At the upcoming Geneva Auto Show, Fiat plan to revive Abarth in a major way. Earlier today, they anounced the Abarth Grande Punto, a preproduction version of the first Abarth in decades. Revealed alongside it, the S2000 is going to compete in World Rally.
Let us review our history: One of the very first Abarths was the 205 A, which was followed by a number of unique show and record breaking cars. From the 1950s forward, their main business was producing aftermarket products. Abarth’s exhaust for the Fiat 500 sold in the thousands and this Abarth Fiat 500 record car promoted them. Eventually, Abarth produced more radical versions for motor sports like the 1000 Berlina Corsa
Abarth also became experts at reorganizing Fiat components and making more sporting chassis and bodies for them (also known as etceterini). One of the most prolific of these was the 1000 Bialbero.
We will explore Abarth and more of its later cars with the launch of the upcoming 2008 Fiat Abarth 500.
