.jpg?p=120209_04:29)
.jpg?p=120209_04:31)
.jpg?p=120209_04:54)
.jpg?p=120209_04:35)
.jpg?p=111221_03:51)
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:
Open Car Bar
What do you think?
Want to comment on this?
sweetlizard commented on this article
at 01:07 pm on 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.
Abel_29 commented on this article
at 01:57 pm on 26 August 2009
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. :)
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.
Abel_29 commented on this article
at 01:58 pm on 26 August 2009
almost*, sorry. stupid keyboard.
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.
TennantsLager commented on this article
at 03:28 pm on 26 August 2009
What a mental little car. Good show. :)
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.
Mikeado commented on this article
at 03:56 pm on 26 August 2009
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.
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.