I may be a Libra, but the 2016 Fiat 500c Abarth brought out the inner Scorpio in me! It was like this cutie-pa-tootie was designed with me in mind…short, thick, loud and sexy! The love fest began as soon as I laid eyes on my Lil’ Italian. The two-door’s bold exterior colors instantly conjure up the biggest smiles. The cabriolet model (also available in a hatchback option) opened up the top for all the sun rays to shine through. One down side with taking the top down is the rear view is obscured, so peeling it back is a better option. Big and beautiful Bi-Function Halogen Projector headlights, Fiat’s iconic badging and body-size appropriate chrome accents add to the already exuberant personality of the Abarth. Rosso (Red) Brake Calipers (akin to Red Bottoms for cars), Dual Bright Exhaust Tips keep the party going. Clearly Italian, the Abarth doesn’t loose any of it’s cultural cache’ and is unapologetically sound.
This attention-seeker touches on many of the senses, most importantly…sound. As soon as the Abarth gets its engine going, all bets are off. As the baby of 5 siblings, I understand the need to make myself known. The 1.4-liter I4 16-Valve MultiAir® Turbo Engine paired with Aisin Heavy-Duty 6-Speed Automatic Transmission on engagement unleashes a powerful roar. The rumble was intoxicating and the drive had me tipsy with power. Ripping down the city streets (of course within the speed limit) with the wind blowing through my hair, the ride was so much fun! A combined 27-MPG (24-city and 32-hwy) had me ripping up, down and all around the Greater Los Angeles area. I will admit, you will have to check your ego periodically, because there are limitations to what the Abarth can do. Without redlining, I did push it to the limit and was not disappointed. Dipping and diving in tight areas like the hills of Los Feliz and fully taking advantage of compact parking spaces, the Abarth was a soldier!
One may have a phobia about traveling in small cars, but the safety factor of the Abarth can quell some of those concerns. Rear Park Assist, Airbags darn near everywhere, Anti-Lock 4-Wheel Disc Performance Brakes, Hill Start Assist, Speed Control and High Performance Suspension keep your safety in the event the unthinkable happens.
The interior may be small, but it’s packed with style and charm. As soon as you open the door, the eyes are drawn to the bright red Beats™ badging on the speakers. Sporty seats with contrasting red striping, a Premium 7-inch Color Cluster Display, 5.0-inch Touchscreen Display, Media Hub, power everything, Steering-Wheel Mounted Audio Controls, Leather Appointments, Tilted Steering Column and Aluminum Pedal Covers keep the sexiness intact. If that wasn’t enough the optional Customer Preferred Package 2FX added the aforementioned Beats™ Audio Package with Beats™ Premium Audio System, Heated Front Seats, Black Trimmed Lights and 17-inch Forged Aluminum Hyper Black Wheels.
The birthday was made complete and I had the greatest date with an Italian gentleman…Ciao!
Nicely equipped for $32,815