Alternative review of Fiat 500 Abarth

You might find this difficult to believe but there are people who feel that Fiat's lovable little 500 citycar isn't macho enough for them. The cute retro styling and bubbly persona just don't sit well with certain sections of the car buying public. Fiat was only too aware of this and to widen the 500's appeal, it devised the 500 Abarth. This car is still the award-winning 500 at heart but it's developed a mean streak of Dick Dastardly proportions with a side order of aggression that makes the tyrannosaurus-rex look like an elderly budgerigar. The 500 Abarth appeals to buyers who wouldn't necessarily appreciate the standard 500. It's the hot hatch version complete with sporty styling, uprated suspension and fiery performance courtesy of a compact, turbocharged engine. Personally, I love the standard 500 but I've got a lot of time for this model too.

The styling of the 500 is a big part of what has made it so popular and the Abarth version puts its own sporty spin on the classic lines. At the front, below the 500's double headlights, a pair of fog lights is set into the air-intake and these jewel-like additions are mirrored by the chromed exhausts that protrude from the rear diffuser. Side skirts and flared wheelarches dominate the flanks along with the distinctive Abarth racing stripe decals. There are also Abarth badges in place of the 500's usual Fiat ones, so everyone will know they're dealing with something special. It's a similar story inside where the surprisingly spacious 500 cabin is retained but given more of a dynamic twist. The sports steering wheel is trimmed in leather and is extremely tactile while the sports seats also get leather coverings and large side bolsters to hold you in place. The turbo boost gauge is another addition for the Abarth and at its centre is a warning light that prompts the driver to change gear at the opportune moment. It shows the best time to shift up or down for the greatest fuel economy in normal mode but press the Sport button and it turns its attention to maximising performance.

The standard 500 might not be a massively sporty affair, its strengths being comfort and manoeuvrability, but you can rest assured that the Abarth version is. Its 1.4-litre turbocharged powerplant produces 133bhp which is enough to power it to 60mph in under eight seconds then on to a 128mph top speed. The suspension has also firmed up significantly to make the car a sharper drive with faster responses and greater stability in the bends. Thankfully, the brakes are stronger too, upgraded to sportier items for more secure stopping. The 'City' button which makes the steering feather light in the normal Fiat 500, and was christened the 'girlie' button by some wags, isn't included on the Abarth version. That just wouldn't have been appropriate. In its place, there's a 'Sport' button that actually makes the steering heavier, for a greater feeling of control at speed, and liberates extra torque from the engine. Despite performance that's on the far side of lively, the 500 Abarth achieves respectable fuel economy and emissions. The combined cycle economy figure of 52.3mpg and emissions of 155g/km help make it one of the most affordable fast hatchbacks to run and ensure it's accessible to groups of buyers who may have previously considered such cars out of their price range.

Fiat really went to town in transforming the cute 500 into the snarling 500 Abarth. It opens up a whole new customer base for the car, one filled with buyers who would never have considered a small retro citycar but love the idea of a power-packed hatch with bags of attitude and the potential to give far more expensive machinery a run for its money. Most importantly, the Abarth is fun and in that respect, it's clearly a chip off the old block.

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