2015 Fiat 500C Abarth Review

To get to this point, Fiat used its 500 Turbo model as a starting point giving the 500 Abarth a specially tuned suspension and exhaust with an equally cool look to match. This car is all about maximizing fun whether it be on the track, on the road or just sitting at a stop light (as we later found out). Of course, the best way to experience a car like this is to actually drive it, so we spent a week driving the most fun version of Fiat’s sport-tuned, pint-size hot hatch, the drop-top 2015 Fiat 500C Abarth.

Even without cranking up the raucous little engine, you can instantly tell that the Abarth models mean business. Fiat started by lowering the ride height by 0.6-inch (15 mm). That might not seem like much, but combined with the optional 17-inch forged aluminum wheels, the 2015 Fiat 500 Abarth models have a squatted stance.

The Abarth also gets meaner front and rear fascias with additional air intakes and the rear fascia adds a blacked-out diffuser and oversized exhaust tips that hint at the aural exuberance yet to come. There is far less chrome on the outside of this sporty model when compared to a standard Fiat 500, and it’s impossible to miss the Abarth scorpion badges present on all four corners of this car – there’s even an Abarth logo under the hood with a scorpion on the engine’s red valve cover.

The upgraded wheels come as a $1,400 option with a spectacular Hyper Black finish that helps create even more contrast for the standard red-painted brake calipers. This dark theme also continues with options such as the $450 black mirror caps and Abarth decals running down the side of the car as well as $250 for the tinted headlights and taillights.

This is one of just four exterior colors available on the car: White, Granite Crystal, Straight Black and Red (Blanco, Granito Lucente, Nero Puro and Rosso, respectively, if you’re in the mood for a quick lesson in Italian).

Unlike a conventional convertible that removes the whole roof aft of the A-pillars, all Fiat 500C models feature a power-retractable cloth panel that creates a large opening in the roof while leaving the roof rails and side pillars intact. This unique top mechanism means that drivers can open and close the cloth top at will while driving, and it has three main positions including fully closed, partially open (to just behind the front seats) and fully open, which creates a large opening from the upper edge of the windshield to about halfway down the C-pillar.

This sliding top of the 2015 Fiat 500C Abarth opens to reveal an equally sporty interior. Key changes include upgraded front seats that get cloth sport buckets with integrated headrests, and the driver’s cockpit adds a thick-rimmed, flat-bottomed steering wheel. The diameter of the leather-wrapped steering wheel is way too big, but that is probably by design so as to allow the driver to get a good look at the all-in-one gauge cluster.

This oversized pod has an Abarth-specific 160-mph speedometer, a 6,500-rpm tachometer and the large electronic vehicle information center display screen in the middle. Off to the left side of the cluster is a small boost gauge with a centrally located shift light.

Fiat also spiced up the interior with Abarth-exclusive color options including the black cloth seats with red stripes running down the middle and plenty of red stitching throughout the cabin. The shift lever and parking brake lever both get wrapped in black leather, and the Abarth upgrades are finished off with aluminum pedals for the driver (including a dead pedal).

Options on this tester included the $900 Comfort/Convenience Group package that includes automatic temperature controls for the HVAC system and heated front seats, as well as the $600 TomTom navigation system. With real estate on the instrument panel at a premium, Fiat gave the 500 a factory navigation system with a head unit that plugs into the top of the dash but can be fully removed for added security.

Seeing as how this performs the same functions that any smartphone can, it would probably be cheaper just to buy a dash mount for your phone and save a little money at the dealership by forgoing this option.

As much fun as it is to drive, there are a few drawbacks about the 500C Abarth. To start with, the sloping roof, small rear windows and fully retracted top render rearward visibility almost nonexistent. Lacking a backup camera or blind spot monitor system made matters even worse, but as a consolation prize, the driver’s door mirror does come with a curved blind spot mirror.

Another downfall of the Fiat 500’s two-door design is that getting to the rear seat is only as unenviable as having to sit back there with the rear accommodations being severely cramped for adult passengers. Finally (a common problem amongst convertibles), the 500C Abarth’s cargo capacity is limited to just 5.4 cubic feet leaving enough room for a single roller board suitcase if you’re lucky.

Tucked under the short hood of the 2015 Fiat 500C Abarth sits a 1.4-liter turbocharged inline-four rated at 160 hp in the US (119 kW) and up to 170 lb-ft (230 Nm) of torque. This mill is shared with the Fiat 500 Turbo, but it brings an extra 25 hp to the party as well as a Sport mode that bumps torque from 150 lb-ft to its 170 lb-ft max.

