Abarth
returns to track racing, and it has chosen to do so with
its new ‘500 Abarth Assetto Corse’, the baby supersports
car from Abarth, due to be produced in a Limited Edition
(49 cars) - read a press release issued this morning in
Turin.
The new vehicle, designed by the Fiat Group Automobiles
Style Centre and produced by a team of Abarth Engineers
and Designers will be the star of track races from next
year and its creation confirms Abarth’s racing vocation.
The Assetto Corse version of the petite 500 Abarth takes
up the baton from its forerunner, the ‘595’ that notched
up numerous successes and great victories from 1963 and
led to the coining of the description ‘small but
deadly’.
The cars sports a full racing outfit: wide track, white
17’ special ultralight racing wheels, low ride, sports
racing mirrors and a place for a number on the sides.
Available in pastel grey with red Abarth side stripes,
the ‘500 Abarth Assetto Corse’ reveals an assertive
front end that houses a badge bearing the Abarth logo
and, below this, wide bumpers complete with an
aerodynamic spoiler and screen-printed grilles to
replace the plastic louvres on the standard production
version. In addition to the classic bonnet clips, the
bonnet houses two carbon air intakes bearing the Abarth
scorpion logo.
The rear part of the car features a white winged
spoiler, a badge bearing the Abarth logo and a twin
exhaust pipe. The Abarth identity is expressed to the
full with a thunderbolt logo on the side representing
the brand’s racing image and a red band and four white
chequers on the roof, just as on the winning Abarth
850TC version of the 1960s.
Inside, the ‘500 Abarth Assetto Corse’ is equipped with
a roll-bar type-approved for racing that is completely
hollow to make the car lighter and faster. The car
weighs approximately 180 kg less than the road version.
The anatomical seats, the steering wheel (special for
racing) and the carbon door panels make the 500 Abarth
Assetto Corse a real baby sports car with a indomitable
character all of its own.
Abarth has also thoughtfully provided a clothing set for
the driver, that will be delivered in an original
Abarth-branded leather bag. Owners of the ‘500 Abarth
Assetto Corse’ will therefore be resplendent in
overalls, helmets, gloves and shoes, all meticulously
branded with the ultra-new ‘Assetto Corse’ logo produced
for the limited edition of the car.
Technical
specifications 500 Abarth 1.4 16V turbo 200 bhp ‘ASSETTO
CORSE’ (DOWNLOAD)
|