Fiat's Wicked Small Racer Reborn at LA Auto Show

The Fiat 500 Abarth, which made its US debut at the 2011 LA Auto Show, is the car most likely to tempt driving enthusiasts who have been flocking to the Mini S.

The Abarth demonstrates the enduring qualities of the Fiat 500 by invoking the rugged Fiat 595 Abarth which too was built on a Fiat 500 chassis and broke six international endurance speed records in 1953.

“Bringing the 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth to the US enables us to reach out to driving enthusiasts who want Italian performance at an attainable price,” said Fiat brand head Olivier Francois. “With its lightweight, track-tuned handling and purpose-built design, the Fiat 500 Abarth brings to life the legendary racing heritage of the brand and becomes the Italian high-performance car for everyday driving.”

The Abarth will roll onto the US in the first half of 2012 with a turbocharged, intercooled version of Fiat’s 1.4-liter MultiAir engine that will deliver 160 horsepower — 59 more than the standard Fiat 500. The Abarth’s sports-tuned suspension will ride on 17-inch wheels and be guided by a Tom Tom navigation system. The downright macho interior styling — as well as the scorpion-like exterior trim — will tempt the driver to test its race-inspired performance.

At 144.4 inches, the Fiat 500 Abarth is about 2.5 inches shorter overall than the Mini S, but about 5 inches taller for a more commanding road perspective. It’s also two inches narrower and about 148 pounds lighter.

The Abarth features a selector to toggle between the aggressive feel of sport mode and the fuel-stingy, eco-friendly normal mode. To keep your eyes on the road, it also features the Blue&Me hands-free communications technology developed in conjunction with Microsoft.