Bolstered
by the success of the recent conversion kits (one Abarth 500
in three is converted using the official kit), Abarth has
expanded its range by launching the world premiere of the
esseesse kits for the new Abarth 500C and Abarth Punto Evo
models in Paris. These are designed to improve performance,
handling and safety without having to sacrifice the car's
low emissions and fuel consumption.
The stand will host two esseesse cars that perfectly
illustrate the spirit of Abarth tuning, encapsulating
substance and unassuming good looks: in accordance with
brand tradition and market requirements, Abarth cars are a
mix of sporty yet elegant looks and safe driving experience,
yet always with sporty performance levels. The Punto Evo
esseesse is in fact capable of 180 HP with truly thrilling
performance levels: maximum torque of 270 Nm at 3000 rpm,
top speed of 216 km/h and acceleration from 0-100 km/h in
just 7.5 seconds. The esseesse kit for the 500C turns the
scorpion-branded convertible into a genuine open-topped
sports car: 160 HP, maximum torque of 230 Nm, top speed of
209 km/h and acceleration from 0-100 km/h in just 7.6
seconds.
The Abarth Punto Evo esseesse is exhibited with a Campovolo
Grey body, named after the airfield, still operational
today, that is located opposite the company's historic
headquarters in Corso Marche, Turin. This was where the
young Karl Abarth used to buy paint for his cars, the very
same Campovolo grey shade used for aircraft. In detail, the
Abarth Punto Evo on show combines this particular colour
with an Abarth band in the body shade and 18’’ alloys in a
special titanium-coloured esseesse design. Inside, the car
features Abarth Corse by Sabelt seats in black leather with
a distinctly sporty design and an Abarth Blue&MeTM MAP
satellite navigation system complete with telemetrics
developed with Magneti Marelli.
The Abarth 500C esseesse on the other hand, comes with an
elegant Campovolo grey and Pista grey two-tone livery with a
white chromatic liner, an element that divides and at the
same time combines the two ‘souls’ of the car: the elegance
of a cabriolet above and the out-and-out sporty performance
of the esseesse kit below. The 500C esseesse is exhibited
with an original Record Monza exhaust silencer (dual mode
with variable counterpressure) that enhances the engine
sound above 4000 rpm and, as on the Punto Evo, with an
Abarth Blue&MeTM MAP satellite navigation system with
telemetrics.
These two models may be very different but they share a
single spirit, the sporting spirit of the Abarth scorpion
logo, which has proved itself capable of igniting the
passion of thousands of motorists with a taste for
challenge, performance and Italian style. In the words of
the advertising slogan “More power to your senses”, on an
Abarth car all your senses are stimulated to the maximum.
The perception is further amplified by the two kits that
guarantee even more driving performance and adrenaline: all
in all, the Abarth conversion kits represent empowerment
taken to its highest levels.
The Parisian stage also offers an opportunity to admire some
new products created for the Abarth 500 saloon: the stand
will exhibit a model in the new Record Grey shade, with
tobacco coloured leather interiors and super-sporty 17’’
alloys with 5 diamond shaped spokes against an anthracite
background. This mixture of sportiness and good looks is
inspired by the heritage of a brand that will once again
satisfy customers who seek a high-performance car that is
also elegant.
The Paris Motor Show is also an opportunity to take a look
at the two pillars of the Abarth business model: roadgoing
cars and the world of racing. To date, approximately 1600
Abarth 500C and nearly 1300 Abarth Punto Evo cars have been
sold: these numbers bear witness to the warm welcome
extended to these two cars and will certainly contribute to
the already excellent results recorded since the brand was
relaunched. Suffice to say that since 2007 the brand has
enjoyed continual growth, as evidenced by sales of nearly
28,000 for the Abarth Grande Punto and Abarth 500 models in
addition to approximately 6000 performance kits designed for
the two models.
The Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari has also met with great
success. This is the fastest and highest performing
road-going 500 ever, arising out of a joint venture between
Abarth and Ferrari, based on shared values that include a
passion for performance, a racing soul, attention to detail
and Italian style. This numbered and limited special series
has been marketed from July and has already notched up more
than 600 orders; more than half of which are from countries
such as United Kingdom, France and Germany.
These sales successes have been partly made possible by the
extraordinary network of dealers and official tuning shops,
an organisation that is unique in its field and is extending
to other international markets such as Israel, Rumania,
Cyprus, Lebanon, Finland and Australia.
The growth in Abarth's sporting activities was also constant
in 2010, consolidating the brand's presence both in rallies
and on the track, in Italy and throughout Europe. As far as
rallies are concerned, two official teams are competing with
success in the Italian Championship with Abarth Grande Punto
S2000 cars, while the RALLY version of the Abarth 500 has
led to the advent of the Abarth 500 Rally Selenia Trophy.
Track activities have also met with great success. The tried
and tested single-make Abarth 500 Selenia Italia and Abarth
500 Selenia Europe trophies have been joined this year by a
championship reserved for single-seater Formula
Aci-Csai-Abarth cars with the intention of allowing young
drivers to show their mettle at the wheel of an
experience-building single-seater car at an accessible
price. In 2011, great expectations surround the debut of the
single-seater car in Europe, with the Formula Abarth
European Championship.
Last but not least, Abarth returns to the Paris
International Motor Show with a stand where world débuts
mingle with tried and tested models to underscore - yet
again - the brand's unique position on the international
motoring stage. The design idea that inspired the space is
simplification: the architecture does not use a language to
interpret the brand but acts as a foundation to enhance its
values. Abarth and its world take centre stage and the
brand exhibits itself to the public in all its pureness and
simplicity, in its maximum essence. This approach focuses
the attention on the three new Abarth cars, positioned in an
extensive space with three areas of light; a huge LED
display representing the central element of the scenery
forms an ideal backdrop for the cars. Technical drawings of
Abarth engineering are ideally exhibited under a glass
floor, visible to all, as used to happen with cars when
their rear bonnet lids were partially raised.
Technical Specifications:
Abarth Punto EVO esseesse 1.4 Turbo
MultiAir 180 HP E5 3P Start & Stop
Abarth 500C esseesse – 160 HP 1.4 16v
TURBO T-Jet
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