Abarth 500 Launch

Of course 2009 was dominated by the launch of the Abarth 500. After a long and painful wait, prices were announced in late January and the official launch held over the weekend of 7th-8th February. While a number of ‘launch edition’ cars were made available (Bossa Nova White, red stripes, red leather, 17-inch 10-spoke alloy wheels, etc), there was still an anxious time ahead for those preferring to spec their own cars.

Abarth Grande Punto “SuperSport”

Abarth Grande Punto 'SuperSport'

Late February saw the reveal of the Abarth Grande Punto “SuperSport”. Powered by the familiar 1.4-litre turbocharged engine but with the esseesse kit fitted from the factory, the SuperSport showcased the new Sabelt racing seats, variable back-pressure exhaust system, and Blue&Me Map satellite navigation with telemetry for the first time. After a mysteriously long gestation period, the car finally went on sale elsewhere in Europe in September – we’re still waiting for news on whether the car will ever make an appearance on our shores.

Abarth Corse by Sabelt Seats

Having made their debut on the SuperSport, the “Abarth Corse by Sabelt” seats were launched as an accessory in May for both Abarth 500 and Grande Punto, although it took a while for the somewhat alarming prices (£2,250 for leather, £1,760 for fabric) to finally show themselves.

Abarth Grande Punto Revisions

August saw a number of small revisions to the Abarth Grande Punto – the front centre armrest and tyre pressure monitoring system became available, while the previously standard Interscope hi-fi upgrade became an option. Emissions were reduced (from 162 to 159 g/km), while prices rose to £13,800, with many options also seeing increases.

Xenon Headlights for Abarth 500, Blue&Me Update

Record Monza Abarth 500 Exhaust

Xenon headlights appeared as a £500 option on the Abarth 500 at the same time, and a Blue&Me software update was released, together with a new adaptor, to improve iPod and iPhone compatibility.

Record Monza Abarth 500 Exhaust

The variable back-pressure exhaust system first shown on the SuperSport was finally released in September for the Abarth 500, now dubbed the “Record Monza” system and priced at £873.85. We’re still waiting for the elusive Punto version to arrive.

As a special Christmas bonus, we’ve negotiated a reduced price of £799.99 for Abarthisti members until the end of the year. Orders can be placed through the Abarthisti Shop.

Abarth 695 “Tributo Ferrari”

Abarth 695 'Tributo Ferrari'

September also saw the arrival of the Abarth 695 “Tributo Ferrari”. Based on a standard Abarth 500 but featuring many of the engine improvements used in the Assetto Corse race cars, the 695 pumps out over 180 bhp through a new MTA (automated manual) transmission. Externally, the car is finished in Scuderia Red with carbon fibre door mirrors, unique 17-inch alloy wheels and four-piston Brembo brakes. Inside, there are Sabelt racing seats, Jaeger instruments, non-slip aluminium foot wells, carbon fibre dash board, unique pedals and steering wheel, and a special identification plaque. While prices haven’t been announced, it is expected to be coming to the UK by special order during late 2010, with some dealers accepting deposits now.

Abarth 500 R3T Rally Car

Completing the announcements for a busy September was news of the Abarth 500 R3T rally car. Featuring a sequential six-speed gearbox, a self-locking differential, special half-shafts, and 180 bhp from its 1.4-litre turbocharged engine, the car will compete in the R3T group of a new promotional rally trophy launching in 2010.

Abarthisti Events

Abarth Hillclimb Challenge

It’s been a busy year for the Abarthisti, too. Our February event at the Gaydon Heritage Motor Centre was the one and only time the AGPs outnumbered the 500s. The Auto Italia events at Brooklands (May), Stanford Hall (June) and Gaydon (September) were all well attended and demonstrated our strong link with Abarth UK with combined display areas.

Our member-organised Driving Days made it out into Wales, Scotland, the Yorkshire Dales and anywhere else where there’s an abundance of curves and a sparsity of traffic.

The Abarth Hillclimb Challenge, which saw the Abarth Grande Punto compete in six events across the country from April to September, proved popular with many, and even managed to claim a class win at Goodwood with Autocar Magazine’s Matt Rigby at the wheel.

The Abarth 500 Trophy Europe nipped across the water to Brands Hatch in July, and we were ready with fistfuls of free tickets, reserved parking, paddock access and, for lucky forum member JKDesign80, a ride around the Brands Hatch circuit in an Assetto Corse driven by ex-BTCC driver and double 500 Trophy race-winner Adam Jones.

