What can you get that’s sporty, Italian costs about $22,000. The answer can only be the evil twin brother of the regular Cinquecento, the 500 Abarth. The little pocket rocket joined Tim Kuniskis of Fiat USA in Jay Leno’s Garage.
Yes folks, Jay even did a handbrake turn and a little burnout in first gear with the 1.4-liter turbo engine red-lining it heart out. Seems the years spent in television have not dulled him at all.
Speaking of the engine, the 1.4-liter four-cylinder unit has been turbocharged to the sound of 160 horsepower. That’s quite a lot meatier than the standard 500, but it’s still very economical.
The 500 Abarth has been a great success story for Fiat. Originally, they were planning to make about a thousand of them to the US this year. This was soon boosted to three times that, but it wasn’t enough as the mighty pocket rocket is sold out.
Speaking of the engine, the 1.4-liter four-cylinder unit has been turbocharged to the sound of 160 horsepower. That’s quite a lot meatier than the standard 500, but it’s still very economical.
The 500 Abarth has been a great success story for Fiat. Originally, they were planning to make about a thousand of them to the US this year. This was soon boosted to three times that, but it wasn’t enough as the mighty pocket rocket is sold out.