Back in March at the Geneva Motor Show, Fiat presented the revival of the Abarth brand as their in-house tuning company which was marked by the debut of the Grande Punto Abarth S2000 race car. With sales of the Grande Punto Abarth model starting this month, Fiat now reveals teaser materials of an even more potent Abarth Grande Punto concept called "Super Sport" (Essesse).
Over the Grande Punto Abarth with its 150hp 1.4 turbo engine, the SS has a 180hp version of the same engine and receives a very attractive body kit consisting of a front bumper fascia with huge botox induced air intake openings and Abarth Scorpion logos inside, dual exhaust pipes nestled within the stylish rear bumper fascia, essesse logo or checkered flag decals, concave Abarth wheels, tri-tone mirrors and recessed fuel filler lid. However, close inspection of the photo at the top of this page raises the question of practicality for the rear roof spoiler which appears integrated into the top of the c-pilllar of the quarter panels. If this spolier gets damaged, the quarter panels need to be sectioned and conversely the spoiler needs to be cut if the quarter panel is damaged - not good for insurance rates. Naturally, the photo of the rear view is an edit of this image of the Grande Punto Abarth, but it's a little unrealistic, especially, if Fiat is trying to collect meaningful feedback for potential public sales. Nonetheless, the SS package, which is targeted to younger drivers on a budget gets our nod of approval.
After the official presentation in March this year, Abarth now makes its return at the Frankfurt Motor Show. One of the most prestigious brands in world motorsports. Abarth has always been synonymous with aggressive cars, competitiveness, passion and excitement, and it now returns with a new range that will appeal to all lovers of motor racing.
The stand will focus on two important concepts linked to the brand’s revival, which represent the most characteristic aspects of its identity: on one hand, the racing world, and on the other, conversions and boosted performance achieved by the application of highly technological solutions in a simple, intuitive package.
The first concept is presented very effectively with the display of a Grande Punto Abarth S2000, positioned on a large steel platform in the shape of a scorpion, to underline both the power and the unique nature of the technical features of this car.
The second concept is expressed on the stand in two different ways. First of all, there is a large photo-quality configurator, that allows visitors to appreciate and examine hands-on the elements that are important in the conversion world. But the real novelty at the show is the Grande Punto Abarth “essesse” (Super Sport) prototype, exhibited on a large glass platform, under which are a number of 3D monitors. These sophisticated screens project the components of the conversion kit which have made the basic version of the Grande Punto Abarth even more powerful and aggressive, in the best tradition of the Scorpion.
The Grande Punto Abarth went on the market this month, equipped with the 1.4 petrol Turbo engine that delivers 150 bhp at 5500 rpm (boosted to 155 bhp if 98 RON petrol is used) combined with a mechanical 6-speed gearbox that takes it to a top speed of 208 km/h, accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in just 8.2 seconds. This is the Abarth’s first interpretation of the Grande Punto, but the initiative will soon be extended to other models.
Grande Punto Abarth “essesse” prototype (Super Sport)
The absolute star of the stand is the Grande Punto Abarth “essesse” (Super Sport) prototype. A jewel of assertiveness and elegance, the car is offered with a booster kit that almost doubles its power output with relation to the basic model (up to almost 180 bhp). The ‘“essesse”’ kit also envisages a number of specific elements that accentuate both the sporty look of the Abarth model (for example adhesives with the ‘essesse’ logo or a chequered flag) and its dynamic behaviour, with a particular low stance or a more powerful braking system. This is a feature that maintains a brand tradition: for example, the Fiat 500 of 1958 delivered 13 bhp at 4000 rpm and a top speed of 85 km/h, while the Fiat 500 Abarth of the same year, produced 26 bhp at 5000 rpm and a top speed of 118 km/h.
The Grande Punto Abarth and the Grande Punto Abarth with the ‘essesse’ kit aim to revive the thrill of those cars, offering an opportunity, addressed to the young in particular, of entering the racing world in total safety and at an accessible price.
Grande Punto Abarth S2000
The public in Frankfurt will also be able to admire the extraordinary Grande Punto Abarth S2000. This is a racing car designed for racing stables, and under the management of Abarth Racing Operations, it is competing in the 2007 Italian Rally Championship, with Giandomenico Basso and his navigator Mitia Dotta, and the IRC (Intercontinental Rally Challenge) with drivers Anton Alen, Andrea Navarra and Umberto Scandola.
Powered by a 2000 cc aspirated engine that delivers 270 bhp, with 4-wheel drive, the new Grande Punto Abarth S2000 is the heir to the version that won the 2006 European title and the Intercontinental Rally Challenge with Giandomenico Basso and Mitia Dotta, and took the 2006 Italian Rally Championship winning 7 races.
We must underline that the approximately 25 cars built so far have been ordered by several racing stables in Europe and elsewhere, to compete in domestic and international rallies. And now, thanks to this technological superiority, the new Grande Punto Abarth S2000 tackles these two championships as the title-holder, with the same determination.
The head of Racing Operations for Abarth & C. Spa is Claudio Berro, who can draw on a staff with a great deal of experience in the racing sector as well as a team of outstanding drivers.
