The 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth. Image: Chrysler Group LLC
In a little over a month since the Fiat 500 Abarth’s launch, the entire 2012 production run allocated for the United States has been sold out. Earlier this week, Chrysler notified Fiat dealers that it would no longer accept wholesale orders for 2012 Abarth models, and 2013 models aren’t due in dealer showrooms until this fall.
While it may be possible to locate a 500 Abarth in existing dealer inventory, those cars not already spoken for are likely to command a premium price. Customers placing orders today will be delivered 2013 models cars, but not for another three or four months.
As the Detroit News reports, this doesn’t sit well with some buyers. One noted that he’d put down a deposit in March, only to find out this week that he’d been bumped to a 2013 model and wouldn’t get delivery until September. Six months is a long time to wait, especially when immediate hot-hatch gratification can be had at a MINI, Mazda, Volkswagen or Subaru dealership.
Chrysler had originally planned on building just 1,000 Abarth models for the United States, but quickly amassed that number in pre-orders backed by cash deposits. It upped production to 3,000 units, maxing capacity at its Toluca, Mexico plant, but even that wasn’t enough to meet market demand.
There are worse problems for a brand re-establishing itself in the U.S. market to have, we suppose.
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.
