Fiat has revived the Abarth name for its tuning division and the car maker is mooting plans to release several new sports models under the label after the sales launch of the tuned Fiat 500 and Grande Punto Abarth, the dpa reported.
Speaking at the launch of the two models at the Nuerburgring race track in Germany, a Fiat spokesman said cars such as the 1951 Coupe Abarth had plenty of charm but that new sports cars would have to be economically viable.
There have been several reports that Fiat is negotiating with Lotus to use the aluminium chassis of the Elise generation to build a small light convertible with a Fiat engine.
The 500 Abarth, fitted with a 1.4-litre engine with an output of 99 kW/135 hp, is selling in Europe for 18,100 euros (28,000 dollars). The Grande Punto Abarth sells at the same price but Abarth is offering an additional tuning package of between 3,500 and 4,000 euros boosting the performance of the 500 to 118 kW/160 hp and the Grande Punto to 132 kW/180 hp.