Fiat is giving American driving enthusiasts a bit of good news today: after a multi-decade absence, the word “affordable” can again be used in conjunction with the phrase “Italian performance car.”

Fiat has finally priced the 500 Abarth, and it will begin at a reasonable $22,000, excluding destination charge. That price buys a fairly well-equipped model, too, not some stripped-down version with roll up windows and no air conditioning.

All 500 Abarth models get a 1.4-liter MultiAir Turbo engine good for 160 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque, an Abarth-tuned suspension, bigger brakes, dual exhaust, 16-inch aluminum wheels, sport seats, Bluetooth connectivity, Bose premium audio and steering-wheel-mounted audio controls.

Buyers also get something unique in the segment: included in the purchase of every 500 Abarth is a trip to the Abarth Driving Experience, a one-day performance driving class led by instructors from the Richard Petty Driving Experience.

Fiat has yet to release option package and accessory pricing for the 500 Abarth, but we suspect it will be along the lines of other 500 models. Even loaded up, we doubt that buyers could top the $25,000 mark for a 500 Abarth, unless “Additional Dealer Markup” rears its ugly head.

Will the Fiat 500 Abarth be a home run for sales-hungry Fiat dealers, sustaining them until more Fiat and Alfa Romeo models enter the pipeline? We certainly hope so.