The launch of the British version of the series, the Trofeo Abarth 500 GB, took place at Silverstone in October, and we were exclusively invited not just to witness the unveiling of the championship and enjoy a little Italian hospitality, but also the chance to hit the track in our own cars. Tyres were tortured, and brakes were punished, but everything stood up well.

And next year?

Trofeo Abarth 500 GB

Abarthisti supports the Trofeo Abarth 500 GB

We’re most looking forward to following the Abarthisti-sponsored Assetto Corse’s progress in the Trofeo Abarth 500 GB throughout 2010, and we anticipate that our involvement will lead to unprecedented access to the Trofeo series for all Abarthisti members, including ticket give-aways, pit-lane access, the chance to meet drivers and engineers, and more.

Duxford 31/1/2010

Our Duxford event on 31st January kicks off the calendar for the year, and we have several irons in the fire for interesting events during the rest of 2010, including track days, motorsport events, and social get-togethers.

2010 Abarth 500C

It’ll be a busy year for Abarth, too, with the launch of the convertible Abarth 500C currently pencilled-in for June 2010. The rag-top version will closely match the specification of the standard Abarth 500, but with the addition of Xenon headlights, rear parking sensors, and Start&Stop as standard.

Pricing hasn’t been confirmed, but using the Fiat 500C as a guide suggests a starting price around £17,000.

2010 Abarth Grande Punto face-lift

The new and nervously-awaited Abarth Grande Punto will show its face in July 2010. Rumours suggest its design will move further away from the Fiat Punto Evo on which it’s based. Power will come from the new 1.4-litre 170 bhp MultiAir engine with Start&Stop technology and, while it won’t be available from launch, it will be the first car to offer the new C635 MTA automated six-speed manual transmission as an option. Assetto handling kits will be available from launch, but the esseesse kit will follow later.

There’s no official word on pricing yet. However, the 135 bhp Fiat Punto Evo Sporting will be priced at £15,295 when it arrives in January; clearly the 170 bhp Abarth version will be higher still.

The last piece of news is that the Abarth hillclimb challenge, using the Abarth Grande Punto, will likely make a repeat appearance for 2010, with an anticipated eight events across the country.

Phew!

All that remains now is to thank you for supporting us through 2009, to wish you and your family the very best for the festive period, and to hope the New Year brings you good health, good luck, a full tank of Super Unleaded and a fresh set of tyres.

Bang! The lights have changed, and my driver drops the clutch, propelling the car towards the horizon and compressing my spine into the seat. Bang! Snatching second, we lurch across the road. Bang! We’re millimetres away from the car in front as we grab third, but still we’re accelerating. Slam! A jab at the brakes just before we turn into the right-hand bend, forcing my innards to retreat further into my rib-cage. Nnaaaarrrrrr! We’re accelerating harder now, and my spine is being compressed again – downward, this time, as we hit the bottom of the hill and begin the climb back up the other side. Slam again! More eyeball-popping braking, this time just before we nip up the inside of the car in front and beat them through the next corner.

In any normal circumstances, this would be considered the behaviour of a pair of hooligans on their way to a court appearance and a public burning of their driving licences. But I’m sitting in the passenger seat of a brand new Abarth 500 Assetto Corse, my driver is Giles Dawson, who’s made quite a name for himself in the Ginetta G20 Challenge among other series, and we’re at the Brands Hatch circuit in Kent.

Giles Dawson and I chat calmly before the Scorpion is unleashed

Giles is testing the car with a view to competing in the Trofeo Abarth 500 GB launching in 2010. This is his first time in the Assetto Corse, too, and despite this allegedly being our slow ‘out’ lap, I fear I may have lost a couple of inches in height and maybe a stone or two in weight.

I can’t hear him over the angry noises coming from the engine bay, or the crackling and popping from the straight-through exhaust, but Giles is providing a running commentary as we rip from corner to corner.

The tight right-hander at the top of Druids becomes a favourite over-taking spot for us, suiting the 500’s ankle-biter character as we nip past the bigger cars on their inside.

We build up speed on the run down into Graham Hill Bend where the rear begins to drift, and carry it through Cooper Straight, before grabbing some kerb at the entry to Surtees but go easy on the brakes while the back end unloads. We’re tight up behind an MR2 now, despite its serious power advantage over us. The 500 holds its line tightly through Clearways while the Toyota drifts wide and, ever the cheeky up-start, we nip through.

