FIAT Brand’s Abarth Models Join Lineup at Legendary Bob Bondurant School

 

FIAT 124 I PHOTOGRAPHED RECENTLY

 

FCA AND BONDURANT SENT US THIS PRESS RELEASE. I CANNOT WAIT TO TEST DRIVE THE ABARTHS AT THE SCHOOLS.

Experience Returns: FIAT Brand’s Abarth Models Join Lineup at Legendary Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving

•                All-new Fiat 124 Spider Abarth and Fiat 500 Abarth join Bondurant’s lineup of high-performance vehicles

•                All customers who purchase or lease a Fiat 124 Spider Abarth or Fiat 500 Abarth will receive – for no charge – a one-day session of high-performance driving with professional instruction and time on the track as part of the FIAT package

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•                Non-FIAT owners can purchase racing instruction through Bondurant and experience the high-performance Abarth models on the track

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•                FIAT and Bondurant will celebrate this partnership with wrapped FIAT vehicles and displays at enthusiast events this month

◦                                  Woodward Dream Cruise, Detroit, Mich. (Saturday, August 20)

◦                                  Concorso Italiano, Monterey, Calif. (Saturday, August 20)

WE HAD THE FIAT 500 L AND OTHER FIAT’S AT GOLLING FIAT ON WOODWARD AVENUE YESTERDAY AS THE WOODWARD DREAM CRUISE WAS BEGINNING. GOLLING’S LOCATION IS SUPERB. EVERY FIAT WILL BE SHOWN OFF SATURDAY.

AUG. 18, 2016 - The FIAT brand is partnering with the legendary Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving for an all-new Abarth Track Experience, offering owners and fans of the “small but wicked” Abarth models an opportunity to develop their racing and driving skills.

The Fiat 124 Spider Abarth and the Fiat 500 Abarth will join Bondurant’s current lineup of high-performance vehicles as part of the new Fiat Trackside and Road Rally programs, which will be available beginning in November. The 124 Spider Abarth will also be featured in a special race series at Bondurant for Fiat Trackside members.

“We have a great relationship with Bob Bondurant, and extending our partnership is an excellent opportunity to provide FIAT fans with the knowledge, skills and setting they need to fully experience the performance that the Abarth models can deliver,” said Tim Kuniskis, Head of Passenger Car Brands– Dodge, SRT, Chrysler and FIAT, FCA – North America. “The Fiat 124 Spider Abarth and 500 Abarth join the ranks of the high-performance Dodge Charger and Challenger SRT Hellcats and Viper models that are already part of Bondurant’s fleet, adding to the ‘fun-to-drive’ factor and bringing the Abarth name to a new group of performance enthusiasts.”

Bondurant’s new Fiat Trackside driving program featuring the 500 Abarth and 124 Spider Abarth includes an introduction to the FIAT brand and classroom instruction. Guests will then join in instructor-led skid, slalom, auto-cross, team rally cross activities, as well as hot laps. The optional second day “Road Rally” is an all-inclusive program that begins at the Bondurant facility. The 180- to 220-mile rally includes a morning coffee break, followed by an array of scenic Arizona highways and a private lunch before participants return to the Bondurant School.

“We’re excited that FIAT will join our team to expand our driving programs,” said Bob Bondurant, owner and CEO of Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving. “The Fiat 500 Abarth and 124 Spider Abarth will make great additions to our amazing lineup. The capabilities of the Fiat coupe and roadster will give people the chance to get behind the wheel of balanced performance vehicles that are as fun to drive on the track as they are during a daily commute.”

FIAT customers who purchase or lease a Fiat 124 Spider Abarth or Fiat 500 Abarth have one year from their purchase or lease date to take advantage of the Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving opportunity, which is offered at no charge. For more information, to register, or to verify whether a particular vehicle qualifies, please visit www.abarthexperience.com.

Some photos of the 500 Abarth I drove at the FCA Chelsea, Michigan track.

About the Fiat 124 Spider Abarth
The all-new 2017 Fiat 124 Spider revives the storied nameplate, bringing its classic Italian styling and performance to a new generation. Paying homage to the original 124 Spider nearly 50 years after its introduction, the 2017 Fiat 124 Spider delivers the ultimate Italian roadster experience with driving excitement, technology and safety combined with iconic design. The 2017 Fiat 124 Spider Abarth features the proven turbocharged 1.4-liter MultiAir four-cylinder engine, delivering 164 horsepower and 184 lb.-ft. of torque. The Abarth-exclusive Sport Mode changes the calibrations of the engine, automatic transmission, electric power steering and dynamic stability control system to ensure a sporty, responsive and performance-oriented driving experience.

