The 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth will soon begin to trickle into Fiat dealerships, so Fiat chief engineer Joe Grace thought it would be an ideal time to bring one to Jay Leno’s Garage. Leno already has a standard Fiat 500, which he admits to driving on a regular basis for the entertainment value alone. Winding the 500 out to redline in each gear is fun, Leno explains, while attempting the same thing with a McLaren will likely produce jail time.
The video below includes a five-minute overview of the history of Abarth. If you’re unfamiliar with the brand, it’s worth watching, but if you’re well versed in Abarth knowledge it probably won’t teach you anything new. Oddly enough, we don’t get to see Leno driving the Abarth 500 in this episode, so there’s no sense of how the car really compares to a base 500 from an owner’s perspective.
Unlike many “sporty” versions of economy cars, the Fiat 500 Abarth has some serious thought behind it. Everything from the engine’s internals through the gearbox and suspension has been beefed up for durability and performance, and even the stability control program has been revised to include a “sport” mode and a “full off” mode for track work. We can’t wait to get behind the wheel, and we promise a full report as soon as we do.
Kurt Ernst has been passionate about automobiles and driving nearly his entire life. His early years were shaped working in the family service station, though his real passion was auto racing. After graduating from the University of Colorado, Kurt spent a year club racing with the Sports Car Club of America, before focusing on a business career in marketing and project management. Later, his passion for writing and the automotive hobby found him freelancing for a variety of automotive news sites, including Automotive Addicts and Motor Authority, where his work was syndicated and appeared in several national publications. Recognized as an expert in the automotive field, Kurt joined Hemmings Motor News as an Associate Editor in 2013, and in the years since has progressed to Editor, Hemmings Daily; Managing Editor for Hemmings Motor News, Hemmings Classic Car, Hemmings Muscle Machines, and the Hemmings Daily; and now, Managing Editor, Hemmings Auctions. Kurt was instrumental in organizing the Hemmings Motor News Concours d’Elegance from 2013-2019, and has served as a judge at this event and The Vintage Racing Stable Concours d’Elegance. A Skip Barber Racing School graduate and prolific writer, Ernst is also skilled in copyediting, project management, brand development, and public relations.
