New car news

22 September 2009 - 11:00

Hamann’s 194kW 500 Abarth

We spotted this cute little 500 Abarth on Hamann's show stand in Frankfurt last week, and now the German tuner has given us a load more details on the tuned-up, camouflaged Cinq.

They call it the Largo (which sounds like a primary school insult for the wheezing lad who can't do cross-country and, in fact, turns out to be almost exactly that - Largo is the Italian for ‘wide') and despite its GI Jane visuals, it should be scary-fast.

It puts out a daft 194kW from a tuned-up version of Fiat's 1.4-litre turbo petrol engine, which is 74kW more than the top-spec ‘Esseesse' Abarth 500. That's a ridiculous amount of power for something with the approximate dimensions of a bar of soap.

Hamann hasn't released any performance figures, but when you consider that the Esseesse Abarth 500 will hit 100km/h in 7.4 seconds, we reckon you could be looking at a Cinq that'll outsprint a Focus RS. If, that is, it can get that power onto the road without spearing merrily into a tree/wall/ocean.

To which end, Hamann has dropped the 500 on its springs by 6cm, and given it a wider track with bigger wheels and a new rear diffuser. You'll have spotted that delicate little bodykit, too.

As you'll know, we're generally somewhat sceptical of the efforts of Germany's finest tuners, but we can't help feeling all warm and fuzzy about this loony little 500. It's like a big-eyed teddy bear... armed with a flick knife. Anyone else feeling the love?