Abarth is known for its high-performance and sporty cars. It was founded by Carlo Abarth, an Italian automobile designer, and Armando Scagliarini in 1949. Abarth started as a racing and road-car maker and has since become a renowned manufacturer of fun and exhilarating vehicles. The brand is synonymous with performance, great driving pleasure, and sporty appeal. Abarth cars are designed to deliver an unparalleled driving experience, combining power, agility, and style. With a focus on performance, Abarth offers a range of models, including the Abarth 595, Abarth 695, and Abarth 124 Spider. The brand continues to maintain its unique DNA and remains a symbol of excitement and passion for car enthusiasts.
History[]
1949 - Abarth & C[]
Carlo Abarth served as the sporting director of the Cisitalia racing team from 1947 onwards. When Cisitalia faced financial difficulties and its founder, Piero Dusio, left for Argentina in 1948, Abarth, with backing from Armando Scagliarini, acquired Cisitalia's assets. This led to the founding of Abarth & C. on March 31, 1949, in Bologna. The company adopted the Scorpio, which was Carlo Abarth's zodiac sign, as its logo.
Following the acquisition, Abarth gained five 204 sports cars, a D46 single-seater, and spare parts from Cisitalia's liquidation. The 204 sports cars were rebranded as Abarth Cisitalia 204A. Abarth then developed a range of sports cars from these models and formed the "Squadra Abarth" racing team, which included renowned drivers like Tazio Nuvolari, Franco Cortese, and Piero Taruffi. Tazio Nuvolari notably achieved success in an Abarth 204A at the Palermo–Monte Pellegrino hillclimb in 1950.
Abarth's focus extended beyond racing to producing and selling accessories and performance parts for various car brands such as Fiat, Lancia, Cisitalia, and Simca. The company later relocated its headquarters to Turin in 1951 and initiated a significant partnership with Fiat in 1952 by developing the Abarth 1500 Biposto using Fiat components.
In 1957, Abarth struck a deal with Fiat where they received direct payments for successful race finishes. This led Abarth to participate in numerous hillclimbs and sports-car racing events globally, competing in various engine classes. The company engaged drivers like Hans Herrmann and established a reputation for high-performance tuning kits and exhaust systems, particularly for Fiat vehicles. Abarth also delved into motorcycle exhaust production, contributing to Lambretta's success in land speed records during the 1950s.
1971 - Fiat takeover[]
Carlo Abarth, the founder of Abarth & C., sold the company to Fiat on July 31, 1971. However, the acquisition was not publicly announced until October 15 of the same year. Fiat did not continue the racing division of Abarth, so Enzo Osella took over the racing operations, forming the Osella racing team. This marked the end of Abarth's involvement in sport prototype and hillclimb racing.
Under Fiat ownership, Abarth became the racing department of the Fiat Group, managed by engine designer Aurelio Lampredi. Abarth was responsible for preparing Fiat's rally cars, including the Fiat 124 Abarth Rally and 131 Abarth. In 1977, Abarth and Squadra Corse Lancia were merged by Fiat to form EASA (Ente per l'Attività Sportiva Automobilistica). Cesare Fiorio became the director, and Daniele Audetto the sporting director of EASA. The racing department developed successful cars like the Lancia Beta Montecarlo Turbo Group 5 and the Lancia Rally 037 Group B, which won championships in the 1980s.
On October 1, 1981, Abarth & C. was dissolved and replaced by Fiat Auto Gestione Sportiva, a division specialized in managing racing programs. This division operated until 1999 when it became Fiat Auto Corse S.p.A. Throughout the years, Fiat, Lancia, and Autobianchi produced commercial models co-branded as Abarth, such as the Autobianchi A112 Abarth. The A112 Abarth had various engine options and even had a dedicated racing series from 1977 to 1984. In the 1980s, the Abarth name was associated with performance cars like the Fiat Ritmo Abarth 125/130 TC. In the 2000s, Fiat used the Abarth brand as a trim or model level, seen in models like the Fiat Stilo Abarth.
2007 - Revival of Abarth[]
In February 2007, Abarth was reintroduced as an independent entity with the establishment of the current company, Abarth & C. S.p.A. This new company was fully owned by Fiat Group Automobiles S.p.A., a subsidiary of Fiat S.p.A. responsible for producing and selling passenger cars and light commercial vehicles.
The initial models launched under the revived Abarth brand were the Abarth Grande Punto and the Abarth Grande Punto S2000. The company is headquartered in Officine 83, which is part of the old Mirafiori engineering plant. As of 2022, the CEO of Abarth & C. S.p.A. is Olivier François.
In 2015, Abarth's parent company underwent a name change to FCA Italy S.p.A., reflecting the merger of Fiat S.p.A. into Fiat Chrysler Automobiles that occurred in the preceding months.
Yamaha collaboration[]
In 2017, Abarth partnered with Yamaha to create a unique limited-edition motorcycle known as the "Sport Heritage café racer special." This special model was named the XSR900 Abarth and was built based on the Yamaha XSR900, which features an 847 cc inline-triple engine and a standard neo-retro design.
Production[]
Current models[]
- Abarth 75°Anniversario 695
- Abarth 595 & 695
- Abarth 500e
- Abarth 600 & 600e
- Abarth Fastback
- Abarth Pulse
Historic models[]
- Fiat-Abarth 750 Spider Allemano
- Porsche 356 B Carrera GTL Abarth
- Abarth 1100 Scorpione Spider (Boano)
- Fiat-Abarth 695 SS
- Abarth 205A Berlinetta
- Fiat Abarth 1000 SP
- Fiat-Abarth OT1000
- Abarth Monomille
- Abarth Simca 2000 – coupé
- Fiat 131 Abarth Rally
- Abarth Simca 1300 GT
- Abarth 208A Spyder Boano
- Fiat-Abarth 1000 TC (Fiat 600 based)
- Fiat Abarth 1000 TCR Berlina
- Abarth 207A Spyder Corsa Boano
- Abarth Grand Prix/Scorpione
- Abarth 215A Coupé Bertone[31]
- Fiat Abarth 124 Rally
- Fiat Ritmo 125/130 TC Abarth
- Fiat-Abarth OT 2000 Competition Coupé[30]
- Abarth OT 1300
- Abarth 209A Coupé Boano[29]
- Abarth 1500 Biposto
- Abarth 216A Spyder Bertone[31]
- Fiat Abarth OTR 1000
- Abarth 204A
- Fiat-Abarth 500
- Fiat-Abarth 750[28]
- Fiat-Abarth 2200
- Abarth 3000 Prototipo
- Fiat-Abarth 1000 OTR Berlinetta Bertone
- Fiat-Abarth OT1600
- Lancia Rally 037
- Autobianchi A112 Abarth
- Fiat-Abarth 595 SS
- Alfa Romeo Abarth 2000 Coupe
- Abarth 210A Spyder Boano
- Fiat-Abarth 850 TC
- Fiat-Abarth 2400
Not produced by Abarth, but have Abarth badges[]
- Fiat Seicento Sporting (Abarth)
- Fiat Stilo 2.4 Abarth
- Fiat Cinquecento Sporting (Abarth)
- Fiat Punto HGT (Abarth)
- Fiat Bravo GT/HGT (Abarth)
Produced with Involvement from Abarth[]
- Lancia Delta S4 (Group B)