Good luck resisting the urge to blip the throttle at stop lights or heavily accelerating away from said stops, which quickly detract from the EPA-rated fuel economy estimates of 28 mpg city, 34 mpg highway and 31 mpg in combined driving (8.4, 6.9 and 7.8 l/100km, respectively). During our week with the Abarth, we saw just 27.6 mpg (8.5 l/100km) in mixed driving.

If for some reason the 2015 Fiat 500C Abarth happens to go unnoticed while parked, it will surely grab attention once it is fired up with an exhaust system that belts out an amazing deep and burbled note. The peppy engine does an amazing job of motivating this Abarth thanks in large part to a low curb weight. Weighing in at 2,545 pounds (1154 kg), the 500C Abarth weighs 48 pounds less than a Mazda Miata PRHT, and the key performance benefit of the 500C’s unique convertible top is that it adds just 32 pounds compared to the fixed-roof 500 Abarth. Even if you don’t want to hear the Abarth’s exhaust note all the time, the insulated fabric top still does a great job of keeping out a lot of road noise out of the car, but you can definitely tell the audible difference between the hardtop and the cabriolet version of the 500.

The small size means that Fiat didn’t have to get too crazy with the Abarth’s performance abilities. When it comes to the brakes, the front brake rotors are an inch bigger than the standard 500 measuring 11.1 inches in diameter, but the rear rotors are teeny tiny measuring just 9.4 inches in diameter. Still, like the car itself, these diminutive brakes perform amazingly well when pushed to their limits stopping the car in quick order. One important upgrade is the optional set of high-performance three-season Pirelli P-Zero Nero tires with a 205/40 R17 that are included with the bigger wheels.

Through the 2015 model year, the 500 Abarth has only been offered with a five-speed manual gearbox, which is the case with our tester. This undoubtedly made enthusiasts happy, but to be honest, it really isn’t the best manual for the job with throws that are relatively long and an overall feel that doesn’t venture far enough away from the standard 500 models. A sportier manual transmission would sure help to improve the fun factor of the Abarth.

In the meantime, Fiat is adding an optional six-speed automatic transmission to the Abarth, which should help to add some extra mass-market appeal. We wouldn’t be surprised if this automatic also improves acceleration times with the current 0-60 time standing in the “low seven-second range.” That being said, we have not yet had the chance to drive the 2015 Fiat 500 Abarth with the new automatic transmission, so we’re not able to voice our opinion one way or the other in regards to that.

In everyday driving, the 2015 Fiat 500 Abarth is unapologetic about its sport tuning. Like any hot hatch or sport compact, the Abarth’s stiffer springs (providing the lowered ride height) and the larger rear stabilizer bar result in a noticeably harsh ride, although you’re not going to buy an Abarth for its smooth ride. No, you’re going to want to take this to your local track, autocross event or twisty roads to really enjoy what this car is all about.

Owners looking to take the Abarth to the track will be glad to know that the stability control system is unique to this sport model in that the ESC can be turned completely off to get maximum performance. As much fun as the Fiat 500C Abarth is to drive around town, we can only imagine the grin that would be on our face after a day at the track.

Sadly, the extent of corners we had access to were limited to interstate on-ramps, and for Abarth drivers who might be in the same predicament (or those just looking for a fun day behind the wheel with some professional instruction), Fiat factors a day of the Abarth Track Experience into the price of this car. The 2015 Abarth Track Experience schedule has yet to be announced, but it takes place at tracks such as Lime Rock, Daytona and Auto Club Speedway.

The best part is that Abarth buyers and lessees don’t have to drive their own car at the track meaning that they’re free to tear up someone else’s brakes and tires while learning how the Abarth handles at the same time. The best part is that it is a $500 value.

Excluding the all-electric (and limited-availability) 500e, there are three levels of Fiat 500 offered for the 2015 model year: 500, 500 Turbo and the 500 Abarth. The sportiest of Cinquecentos will set you back $22,195 (€19,000) with a solid roof and $26,195 (€21,000) for the cloth-topped 500C Abarth, which puts this car in the same segment as cars like the Ford Fiesta ST, Mini Cooper JCW and the Hyundai Veloster Turbo.

With all the bells and whistles, this 2015 Fiat 500C Abarth came with an as-tested price of $30,595. Considering just how much Ford Mustang you can buy for the same amount of money (almost a GT), that price is a bit too high for a subcompact hot hatch convertible, but even the Mustang doesn’t do retro as cool as the Fiat 500.

It was fun to drive, fun to look at, fun to be seen in and just fun to play around with. Sure, the Abarth has its shortcomings (not the least of which is its cutesy styling and useless back seat), but if this car doesn’t make you smile at some point while experiencing it, you might want to just go ahead and invest in a “Stay Off The Lawn” sign or call the cops on your neighbor for playing their music too loud. Because when it comes to packing a lot of fun into a small package, few cars do it better than the 2015 Fiat 500C Abarth.