Even before the standard 500 model arrives at dealerships, Fiat has taken the liberty to begin development on a sporty version of the retro re-make of the 1950's classic model. Separately, Fiat has also dug out of the history books another icon of their motorsports past, known as the Abarth. The pairing of both icons was inevitable, especially, after witnessing a successful rebirth of the Abarth brand as Fiat's new in-house tuner at this past Geneva motor show with the introduction of the Fiat Grande Punto Abarth production car and S2000 racer.
Pictured here in the same location and testing alongside the 500 Abarth is the Grande Punto Abarth. Although this “high-performance” Fiat 500 is able to breathe just fine without the intakes on the bonnet, the modifications will be limited to front and rear bumper fascias and bigger wheels wrapped in low-profile tires. Power will come from a new Abarth-tuned 150-bhp powerplant. The Grand Punto Abarth also sporting similar modifications is expected to be a real pocket-rocket with a 200hp petrol engine.
