into the diffuser. Unlike the rest of the 500 range, the Abarth was available with a choice of 16” or 17” light-alloy wheels.

Inside, despite the car’s small size, the automaker found a way to provide enough room for the front occupants. Both the driver and their side passenger sat on high bolstered seats with tall seatbacks and integrated headrests. There were no significant changes in the instrument cluster, but Abarth added a tachometer mounted on the steering column. Other enhancements were visible on the flat-bottom steering wheel, which was decorated with the same “Scorpione” badge as the vehicle’s exterior. On the center console, the 500C featured the gear stick, which Abarth adorned with a new gear knob with red markings. In front of the passenger, the automaker placed the 500C lettering on the dash panel, which sported the same color as the car’s exterior. In the back, there was hardly room for passengers, although, with the roof retracted behind it, it was slightly better.

Under the hood, Abarth added a turbocharger to the 1.4-liter engine of the vehicle and raised its power to 160 hp (162 PS), which helped the little vehicle have a zero-to-sixty run in less than eight seconds. In addition, thanks to the stiffer suspension and improved brakes, the Fiat 500 Abarth was transformed into a pocket rocket.