Abarth rallies round Fiat 500

Oct 1 2009 Maurice Glover

Abarth rallies round Fiat 500

ABARTH has added a dramatic new version to the smash-hit line-up of Fiat 500 models to continue its tradition of building high performance cars at affordable prices.

Fiat's sporting brand has rolled out the 500 R3T, a rally model to compete in a one-make championship next year alongside the European and Italian Trophies staged for the Abarth 500 Assetto Corse circuit racer.

Three decades after it introduced the first edition of the Autobianchi A112 Abarth Championship, Abarth has built its new rally model for homologation in group R3T, the category for supercharged cars with a maximum cylinder capacity of 1,600cc.

Power comes from a 1,368cc engine delivering 180bhp at 5,500rpm via a six-speed sequential gearbox, a self-locking blade differential, twin disc clutch and special half-shafts.

Suspension settings can be adjusted to suit different surfaces and drivers' styles. Four Brembo disc brakes provide the stopping power and the car also features a hydraulic hand brake and has a roll-cage integrated into the body shell, seats with six-point harnesses and other necessary safety devices.

'Abarth's ability to produce high quality racing and rallying machinery has never been in question,' says UK brand manager Ivan Gibson. 'We have already seen how good the Abarth 500 race car is and I am looking forward to watching this new rally car perform.'