David Channeling Goliath - The Fiat Abarth 500 Assetto Corse

By hugh ujhazy

hugh ujhazy

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1,040 views Apr 11, 2011

Fiat 500 Abarth Assetto Corse - Copyright Hugh Ujhazy All rights reserved

This is a car for you and someone you love. The back seats are listed as offensive weapons to anyone over the age of five, even though they are beautifully trimmed in leather and fine stitching. For a short city ride, they are tolerable.

The street Abarth boasts a 1.4-liter turbo-charged engine developing 135 horsepower and 133 pound-feet of torque. The sport button temporarily increases the torque but does nothing for overall power. The engine, mounted up front and transversely, loves the be beaten with a stick. It seems happiest pulling at high revs and rockets the car through city streets, dodging obstacles to make its beefier brethren blanch.

The regular 1.4-liter 16v Sport 500 upon which the Abarth version is based offers a top speed of 113 mph and acceleration from 0-60 of 10 seconds from 100 horsepower. So, its no small gain to add a turbo, increase the power output by 35 percent and turn a nippy car into a pint-sized street rocket. 

But it gets better. Abarth released the Abarth Assetto Corse in 2009. Using the same 1.4-liter turbocharged engine that will power the Abarth single seater track car, the car runs on 17-inch alloy wheels stopped by massive red Brembo brake calipers on ventilated discs all round. One of only 49 cars in the series, the one sitting here in the cloud grey favored by the car is number 38. The white rims and the front grille embossed with the Abarth name through to the rear wing decorating the hatch give this car real presence. Quoted at 180 horsepower, the race-tuned player is at the track to square off against similar race tuned 1.4- to 1.6-liter competitors. The Honda-R, the Mazda RX and some local Proton Satrias are all playing in this round. 

For a car tipping the scale at just over 2,000 pounds, this is a super pocket rocket with an enviable power-to-weight ratio even for the bigger cars on the track. The interior of the car is stripped to bare paint with some of the weight savings being sacrificed for the roll cage. The driver’s race seat offers a five point racing harness. Power gets to the wheels via the six-speed manual transmission. Estimates on the 0-60 time sit below six seconds and the suspension has been modified to stiffen the car and give it better performance on the track.

Interior of the Fiat 500 - Copyright Hugh Ujhazy All Rights Reserved

The interior dashboard retains much of the original car. The stereo is replaced with a panel providing fuel pump and engine start switch. The instrumentation is standard 500 as are the foot pedals. Even the ventilation controls and ducts remain!

Watching this rocket in the support race for the Malaysian Formula 1 was a treat. Tight and stable through the corners, it started from the back of the grid, relegated there by its class and the presence of top gun Lamborghini and Ferrari race spec cars. Through the tight hairpin of turn 1 into the S-curve of turns 2 and three, the car remained stable, carrying plenty of speed through the turns and accelerating sharply down the track sections. No noticeable dive under heavy braking. The welding of the roll cage to the body frame significantly increases torsional stiffness of the car  and that suspension supports it well through corners.

Fiat 500 - Copyright Hugh Ujhazy All Rights Reserved

At the end of the race, the current owner and driver emerged with a huge grin on his face. This is a car that is fun to drive, has huge appeal and is not afraid to take it to the big boys. One of my favorites for the whole race weekend.