Fiat Auto has launched the first Torinese performance model in South Africa since the fiery Uno Turbo… The Stilo Abarth 2,4 20-valve boosts the sporty profile of Fiat’s under-rated subcompact range and costs R199 700.
Fiat Auto has launched the first Torinese performance model in South Africa since the fiery Uno Turbo… The Stilo Abarth 2,4 20-valve boosts the sporty profile of Fiat’s under-rated subcompact and costs R199 700.
Abarth and Fiat share an illustrious motorsport history dating back to 1955 when tuning guru Carlo Abarth modified his first Fiat 600. Abarth, whose company was bought out by Fiat Auto in 1971, produced cars that won six manufacturer’s world championships – including three world rally titles with the Fiat Abarth 131 Rally.
In CAR’s road test of the three-door Stilo 1,6 Active, which was published in March this year, editors remarked that the car was a stunning looker, with snazzy style that extended to the detail… an answer to prayers of buyers wanting something strikingly different in the R150 000 to R200 000 price range.
Apart from bigger, eye-catching five-spoke alloys and colour-coded bumpers, mirrors, bump strips and door handles, the Stilo Abarth 2,4 20v looks almost identical to the Stilo 1,6 Active tested in March. Some observers would prefer that the handsome lines of the Stilo remain untouched apart from the discreet red-and-yellow Abarth scorpion insignia on the tailgate, but hot hatch aficionados may have expected beefier front and rear spoilers, for example.
Either way, Fiat Auto SA claims the Abarth 2,4 brings new levels of standard equipment and performance to the Stilo range. Fiat’s sporty subcompact is powered by a twin overhead-cam 2 446 cm3 five-cylinder powerplant, with a four valves per cylinder layout and variable inlet manifold controlled by an electronic management system.
The engine produces 125 kW at 6 000 r/min and maximum torque of 221 N.m at 3 500 r/min. It is claimed the Abarth will return a combined consumption figure of 9,7 litres per 100km.
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