Fiat’s tuning brand, Abarth, has unveiled the lid on its latest creation based on the 500C. Like its tin-topped counterpart, the Abarth 500C benefits from a more powerful turbocharged engine as well as chassis upgrades and a full suite of aero tweaks to reduce drag and improve high-speed stability over the standard Fiat 500C.

Motivation comes from a 1.4-liter turbocharged T-Jet engine delivering 140 horsepower and 206Nm of peak torque at 2,000 rpm. Power is transferred to the front wheels through a standard six-speed automated manual gearbox with paddle shifters.

The Abarth 500C can start from zero to 100km/h (62mph) in 8.1 seconds and reach a maximum speed of 205km/h or 127mph, while returning an average fuel consumption in the combined cycle of 6.5lt/100km, or the U.S. equal of 36.2mpg.

Aside from the turbocharged engine, the firm’s engineers have also tweaked the rag-top mini’s suspension and brake components.

Abarth adds a full body kit with beefed up front and rear bumpers, side skirts, a roof spoiler and a rear diffuser that integrates the twin tail pipes. The Abarth 500C rides on newly styled 17-inch alloy wheels.

The vehicle’s electrically operated rollover canvas top comes in a choice of two colours (black or titanium grey), while Abarth also created three special two-tone color schemes, one in black and race white and the other in two different shades of grey.

The Abarth 500C will reach European dealerships later this year with North American sales scheduled to start sometime in 2012.

Fiat announced today that it is replacing the the 500 mini’s 75HP Multijet diesel unit with a 1.3-liter Multijet II engine that incorporates Start&Stop technology and a DPF particulate filter.

The new diesel unit produces an output of 95 horsepower (+20HP) at 4,000rpm and 200Nm or 148 lb-ft of torque at only 1,500rpm.

The result is a significant improvement in the car’s performance as top speed is increased from 165km/h to 181km/h while the 0-100km/h acceleration time is reduced from 12.5 to just 10.7 seconds.

The fuel consumption is improved from 67.3mpg UK (equal to 4.2lt/100km and 56.1mpg US) to 72.4mpg UK (3.9 lt/100km or 60.2mpg) in the combined European cycle.

Look at the image above. It a Fiat 500 Pink Limited Edition. Only 500 of these pink Fiat 500 will be produced. The pink car will target women drivers making them believe that it is a must have motoring fashion item. Under the hood will be a 1242 engine that will make the car pelt from 0 to 62mph in 13 secs and it will top it out a 99 miles per hour. The car sports a purplish pink tinge while on the inside it adores the color black. Other attractions include a start/stop system, a leather gear knob and most notably a sunroof.

The Fiat 500 Pink Limited Edition is priced at £11,700 and it is already on sale in the UK.

Fiat’s New Small Gasoline Engine that will make its premiere on the 500 mini. The newest 0.9-liter twin-cylinder engine features turbocharging and Fiat’s Multiair technology that controls the intake valves, depending on the horsepower needed.

Fiat says that while the new engine offers the same performance as a larger naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine, fuel economy and, as a consequence, CO2 emissions are significantly improved.

In addition to the advantages in fuel consumption, the twin-cylinder engine is also said to be 20 per cent lighter in weight and more compact in size compared to a 4-cylinder engine with the same output.

The new two-cylinder engine is expected to be offered in two turbocharged variants developing 80HP and 105HP while Fiat will add a 65HP naturally aspirated version, also equipped with the Multiair system followed up by a CNG version.

The twin-cylinder engine will find its way on the Fiat Group’s A- and B-Segment models like the Fiat 500, Panda and Punto EVO.

All 2010 model year Fiat’s Pandas adopt the more contemporary body colored grille found on the 4×2 and 4×4 Dynamic variants, new alloy wheel options, larger exterior mirrors and silver trim finish for the roof bars. Fiat designers has also added four new and fresh exterior colors to the lineup.

In saloon, the instrument panel gets fresh graphics while there’s also a new selection of upholstery colors.

Mechanical improvements are limited to the introduction of a new 69 horsepower 1.2-liter engine. In Europe, customers have a wide choice of gasoline, diesel, natural gas and LPG engines with outputs ranging from 54 to 100 horsepower.

The Panda, which formed the base for the new Fiat 500 and Ford Ka models, was launched in 2003. Fiat has sold more than 1.5 million units of the mini hatchback.

