autos sport

Fiat's Abarth division is expanding its range with the launch of the esseesse tuning kits for the new Abarth 500C (convertible) and Abarth Punto Evo models at this month's Paris Auto Show. While Abarth is withholding most details on the "esseesse" packages that are designed improve the cars' performance, handling and styling, the Italian company did release info on the power upgrades.

With this kit, the scorpion-branded 500 convertible's 1.4-liter turbocharged engine delivers 160HP and a peak torque of 230Nm (170 lb-ft), up from the standard car's 140HP and 206Nm.

Acceleration from 0-100 km/h (62mph) drops from 8.1 seconds to 7.5 seconds, while top speed increases from 205km/h to 209km/h (130mph).

Output in the tuned Punto Evo "esseesse" is increased from 165HP and 250Nm to 180HP and 270Nm (184 lb-ft) at 3000 rpm. As a result, the 0-100km/h sprint is reduced from 7.9 seconds to 7.5 seconds, and top speed goes up to 216km/h (134mph).

The 'essesse' package also includes a set of 17-inch alloys with 5 diamond shaped spokes against an anthracite background for the Abarth 500C, and 18-inch alloys in a special titanium-coloured design for the Abarth Punto Evo.

Full details will be released at the presentation of the cars in Paris.

Abarth 500C "esseesse"

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Abarth Punto Evo "esseesse"

The new Abarth 500C will cost from £17,500 OTR and the Abarth Punto Evo from £16,500 OTR, Fiat's UK arm announced. Both models will make their UK public debuts at this weekend's Goodwood Festival of Speed, before going on sale in Britain from Saturday 17 July.

The semi-convertible Abarth 500C is motivated by a 140HP 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which provides a top speed of 127mph and a 0-62mph (100km/h) time of 8.1 seconds, while returning 43mpg UK on the combined cycle.

The feisty city car is equipped with seven airbags, xenon headlights, TTC (torque transfer control), parking sensors, Blue&Me hands-free telecommunications system, leather steering wheel and 16-inch alloy wheels plus a six-speed automated manual gearbox with paddle shifters, as standard.

The facelifted Abarth Punto Evo is powered by a 165bhp 1.4-liter Turbo, which can accelerate the car from 0-62mph (100km/h) in 7.9 seconds, and on to a top speed of 132mph, while delivering more than 47mpg UK on the combined cycle.

Standard equipment includes six airbags, TTC, Eco Gear Shift Indicator (EGSI), performance sport switch, Start&Stop tech, 17-inch alloy wheels and Blue&Me hands-free telecommunications system.

Fiat has released two limited edition versions of its best-selling models in the UK. The Panda Special Series 360 and the Grande Punto Special Series 360 feature higher levels of standard equipment at a reasonable price -but that’s about it. -Details after the jump

Based on the 1.2-litre Panda Dynamic, the Panda 360 is distinguished by a special series sticker on the B-pillar, metallic paint and 14-inch alloy wheels. Inside, the car is given a special interior trim which includes the new company logo on the front seats. Air conditioning, a Bluetooth phone system and spilt folding rear seating are also fitted as standard.

This extra equipment has a retail value of £1,600, but the Panda 360’s on-the-road price of just £7,195 is actually £400 less than the price of a Panda Dynamic.

Similarly, the Grande Punto 360 is based on the 1.2-litre Grande Punto Active and is available in 3- and 5-door specification. Recognizable from the outside by the special series sticker, metallic paint, 15-inch alloy wheels and body coloured mirrors, the vehicle also gets a unique interior trim with company logo, air conditioning, Fiat’s Blue&Me™ hands-free media system and a split folding rear seat.

Despite the fact that it gets £1,700 worth of added equipment, the Grande Punto 360 costs £8,495 (3-door) and £9,095 (5-door), which are £55 less than the respective Active versions.

This week’s proposal from Informotori’s design team transforms the Grande Punto 5door hatch into a mini station-wagon intended to compete against cars like the upcoming Peugeot 207 Break (SW). And that’s about all we can say about the Italian website’s proposal, not because we can’t translate the article but because we seriously doubt that Fiat is even considering to add a SW version to the Grande Punto line. Apart from the fact that in several markets Fiat already offers the low cost mini-SW, Palio Weekend, the Italians also have a mini-mpv (Fiat Idea) in their line-up.
Pics via: Infomotori

Technorati: Fiat+Grande+Punto, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, autos, Carscoop, blogs, 2007, images, pictures

Fiat’s calling upon its rich history in motorsports to launch a new line of sports models that’ll wear the iconic “Abarth” logo whose emblem features a scorpion. The Grande Punto Abarth which will make its debut at the Geneva Show along with its rally version, the Grande Punto Abarth S2000 (it will be entering the 2007 Italian Rally Championship with Giandomenico Basso and navigator, Mitia Dotta) are the first models of this series. Later on Fiat will enrich the Abarth range with the 500 Abarth and the Bravo Abarth.

Back to the Grande Punto Abarth, Fiats answer to the Peugeot 207 GT 1.6T and the VW Polo GTI is equipped with the 1.4 Turbo petrol engine that premiered on the Bravo. It delivers 150Hp at 5500 rpm, (boosted to 155Hp if you use 98 RON petrol) and a maximum torque figure of 230Nm at 3.000 rpm. Fiat also announced that latter in the year they’ll present a more powerful version of the Grande Punto Abarth. The latter, thanks to a booster kit will deliver 180Hp. We have no idea of how the sporty Fiat will handle on the road, but we sure as hell dig its unique design elements like the nostalgic 17’’ rims (reminiscent of the Cromodora Abarth alloys), the red pin stripes and the rally-inspired air intake on top of the windshield. –Continued: Click “Read More…” below to check out the press release and a high-res image gallery

In cooperation with MS-Design, Fiat Germany developed two sporty versions of the Grande Punto hatch dubbed Linea Race. The first pack, which includes a sporty bodykit, costs 1.900 EUROS while the second one, which adds black stripes, 215/40 tires with 17’’ rims and a “Linea Race” plaque in the interior, will cost you 3.250 EUROS. Although there are no mechanical changes, we remind you that according to Fiat Group’s plan, Fiat will add an all-new 120Hp 1.4 Turbo engine to the Grande Punto’s range in early summer. Via: Autoblog.it & Fiat.de

Technorati: Fiat+Grande+Punto, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, autos, Carscoop, images, pictures, 2007

GM might be having serious issues here and there but in Europe, things are starting to look promising to say the least. GM’s subsidiary Opel, not only swerved pass Renault to take the second place overall in the European market for 2006 –despite a 2,3% drop in sales, but its Astra model also managed to knock VW’s Golf off the top spot and become Europe’s best seller for 2006.

While rival VW must be pleased not only for maintaining first place but also for broadening the difference with the competition, I’m sure that they are quite unhappy with the fact that the Golf slipped from 1st place to 4th. On the contrary, Renault must feel very proud for its new Clio hatch (+28,0%) but not for its overall performance as sales dropped by 12,6%.

Fiat on its behalf recorded the largest increase in sales from the top 10 group with an 18.7% rise in sales, mainly due to its well-received Grande Punto hatch, which saw its sales double in 2006.

Finally, even though Toyota managed to rank 9th overall, there’s not one Asian model in Europe’s Top 10 best sellers list. In my opinion that won’t happen neither in 2007, but don’t be surprised if Toyota surpasses Citroen or Fiat (though less probable due to the introduction of the Bravo) at the end of the year.Via: Jato Dynamics

Technorati:business+news, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, Carscoop, blogs, 2007