A mechanical limited slip differential, featuring a low torque bias ratio, provides improved traction and handling, as well as improved launch performance and power delivery during cornering. The Abarth’s unique sport suspension includes mono-tube Bilstein front and rear shock absorbers for increased traction and more precise handling. The available Brembo braking system with 17-inch alloy wheels offers monoblock aluminum calipers with four pistons, allowing for improved braking.

Pricing for the all-new 2017 Fiat 124 Spider, the most affordable turbo-powered convertible in the U.S., starts at $24,995 U.S. Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (U.S. MSRP), not including destination. The high-performance 124 Spider Abarth starts at $28,195 U.S. MSRP.

About the Fiat 500 Abarth

Building on the excitement of the Fiat 500 (Cinquecento), the Fiat 500 Abarthis designed for track-day enthusiasts and driving purists who want the ultimate high-performance small car with the pedigree of an exclusive Italian exotic. With its 1.4-liter MultiAir Turbo engine, Abarth-tuned suspension and brake systems, race-inspired design, and technology features not traditionally included on a small car, the Fiat 500 Abarth unleashes legendary Italian performance heritage to American streets.

AFTER VISITING GOLLING FIAT I PHOTOGRAPH  MYSELF AND THE LINEUP OF A FEW OF THE FIAT VEHICLES SOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP.

BRUCE HUBBARD

BONNIE LYNCH

J BRADLEY HUBBARD

JB WELKER

AUTO ADVISOR GROUP

 I ADDED THE BONDERANT RACE VERSIONS  TO THE ARTICLE. THE RED FIAT 124 DEVELOPED FOR NORTH AMERICA I HAVE SHOWN YOU. RECENTLY PHOTOGRAPHED BY BRUCE HUBBARD AT WHAT IS NEW AT FCA.

HERE IS A LITTLE HISTORY ABOUT THE FIAT ABARTH.
 

The Fiat 500 history is long. The first Fiat 500 named a Topolino (meaning mouse) was one of the smallest cars in the world at the time of its production. Launched in 1937, three models were produced until 1955 all with minor mechanical and cosmetic changes.

Fiat as the Chrysler Group are doing everything they can to continue the 500’s history with a retro with all the bells and whistles demanded in this competitive market. The car since first introduced was very attractive and cute. Cute as a bug. Journalist have been raving as to the potential of the Mini fighter. The 500 was first brought back to Europe in 2007 and now with US updates to meet federal regulations this wonderful vehicle is being sold in the USA and Canada.

Italian architecture, art and design have defined style for centuries. Italian automobiles are legends. Italian cars like Lamborghini to Fiat to Alfa Romeo, cars have been at the head of the pack in many respects for decades. With exciting style so many poster cars have been designed by Italian design firms including ItalDesign which created the designs for so many Italian vehicles as well as BMW M1 and the VW Golf. Champions of race including Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Masserati and Fiat are owned by Fiat. So is the respected builder and design arm known as Abarth.

Lamborghini, another respected Italian car manufacturer, is a subsidiary of Volkswagen. Alfa Romeo automobiles are noted for their blend of classic design and sporty details. Ferrari was founded by a former driver for Alfa Romeo's racing team. Lancia is a pioneering brand with more world rally championships than any other manufacturer. Lancia was the first company to put an electrical system in a car, and was also the first company to introduce standard production V-6 engines. Maserati is the only Italian company to produce a car that won an Indy 500 race.

Fiat has been around for over a 100 years.  FIAT or Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino motor company, which was, founded as a company after acquiring other major Italian automotive brands on July 11, 1899.

Another Italian automotive bit of history is the fact that it took the first engineer, the famous Leonardo da Vinci, to think in concrete terms of an idea similar to the modern transportation we call an automobile. It was more than 500 years ago, however -- sometime around the year 1478 to be more or less specific -- when Leonardo drew out his plans for the world's first self-propelled vehicle.

Unlike Henry Ford's Model T in the early 1900s, Leonardo's car wasn't designed for mass-production. It wasn't truly a passenger car, since it didn't even have a seat. The vehicle was actually designed as a special attraction for Renaissance festivals, meant to instill wonder and awe in attendees.  Leonardo's car worked, but the Renaissance man was centuries ahead with yet another influential invention.

Eugenio Barsanti (1821-1864), an Italian scientist, developed in the early 50s of the 19th century his atmospheric engine. It used a "Voltaic (from Volta) pistol" as ignition mechanism. A spark skipping between two electrodes ignited the gas mixture. The Italian’s also developed a single cylinder gas engine far before Henry Ford ever used one in the Model T.