Fiat introduced a facelifted version of the Grande Punto at the autoshow in Frankfurt. The new Punto, called Evo, gains a restyled front-end with a new bumper design that brings it closer to the 500 along with tweaked front and rear light clusters as well as a reworked rear bumper. These changes “stretched” the car’s length to 4,060mm.

The upgrades in the cabin are more noticeable as the dashboard, seats and instrument panel have been given a thoroughly restyled look that borrows from the C-segment Bravo hatch.

The 2010 FIAT Punto Evo will gets an updated range of petrol engines equipped with the MultiAir technology that uses a new electrohydraulic valve management system to reduce fuel consumption by controlling air directly via the inlet valves without using the throttle.

Prices are expected to be announced in the second half of October.

You don’t know what is this? This is a Fiat Sentiero, a new Italian concept. The new concept was created as part of Prodan’s final year project, is a conceptual proposal for a compact-sized pickup truck for the European market. The designer states that the vehicle’s styling is based on Fiat’s current design language and Italian design in general – whatever that means.

The concept study features several storage compartments that include those behind the doors, the rear bed and even once incorporated in the tailgate. The Romanian designer says that the proposed engine for the Sentiero is a 3.0-liter V6 diesel with an output of around 250 HP driving all-four wheels.

Good news for Fiat fans: the small Panda car has reached a 1,500,000th example of the model on the Poland plant in Tychy. The vehicle is a left hand drive car in magnetic blue with a 1.3 MultiJet engine that is destined for an Italian customer. The today generation Panda was unveiled in 2003 and winning many awards including the European Car of the Year 2004 title.

The Panda, which formed that base for Fiat’s 500 retro city car, has been exported to 74 countries including Japan, South Africa and Mexico.

Fiat’s tuning division has unveiled its special-edition 500 Abarth Competizione model. Abarth Competizione Special-edition will be priced nearly $35k and only ten will be made available for exclusive consumption in Holland. The €3,000 premium over the stock 500 Abarth gets enthusiastic buyers a special little hot hatch with a black roof, black 17-inch alloys and matching black graphics, along with special bucket seats inside. The FIAT 500 Abarth Competizione also will be equipped with sattelite-navigation, air-condition and a premium audio system. Although the Competizione edition packs the 135hp turbo four, buyers can always upgrade with the 160hp EsseEsse kit.

Look at the new FIAT’s concept. Its a Sapor Roadster which was conceived by diseno-art studio as a concept proposal for a small entry level sports car.

The Sapor was designed to feature a front-mounted engine that sends power to the rear wheels. The designers claim that one possible option could be Fiat’s 1.4-liter turbocharged four that makes 180HP in the Abarth Grande Punto Esseesse hatch.

Press release:

Drivetrain
One possible and readily available engine which could easily be fitted in the Sapor would be the 1.4 litre, turbocharged, four-cylinder engine from the Fiat Grande Punto Abarth EsseEsse. This engine produces 180 hp @ 5750 rpm and 272 Nm (201 lb/ft) of torque @ 2750 rpm. In the Sapor the power would be sent to the rear wheels through a six speed manual gearbox.

Exterior Design
The exterior styling of the Fiat Sapor is influenced by both past and current Fiat models. The simple uncluttered lines are designed to echo those of previous Fiat convertibles which used classic proportions instead of complicated styling to provide curb appeal.

The retro-influenced front end uses styling cues from classic Fiats like the 1600S and popular Fiat 124 Spider, the stylized chrome headlight bezels are also adapted from these models. The lip spoiler and lateral air intakes positioned just forward of the front wheels are similar to those found on the very latest Abarth spec Fiat models.

In contrast to the curvaceous front end the squared off rear panel of the Sapor is partially influenced by the angular shape of the Fiat X1/9.

To appeal to racers and enthusiasts the body panels, wheel arches and sideskirts can be easily and quickly replaced, repaired or customized.

Interior
The interior of the Fiat Sapor is a strict two-seater. The driver and passenger are separated by a high center console which is painted in the same color as the body, this continues one of Fiat’s trademark styling themes which is to accentuate the interior with body colored trim elements. The short-throw gear stick sits prominently atop a cylinder integrated into the center console.

The Fiat Sapor concept is equipped with a canvas roof instead of a folding hardtop. This is to help keep both the weight and price down. When down the roof stows into a compartment just behind the seats.