26 August 2009 - 12:00
Abarth attack
How much power can a tiny hot hatch take? The Ford Focus RS has proved that 300bhp is manageable - just - in the world of full-size hatchery, but what about the Abarth 500?
Fiat's in-house tuning brand will cook you up a 158bhp ‘Esseesse' 500 if you ask them really nicely, but German tunemeister Karl Schnoor - who, contrary to popular believe, does not have the schnow-how - has decided this is not enough.
Taking the Esseesse 500 and fitting its 1.4-litre four-pot with a fat new turbocharger, tweaking the ECU and bolting on a big exhaust, Schnoor has bumped the little Abarth's output up to a meaty 197bhp. That's a lot of power in a very small car.
Schnoor will also treat your 500 to smart set of 17-inch wheels and a new coilover suspension kit which drops the ride height by a few millimetres. The cost of all this extra fastness? Around £4,500 on top of the donor car.
We don't know what Schnoor calls its mad little creation. May we suggest the Esseesseesseesse?
Will it torque steer like a drunk Saab Viggen? Almost certainly. Do we want to try it? Schnoor do...
Now watch Jeremy and the Stig chuck Fiat’s hot 500 Abarth round our test track:
Want to comment on this?
I like it. And it has almoste the same power as my brother's civic type R. It's insane! But, that's why I love it. :)
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
almost*, sorry. stupid keyboard.
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
What a mental little car. Good show. :)
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
Well there certainly won't be any schnoozing or schnooring behind the wheel of that little terrier (Schnoor = best name evar!). Perhaps it'll be like old hot Fiats and parallel-park using torque-steer alone? It must be a riot. Maybe Michael Schnoomacer should get this kit for his Abarth 500.
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
Love the standard esseesse and i'm sure the extra power would be great, but why did they give it red wheels and write their name on the bonnet? I like my white wheels and scorpion thanks? How about avoiding torque steer, 4WD Abarth500 anyone?
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
Good idea 4WD then give it gemballa then you have the best excuse to shout POWWWWWWWWWEEEEEEERRRRRRRR
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
HOW THE HECK did they get 197bhp from a standerd 1.4???
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
Two words: YES PLEASE!
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
I bet that it will understeer like a vectra. that, or it'll handle like a golf r32. hope its good
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
its a great small car. but they need to sort out the hanlding put the pandas 4x4 system for handling purposes
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
great looking car.im not a fan of panda chassis
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
hopefully next, someone creates the Esse Esse Challenge Stradale.. not that it weighs anything anyway... (with this power)
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
hopefully next, someone creates the Esse Esse Challenge Stradale.. not that it weighs anything anyway... (with this power)
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
hmm. When the article started, I found myself suddenly wondering if the at Fiat somehow in an absolute marvel of engineering, managed to stuff an engine putting out 300 bhp into the Abarth 500. Egad!!
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
I wouldn't trust an SS coming out of Germany. ;-)
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
Idiotic german tuners aside, i'd like to see Fiat make a rally version with 4WD and upwards of 250bhp, maybe use some of the prodrive's techniques. it'd be an absolute riot!
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
This thing is awesome, that much power in something smaller than a Bigmac is just brilliant. Part of me wishes it was less suttle so the unsupecting people in their leon cupra's and fiesta/focus st's get an almighty shock when this thing takes um on at a traffic light! The shame i would feel being taken down by a fiat 500 is just rediculous.
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
so it itailan and its low and its got to much power so it will try to kill you
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
but thats a good thing it gives you excitment it will make you sit in your own excrement
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
Advertisement
Advertisement feature
Discover the new Insignia VXR
The Vauxhall Insignia VXR is in showrooms now. To read more about the car and for your chance to win an iPod Touch, click here.
Test Driven
.jpg?p=080926_03:52)
Audi TT Roadster
Forget the hyperdrive quattro versions. This honest, no frills TT is one of the best you can buy.
Advertisement
Open Car Bar
sweetlizard commented on this article
26 August 2009
I'd like a try... must be very very funny to drive... :)
Link to this comment
Report this comment
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.