Abarth & C. S.p.A. () is an Italian racing- and road-car maker and performance division founded by Italo-Austrian Carlo Abarth in 1949. Abarth & C. S.p.A. is owned by Stellantis through its Italian subsidiary. Abarth's logo is a shield with a stylized scorpion on a yellow and red background, a short, wide Italian flag in the middle, and "Abarth" text on a black background.
History
1949: Abarth & C.
thumb|left|A 1950 205A, one of the first Abarth cars
Carlo Abarth was sporting director of the Cisitalia racing team starting in 1947. The following year, the manufacturer folded, and founder Piero Dusio flew to Argentina.
Abarth, funded by Armando Scagliarini, took over Cisitalia's assets and on 31 March 1949, Abarth & C. was founded in Bologna. Carlo's astrological sign, Scorpio, was chosen as the company logo.
From the Cisitalia liquidation, Abarth obtained five 204 sports cars (two complete Spiders and three unfinished), a D46 single-seater, and various spares. Alongside racing, the company's main activity was producing and selling accessories and performance parts for Fiat, Lancia, Cisitalia, and Simca cars, like inlet manifolds and silencers.
On 9 April 1951, the company's headquarters were moved to Turin;
In 1957, Abarth entered a deal with Fiat whereby they were paid direct fees for successful competition finishes. Abarth accordingly went on to enter their cars in countless hillclimbing and sports-car racing events across the world, mainly in classes from 850 to 2000 cc, competing with Porsche 904 and Ferrari Dino in the higher echelons. Since they were paid based on the number of results, Abarth entered their cars in every conceivable class and in countries across the entire world.
Abarth promised Johann Abt that he could race a factory car for free if he won all the races he entered. Abt almost succeeded; of the 30 races he entered, Abt won 29 and finished second once.
In 1958, Abarth developed the Abarth Alfa Romeo 1000 in collaboration with the Milanese manufacturer. They sent an engineer, Mario Colucci, to oversee the process. Abarth was impressed with his skill, and while the car remained a one-off, Colucci was given the position of Abarth's Technical Director in 1960. Colucci's first design was a mid-engined, tubular framed roadster using the 750 engine called the Abarth Spider Sport. This car had an unfortunate gestation period and never attained much success in competition, while Abarth himself favored the rear-engine layout and kept offering both types. The Spider Sport series was also built with 700 and 1000 cc displacements, while a few late examples were fitted with 1300 cc engines of Simca origins. Colucci's next design, the Group 4 1000 SP, was much more successful and spawned a range of mid-engined, tubular-framed, fibreglass-bodied sports prototypes.
Abarth also helped build sports or racing cars with Porsche and Simca.
1971: Fiat takeover
Carlo sold Abarth to Fiat on 31 July 1971. The acquisition was not made public until 15 October. As Fiat was not interested in the Reparto Corse racing operations, these were taken over by Enzo Osella. Thus ended for Abarth the days of sport prototype and hillclimb racing.
Under Fiat ownership, Abarth became the Fiat Group's racing department, managed by engine designer Aurelio Lampredi. Cesare Fiorio (previously in charge of the Lancia rally team) was appointed director, while Daniele Audetto was sporting director; the EASA headquarters were set up in Abarth's Corso Marche (Turin) offices.
In the 1980s, Abarth name was mainly used to mark performance cars, such as the Fiat Ritmo Abarth 125/130 TC.
In 2000s, Fiat used the Abarth brand to designate a trim/model level, as in the Fiat Stilo Abarth.
2007: Rebirth of Abarth & C. S.p.A.
On 1 February 2007, Abarth was re-established as an independent unit with the launch of the current company, Abarth & C. S.p.A., controlled 100% by Fiat Group Automobiles S.p.A., the subsidiary of Fiat S.p.A. dealing with the production and selling of passenger cars and light commercial vehicles.
