Photo: Stellantis South America
It's only been a year since Stellantis re-introduced the Abarth brand to the Brazilian Domestic Market. But in that time, the drive towards offering a cool, fashionable performance vehicle brand to young Brazilians hasn't wavered even slightly. In this same spirit, the all-new, Brazil-exclusive Abarth Fastback is here to offer something of a BMW X4/X6 experience at a price the average working-class Brazilian family could reasonably afford.
As a bespoke Abarth-flavored variant of the Fiat Fastback coupe SUV, the Abarth Fastback is nothing short of a curiosity by North American standards. In a continent where sporty coupe SUVs almost always rock large, powerful engines to match their herculean curb weights, the Abarth Fastback's 1.3-liter, four-pot jetting 178 horsepower on gasoline and 182hp running on ethanol seems frankly puny. But with the ability to spring from zero to 60 mph of 7.6 seconds, it'd be quite wrong to call this Brazilian crossover coupe slow.
For some context, a U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 Coupe is only 1.4 seconds slower over that same zero to 60 sprint. But is it really worth almost double the price for less than a second and a half? That's a tough question to ask. With Abarth-specific tuning done to their version of the Fiat Fastback, a reworked suspension with stiffer springs and shocks and 5 mm less ground clearance, this is the kind of sporty SUV coupe that can handle itself nicely in tight corners.
Add plush-looking perforated leather seats with red accent stitching, a 10.1-inch multimedia infotainment screen, and enough USB-A, USB-C, and wireless induction charging ports to satisfy any family, and that Mercedes GLC Coupe from before doesn't look like such a great deal anymore. Indeed, it's because the Abarth Fastback is three-quarters the refinement of more traditional luxury crossover coupes at roughly half the price that makes us wish you could buy one here in the States.
"We are promoting a true meeting between two icons: a legendary brand and a unique model. The result of this is the New Fastback Abarth, an SUV that reflects the essence of the scorpion, with a bold design combined with sports performance, attributes highly valued by Brazilians. It will certainly move the market and attract attention wherever it goes," explained Herlander Zola, senior vice president of Fiat and Abarth in South America, through a Portuguese press release translated into English. "The launch of the Abarth Fastback is another step towards the beginning of the brand's new era in Brazil. To top it off, we are still making progress in expanding our dealership network."
Prices are due to start at 159,990 Brazilian Real, or roughly $31,700 in American money before taxes and fees. As much as it's easy to think such a bargain would do great in North America and Europe, such thoughts will have to stay in the hypothetical. At least, for now, that is.
For some context, a U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 Coupe is only 1.4 seconds slower over that same zero to 60 sprint. But is it really worth almost double the price for less than a second and a half? That's a tough question to ask. With Abarth-specific tuning done to their version of the Fiat Fastback, a reworked suspension with stiffer springs and shocks and 5 mm less ground clearance, this is the kind of sporty SUV coupe that can handle itself nicely in tight corners.
Add plush-looking perforated leather seats with red accent stitching, a 10.1-inch multimedia infotainment screen, and enough USB-A, USB-C, and wireless induction charging ports to satisfy any family, and that Mercedes GLC Coupe from before doesn't look like such a great deal anymore. Indeed, it's because the Abarth Fastback is three-quarters the refinement of more traditional luxury crossover coupes at roughly half the price that makes us wish you could buy one here in the States.
"We are promoting a true meeting between two icons: a legendary brand and a unique model. The result of this is the New Fastback Abarth, an SUV that reflects the essence of the scorpion, with a bold design combined with sports performance, attributes highly valued by Brazilians. It will certainly move the market and attract attention wherever it goes," explained Herlander Zola, senior vice president of Fiat and Abarth in South America, through a Portuguese press release translated into English. "The launch of the Abarth Fastback is another step towards the beginning of the brand's new era in Brazil. To top it off, we are still making progress in expanding our dealership network."
Prices are due to start at 159,990 Brazilian Real, or roughly $31,700 in American money before taxes and fees. As much as it's easy to think such a bargain would do great in North America and Europe, such thoughts will have to stay in the hypothetical. At least, for now, that is.
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