We hold our advantage on the Brabham Straight, too, claiming another scalp – a Legends Championship car – just before we cross the start-finish line. I make brief eye-contact with the driver as we slip past, and imagine to myself the words running through his head: “Damn that infernal shopping car!”

The Assetto Corse overtaking at warp speed

It’s Paddock Hill Bend that Brands is famous for, though. With a wide entry, blind apex and negative camber, there’s a choice of lines before it plunges down into the compression.

In the Assetto Corse, it’s like driving a post box through Alton Towers – the sky disappears from view, your lunch tries to hide in the corners of your stomach and, with the suspension compressed onto its bump stops, you can’t help but run wide towards the impending doom of the gravel trap. Just as I’m praying for Carlo to rescue me from this petrol-fired hell, the 500 claws its way off the kerb, my vital organs stop fighting with each other for position, and blue sky fills the windscreen.

After a handful of laps, its time to return to the pit lane. I’d have happily stayed out there all day, being alternately tortured and elated. I shake Giles by the hand, unfold myself from the car, and undo my helmet. My first words?

“I gotta get me one of those!”

Abarthisti to support the 2010 Trofeo Abarth 500 GB

It’s hoped that our involvement will lead to unprecedented access to the Trofeo series for all Abarthisti members, including ticket give-aways, pit-lane access, the chance to meet drivers and engineers, and more.

The 2010 race calendar can be found below:

2010 Trofeo Abarth 500 GB Race Calendar

For now, here’s a couple of gratuitous shots of our logo, proudly adorning the sides of the one day-old Abarthisti-mobile.

This isn’t this car’s final livery – the Abarth 500 Assetto Corse race cars are delivered in white from the factory, and we added these temporary graphics for the RaceCar Live event at Brands Hatch.

RaceCar Live is billed as Europe’s only ‘live’ motorsport event, and provides a chance for racing drivers – both current and potential – to meet race teams, sponsors, series organisers and suppliers.

There was also the opportunity for drivers to test a range of race cars around the Brands Hatch circuit, and the Trofeo Abarth 500 was well represented, with four cars in total.

You can read about my experiences as a passenger during one of those tests elsewhere in the Abarthisti Magazine.

You can also find more information about the Trofeo Abarth 500 GB here: Trofeo Abarth 500 GB.

Since the Trofeo Abarth 500 Europe came to Brands Hatch earlier this year, the rumoured British version of the series has been the talk of the paddock. Following feedback from drivers, teams and sponsors, the series is now in its final stages of preparation. It launches with the stated aim of creating a package of racing that benefits all stakeholders – from competitors and sponsors, to owners and fans.

The series is expected to support key race weekends throughout the season, including the FIA World Touring Car Championship, the British Touring Car Championship and the British Superbike Championship.

The series will compete at Brands Hatch, Cadwell Park, Silverstone, Snetterton, Oulton Park and – in a link-up with the European trophy – Monza, Italy.

Comedian Patrick Kielty and supermodel Jodie Kidd attended the launch event

The Abarth dealer network has been encouraged to support the series, and eight dealers – Platts Garages (Stoke on Trent), Thames (Slough), S. G. Petch (York), Lipscomb (Maidstone), Fiat Marylebone (London), Rockingham Cars (Rockingham), Glyn Hopkin (Romford), and Vospers (Plymouth) – have confirmed their involvement for the 2010 series.

Six race teams have so far committed to the series: Advent Motorsport with drivers Vicki Butler-Henderson, Josh Wakefield, and James Blyth; Coastal Racing with drivers Carl Bradley; Rees Sport; Tech 9; Pyro Motorsport. Pulce Racing, backed by the engineering expertise of a Le Mans series race team, will be running the Vospers car, and their Assetto Corse will be sporting the Abarthisti logo.

The series features identical Abarth 500 Assetto Corse race cars, based on the road-going Abarth 500. Powered by the same 1.4-litre turbocharged engine, but with extensive internal modifications and a larger Garrett turbocharger, the race cars develop 190 bhp at 6,500 rpm. With a reinforced roll cage welded to the bodyshell, as well as further modifications to the chassis and brakes, the Assetto Corse cars are built in Turin before being shipped to the UK in batches of four. The first batch has already been delivered to their owners, following shakedown tests at Fiat Group’s proving ground at Balocco.

The inaugural race will take place over the weekend of 3/5 April 2010 at Oulton Park, and Abarthisti will be following the series throughout the year.

2010 Trofeo Abarth 500 GB Calendar

More information about the Trofeo Abarth 500 GB can be found on the official website: www.trofeoabarth500gb.com.