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About Abarth
Overview
Abarth & C.S.p.A. is an automobile company popularly known for making its versions of city cars and highflying sports car. The company is founded by Carlo Abarth, whom the company is named after in Bologna, Italy in 1949. The headquarters of the company lies in Turin, Italy. The logo used on the vehicles has a shield design which has a stylish scorpion image with yellow and red backgrounds. Abarth & C.S.p.A. is a subsidiary to its parent company FCA Italy S.p.A. which was earlier known as Fiat Group Automobiles S.p.A., which is the subsidiary of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles earlier known as Fiat S.p.A. which controls its production in Europe. Alfredo Altavilla is the COO of the company.
History
Abarth & C.: 1949
Carlo Abarth was associated with Cisitalia factory racing since 1947, at the designation of sporting director. After the financial downfall of Cisitalia in 1948, and the company needed huge investments to produce 202 coupe, the founder of the company Piero Dusio flew across Argentina. Carlo Abarth after getting the fundings from Armando Scagliarini, took over Cisitalia on March 31, 1949, and founded Abarth & C. in Bologna. The company's logo was chosen to be Carlo's astrological sign i.e., Scorpio. From the resources of Cisitalia he got five 204 sports car in which there are two complete spider cars and three unfinished cars, also a single seater D46 car and different spares. The 204 models were renamed to Abarth 204 A in 1950, it was one of first Abarth cars. Abarth developed and also raced the cars which were made from last Cisitalia cars. Along with racing, the company also produced and sold accessories and tunning parts such as inlet manifolds and silencers for cars of Fiat, Lancia, Cisitalia and Simica cars.
The company headquarters were moved in Turin on 9 April, 1951. In 1952, Abarth began his association with Fiat by buildding Abarth 1500 Biposto on the basis of Fiat mechannics.
Fiat Take over: 1971
Carlo Abarth sold the company to Fiat in July 31, 1971, which was made public on October 15 by Fiat. Abarth became Fiat Group's racing department, which was managed by engine designer Aurelio Lampredi. Fiat's rally cars were developed by Abarth, which includes Fiat 124 Abarth Rally and 131 Abarth. In December 1977, Abarth and Squadra Corse Lancia were merged into EASA(Ente per l'Attivita Sportiva Automobilistica) an organisation which managed sports car racing, by Fiat. Cesare Fiorio was appointed as director and Daniele Audetto as sporting director. The combination developed racing car Lancia Beta Montecarlo Turbo Group 5 and a rally car Lancia Rally 037 Group B.
Abarth & C. was replaced by Fiat Auto Gestione Sportiva, and in the end of 1999 it was changed to Fiat Auto Corse S.p.A.
In 1980s performance cars were made using Abarths name like Fiat Ritmo Abarth 125/130 TC. In 2000, Fiat used the brand to name trim level model like Fiat Stilo Abarth.
Abarth & C.S.p.A. Reborn: 2007
Abarth was re-established as an independent company on February 1, 2007, with the launch of Abarth & C.S.p.A.. It was totally controled by fiat Group Automobiles S.p.A., it produced Passenger cars and light commercial vehicles. The first cars which was launched was Abarth Grande Punto and the Abarth Grande Punto S2000.
In 2015, Fiat S.p.A. and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles were incorporated into FCA Italy S.p.A.
Products
Current Models:
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- Abarth Punto Evo (supermini and 3-door hatchback)
- Abarth 500 (City car and 3-door hatchback)
- Abarth 500C (City car and Cabriolet)
Abarth & C.S.p.A.:
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- Abarth 500
- Abarth 500 SS
- Assetto Corsa Rally
- 695 Tributo Ferrari
- Abarth Grande Punto (2007)
- Abarth Grande Punto SS (2007)
- Abarth Punto Evo
- Abarth Punto Supersport (2012–2013)
- Abarth 500C
Website
www.abarth.it