The first models launched were the Abarth Grande Punto and the Abarth Grande Punto S2000. The brand is based in the Officine 83, part of the old Mirafiori engineering plant. The CEO as of 2022 is Olivier François.
In 2015, Abarth's parent company was renamed FCA Italy S.p.A., reflecting the incorporation of Fiat S.p.A. into Fiat Chrysler Automobiles that took place in the previous months.
Yamaha XSR900 Abarth
In 2017, Abarth collaborated with Yamaha to produce a limited-edition motorcycle, the "Sport Heritage café racer special". Named the XSR900 Abarth it was based on the 847 cc inline-triple standard neo-retro Yamaha XSR900.
List of CEOs
Current Olivier François (since 2011)
Previous CEOs
- Carlo Abarth (1949–1971)
- Harald Wester (2010–2011)
Production
Current models
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! New 500e
! Pulse
! Fastback
! 600e
|-
| Class: City car (A)<br />Body style: 3-door hatchback<br/>3-door cabriolet<br />Production: 2023–present
| Class: Subcompact crossover (B)<br />Body style: 5-door hatchback<br />Production: 2022–present
| Class: Subcompact crossover SUV (B)<br />Body style: 5-door coupe SUV<br />Production: 2023–present
| Class: Subcompact crossover SUV (B)<br />Body style: 5-door SUV<br />Production: 2024–present
|-
|200x200px
|200x200px
|200x200px
|200x200px
|}
Past models
thumb|1955 Abarth 209A Boano Coupé
thumb|1959 Fiat-Abarth 750
thumb|Abarth race cars (1973 [[Osella 2000 Sport PA1)]]
thumb|Fiat Abarth 1000 Zagato Bialbero
thumb|1963 [[Fiat-Abarth 750|Abarth Monomille, rebodied Fiat 600 chassis]]
thumb|[[Fiat 131|Fiat 131 Abarth driven by Markku Alén at the 1978 1000 Lakes Rally]]
Standalone models (original bodywork)
- Abarth 204A
- Abarth 205A Berlinetta
- Abarth 207A Spyder Corsa Boano
- Abarth 208A Spyder Boano
- Abarth 209A Coupé Boano
- Abarth 210A Spyder Boano
- Abarth 215A Coupé Bertone
- Abarth 216A Spyder Bertone
- Fiat-Abarth 2200
- Fiat-Abarth 2400
- Fiat Ritmo 125/130 TC Abarth
- Fiat Abarth 124 Rally
- Fiat 131 Abarth Rally
Other variant models
- Abarth Simca 1300 GT
- Abarth Simca 2000 – coupé
- Alfa Romeo Abarth 2000 Coupe
- Porsche 356 B Carrera GTL Abarth
- Abarth Grand Prix/Scorpione
- Lancia Rally 037
- Autobianchi A112 Abarth
Cars not produced by Abarth but with Abarth badges
- Fiat Bravo GT/HGT (Abarth)
- Fiat Stilo 2.4 Abarth
- Fiat Punto HGT (Abarth)
- Fiat Cinquecento Sporting (Abarth)
- Fiat Seicento Sporting (Abarth)
Cars produced under Abarth & C. S.p.A. (2007–)
- Abarth 500 / Fiat 500 Abarth (NA)
- Abarth 595
- Abarth 695
- Abarth Grande Punto
- Abarth Punto Evo
- Abarth 124 Spider / Fiat 124 Spider Abarth (NA)
- Fiat Abarth Punto
- Abarth Pulse
- Abarth Fastback
- Abarth 600e
Cars produced with Abarth tuning
- Fiat 500 TwinAir byAbarth
- Fiat 500S by Abarth
- Fiat Avventura Powered by Abarth
- Fiat Urban Cross Powered by Abarth
- Fiat Fastback Limited Edition Powered by Abarth
Cars produced by other manufacturers with involvement from Abarth
- Lancia Delta S4 for Group B – Helped to engineer the engine which utilised a supercharger and a turbocharger simultaneously.
