Features

The wheels are 16-inchers as standard with a 7x17-inch option, wearing 205/40 17-inch tyres. The wings may look flared but actually they're no wider than on a standard 500. It's just that those big tyres fill them to bursting, and, because the suspension is lowered, the body comes down to meet the tyres.

Everything in the front suspension has been re-rated; springs, dampers, anti-roll bar and so on. At the rear, a new anti-roll bar has been wrapped into the torsion beam where before there was none. This gives better roll control without the need for the springs to be too stiff.

On the related Panda 100HP, which doesn't have it, the ride is indeed pretty horrible. What probably won't be mentioned in the Abarth brochure is that this was Ford's idea, when they were working with Fiat on the new Ka. Still, however bumpy the road, however hard you're attacking the corners, the seats won't be letting you slither off. They're giant sports buckets, optionally leathered. In such a tiny car, the seats look enormous, but they certainly do the job. And they're designed with a central panel the same shape as a 1960s racing seat. Just for the fun.

On top of the gearshift lever is an aluminium knob, and there are big pedal pads of the same stuff. They look like aftermarket racing parts, and they're supposed to. As does a boost gauge beside the main instrument pod, with change-up lights.

Shortly after the main launch, Abarth will wheel out an SS Assetto Corsa kit to turn it into a customer racer. Abarth SS Assetto Corsa - roll it around your mouth. The name alone must be worth a couple of seconds a lap.

The road-going Abarth 500 won't have anything like the extent of custom options on a regular 500. Bar a few chequered flag and scorpion graphics, and a limited colour choice and wheel and seat options, what you see is what you get. You won't be able to chrome it or dress it up as a little luxury car. This is an Abarth. They want you to know it.

Anyone who remembers its Sixties ancestors will smile at the 500 Abarth. But so will people who don't. It's a cheeky little thing and at about £12,500 it's good enough value to be anyone's first performance car. If they're young they won't know anything about the authentic early Abarths, but no matter because this 500 is an attractive thing in its own right, with modern safety and technology.

Just picture it rattling through Italian streets, causing a stir, making a noise, doing things bigger and grander cars (you know who you are) would never dare to do.