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The brand
new Abarth 500C is the result of developments in both
style and performance. This is not the first time that
Abarth has undertaken the performance tuning of a
convertible and the company has used all its past
experience to improve both stylistic and technical
factors.
While the eye is inevitably drawn to the new body
finish, based on elegant two-tone colour schemes, the
extended, dynamic-looking spoiler instantly reminds you
that the Abarth 500C is first and foremost a high class
sportster. In addition to enhancing the aggressive
appearance of the 500C, the spoiler effectively boosts
CZ loading and creates a smoother air flow. The looks of
the Abarth 500C have also benefited from the new design
17” diamond finished alloy wheels, including the
sought-after diamond finished 5 petal white wheels.
Another strong point of the Abarth 500C is its
exceptional interior climate and acoustic comfort.
Thorough aerodynamic research has minimised turbulence
with the roof open, allowing the sound of the road and
engine to be enjoyed to the full. The new car therefore
delivers a more complete sport driving experience and
enhanced enjoyment. In an Abarth 500C, you can
experience all the thrills of a real sports car. With
the roof up, performance is on a par with a hard top.
When the roof down, the range of sensations and emotions
is dramatically extended, and includes all the pleasures
of feeling the wind in your hair and the sound of the
twin tail pipes.
The roof is electrically operated and slides along
guides in the car’s sides to let you enjoy your Abarth
500C all year round. A true object of design, the Abarth
500C’s roof stands out for its elegant, electrically
controlled movement and its impressively finished and
carefully administered technical features, including a
glass rear window and third brake light built into the
spoiler. The soft top comes in a choice of two colours
(black or titanium grey), to suit the classic Abarth
colours as well as the 2 two-tone colour schemes created
specially for the car: one overtly sporting (black and
race white) and the other in two elegant shades of grey.
Finally, a coloured graphic runs around the two-tone
body, simultaneously dividing and uniting the two souls
of the car: below, all the performance of a true
sportster, above, all the elegance of a convertible.
Performance: Abarth
tuning
The 500C is a true Abarth, as its 140 HP 1.4 Turbo T-Jet
engine clearly shows. Performance is impressive: 0-100
km/h in only 8.1 seconds and a peak torque of 206 at
2000 rpm. An engine that not only delivers thrilling
performance but also makes the Abarth 500C extremely
pleasant to drive day in, day out.
The engine is a 4 cylinder, 16 valve, unit of 1,368 cc,
fitted with an IHI RHF3-P fixed geometry turbocharger.
The unit delivers exciting performance, pushing the car
to a top speed of 205 km/h and accelerating it from 0 to
100 km/h in just 8.1 seconds. These exceptional figures
are also the result of an overboost function engaged by
pressing the “Sport” button, which modifies engine
control unit mapping, turbo pressure, and steering wheel
loading. Yet despite its true Abarth spirit, the 500C
still only consumes 6.5 l/100 km in the combined cycle.
The car’s sporting yet flexible engine is also
environmentally friendly and already conforms to the
strict Euro 5 standards soon to be introduced.
On top of its superb engine, the Abarth 500C boasts all
the technical content of the model from which it is
derived, including TTC (Torque Transfer Control) The
most obvious innovation, of course, is the race-derived
“ABARTH Competizione” gearbox, fitted as standard.
It was 1949 and Karl Abarth officially began marketing
the first product, a race-derived gearbox with steering
wheel control for the Fiat Topolino, capable of
delivering quick gear changes in sporty driving
conditions. With the same philosophy, more than 60 years
later, the “ABARTH Competizione” is offered as standard
on the Abarth 500C. This electro-hydraulically actuated,
6-speed gearbox is operated by steering wheel paddles
and controlled by a system that maximises economy and
performance when driven hard.
The innovative MTA-derived (Manual Transmission
Automated) system is based on a conventional mechanical
gearbox on which the traditional gear lever has been
replaced with an actuator electronically controlled by
the TCU (Transmission Control Unit) to optimise gear
changes and mechanical efficiency. The gearbox can be
used in two modes: auto for maximum comfort, and manual
for maximum performance. “Sport” mode can be engaged in
both gearbox modes and reduces gear shift times. The new
“ABARTH Competizione” gearbox makes driving even more
fun thanks to race-derived functions like steering wheel
paddle-shifting, just like on a real super-car.
Further confirmation that the 500C is a genuine Abarth
comes from the fact that a specific “SS” tuning kit is
currently being developed specially for it, offering an
even higher level of performance. The Abarth 500C is
aimed at customers seeking everything the scorpion brand
represents in terms of performance and innovation, plus
the ultimate in style and versatility.
Safety
The Abarth 500C incorporates all the safety systems
already installed on the Abarth 500. Designed to conform
to the strictest standards, the Abarth 500C is one of
the safest vehicles in its class. Stable and effective
braking, exhilarating acceleration from a 140 HP engine,
and ultra-reliable handling mean that the Abarth 500C
will get you through even the tightest scrapes without
you batting an eyelid. The 500C is equipped as standard
with 7 airbags (two front, two window and two side
airbags plus one driver knee airbag): a record for this
class of vehicle. The new version is also equipped with
sophisticated technical solutions to maximise active
safety and control: these include ABS with EBD
(Electronic Braking Distribution), a sophisticated ESP
system (Electronic Stability Program), ASR (Anti Slip
Regulation) traction control, Hill Holder to facilitate
starting off on slopes, and HBA (Hydraulic Brake
Assistance) to help with emergency braking.
The Abarth 500C also features two advanced control
systems: “TTC” (Torque Transfer Control) and “GSI” (Gear
Shift Indicator). TTC improves the transfer of torque
from the engine to the wheels and in particular gives
excellent handling on bends, making sports driving safer
and more fun than ever. GSI (Gear Shift Indicator)
provides a signal on the instrument panel (a LED that
flashes five times) to tell you when to change gear. In
Normal mode, GSI tells you that changing up will help
reduce fuel consumption. In Sport mode, the signal means
that changing gear will give you better performance.
Finally, the Abarth 500C is fitted with dynamic systems
and comfort-enhancing equipment to ensure that occupants
enjoy luxury as well as safety on all types of journey.
Take the suspension system for example. The front
suspension is based on independent McPherson struts,
while the rear suspension is semi-independent, with an
inter-connecting torsion bar. Specially developed by
Magneti Marelli, both suspension schemes have been
optimised specifically for the Abarth 500C to ensure
superb handling and the highest possible level of
comfort.
Abarth 500C Technical
Specifications
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