Cars produced under Fiat Corse – N Technology named Abarth
- Fiat Punto Abarth (rally version only)
- Fiat Cinquecento 900 Trofeo kitcar (teams had to build up their own rally car from Fiat N Technology derived Abarth racing parts)
- Fiat Cinquecento Sporting 1.1 Rally car
- Fiat Seicento Sporting 1.1 Rally car
Motorsport
Rally
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%;"
|-
! Year
! Car
! Driver
! 1
! 2
! 3
! 4
! 5
! 6
! 7
! 8
! 9
! 10
! 11
! 12
! DC
! Points
! MC
! Points
|-
| rowspan="4"| 2007
! rowspan="4"| Fiat Grande Punto Abarth S2000
! Andrea Navarra
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| KEN<br /><small>1</small>
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| TUR<br /><small>2</small>
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| BEL<br /><small>3</small>
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| RUS<br /><small>4</small>
| style="background:#efcfff;"| POR<br /><small>Ret</small>
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| CZE<br /><small>7</small>
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| ITA<br /><small>10</small>
| style="background:#efcfff;"| SWI<br /><small>Ret</small>
| CHI
|
|
|
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 3rd
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 32
| rowspan="4" style="background:#dfdfdf;"| 2nd
| rowspan="4" style="background:#dfdfdf;"| 90
|-
! Umberto Scandola
| style="background:#efcfff;"| KEN<br /><small>Ret</small>
| TUR
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| BEL<br /><small>5</small>
| RUS
| POR
| CZE
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| ITA<br /><small>4</small>
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| SWI<br /><small>3</small>
| CHI
|
|
|
! 6th
! 15
|-
! Anton Alén
| KEN
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| TUR<br /><small>4</small>
| BEL
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| RUS<br /><small>1</small>
| POR
| style="background:#efcfff;"| CZE<br /><small>Ret</small>
| ITA
| SWI
| CHI
|
|
|
! 7th
! 15
|-
! Giandomenico Basso
| KEN
| TUR
| BEL
| RUS
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| POR<br /><small>1</small>
| CZE
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| ITA<br /><small>2</small>
| SWI
| CHI
|
|
|
! 5th
! 18
|-
| rowspan="6"| 2008
! rowspan="6"| Fiat Grande Punto Abarth S2000
! Giandomenico Basso
| style="background:#efcfff;"| TUR<br /><small>Ret</small>
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| POR<br /><small>4</small>
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| BEL<br /><small>6</small>
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| RUS<br /><small>3</small>
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| POR<br /><small>2</small>
| style="background:#efcfff;"| CZE<br /><small>Ret</small>
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| ESP<br /><small>1</small>
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| ITA<br /><small>1</small>
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| SWI<br /><small>5</small>
| CHI
|
|
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 3rd
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 32
| rowspan="6" style="background:#dfdfdf;"| 2nd
| rowspan="6" style="background:#dfdfdf;"| 74
|-
! Anton Alén
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| TUR<br /><small>3</small>
| style="background:#efcfff;"| POR<br /><small>Ret</small>
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| BEL<br /><small>11</small>
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| RUS<br /><small>2</small>
| POR
| style="background:#efcfff;"| CZE<br /><small>Ret</small>
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| ESP<br /><small>6</small>
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| ITA<br /><small>8</small>
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| SWI<br /><small>6</small>
| CHI
|
|
! 5th
! 21
|-
! Umberto Scandola
| TUR
| POR
| BEL
| RUS
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| POR<br /><small>7</small>
| CZE
| ESP
| style="background:#efcfff;"| ITA<br /><small>Ret</small>
| style="background:#efcfff;"| SWI<br /><small>Ret</small>
| CHI
|
|
! 28th
! 2
|-
! Renato Travaglia
| TUR
| POR
| BEL
| RUS
| POR
| CZE
| ESP
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| ITA<br /><small>4</small>
| SWI
| CHI
|
|
! 6th*
! 19*
|-
! Alessio Pissi
| TUR
| POR
| BEL
| RUS
| POR
| CZE
| ESP
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| ITA<br /><small>13</small>
| SWI
| CHI
|
|
! -
! 0
|-
! Andrea Navarra
| TUR
| POR
| BEL
| RUS
| POR
| CZE
| ESP
| style="background:#efcfff;"| ITA<br /><small>Ret</small>
| SWI
| CHI
|
|
! -
! 0
|-
| rowspan="7"| 2009
! rowspan="7"| Fiat Grande Punto Abarth S2000
! Giandomenico Basso
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| MON<br /><small>5</small>
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| BRA<br /><small>3</small>
| KEN
| style="background:#efcfff;"| POR<br /><small>Ret</small>
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| BEL<br /><small>8</small>
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| RUS<br /><small>3</small>
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| POR<br /><small>1</small>
| style="background:#efcfff;"| CZE<br /><small>Ret</small>
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| ESP<br /><small>8</small>
| ITA
| SCO
|
! 5th
! 28
| rowspan="7"| 4th
| rowspan="7"| 43
|-
! Anton Alén
| style="background:#efcfff;"| MON<br /><small>Ret</small>
| style="background:#efcfff;"| BRA<br /><small>Ret</small>
| KEN
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| POR<br /><small>14</small>
| BEL
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| RUS<br /><small>7</small>
| POR
| CZE
| ESP
| ITA
| SCO
|
! 34th
! 3
|-
! Luca Rossetti
| style="background:#efcfff;"| MON<br /><small>Ret</small>
| BRA
| KEN
| POR
| BEL
| RUS
| style="background:#efcfff;"| POR<br /><small>Ret</small>
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| CZE<br /><small>10</small>
| ESP
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| ITA<br /><small>2</small>
| SCO
|
! 10th
! 8
|-
! Bernd Casier
| MON
| BRA
| KEN
| POR
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| BEL<br /><small>14</small>
| RUS
| POR
| CZE
| ESP
| ITA
| SCO
|
! -
! 0
|-
! Miguel Fuster
| MON
| BRA
| KEN
| POR
| BEL
| RUS
| POR
| CZE
| style="background:#efcfff;"| ESP<br /><small>Ret</small>
| ITA
| SCO
|
! -
! 0
|-
! Umberto Scandola
| MON
| BRA
| KEN
| POR
| BEL
| RUS
| POR
| CZE
| ESP
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| ITA<br /><small>11</small>
| SCO
|
! -
! 0
|-
! François Duval
| MON
| BRA
| KEN
| POR
| BEL
| RUS
| POR
| CZE
| ESP
| style="background:#efcfff;"| ITA<br /><small>Ret</small>
| SCO
|
! -
! 0
|-
| rowspan="2"| 2010
! rowspan="2"| Fiat Grande Punto Abarth S2000
! Luca Rossetti
| MON
| BRA
| ARG
| CAN
| ITA
| BEL
| AZO
| MAD
| CZE
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| ITA <br /><small>5</small>
| SCO
| CYP
! 22nd
! 4
| rowspan="2"| 6th
| rowspan="2"| 6
|-
! Giandomenico Basso
| MON
| BRA
| ARG
| CAN
| ITA
| BEL
| AZO
| MAD
| CZE
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| ITA <br /><small>7</small>
| SCO
| CYP
! 36th
! 2
|}
FIA R-GT Cup
- 2017 FIA R-GT Cup (Runner-up)
- 2018 FIA R-GT Cup (Champion)
- 2019 FIA R-GT Cup (Champion)
- 2020 FIA R-GT Cup (Champion)
See also
- Abarth Simca GT
Explanatory notes
References
External links
<!-- Per WP:ELMINOFFICIAL, choose one official website only -->
- History of Abarth Logo, on roadzine.com