We say More power than the 500C, but expensive for what it is and not especially easy to live with. Performance The 1.4-litre engine used in the 500 has been upgraded to 140bhp in the Abarth 500C, but the top speed remains 128mph and 0-62 seconds time is 8.1 seconds. Excellent acceleration, helped by a Sport mode. Emissions The Abarth 500C emits 151g/km of CO2 emissions and returns around 45mpg on the combined cycle - respectable for a hot hatch. Driving The 500C is grippy with fast acceleration, but twitches a little under hard work. Performance can be adapted to suit the conditions and the 500C doesn’t suffer for the material roof. The Abarth 500C uses a paddleshift Competizione gearbox similar to the one used in the Ferrari 458 Italia. Feel The suspension has been softened to deal with UK roads and is a marked improvement on the Abarth 500. Quite a lot of buffeting with the roof down at higher speeds. Space Space in the Abarth 500C is, as expected, at a premium. There’s very little in the way of boot space and rear passengers will be cramped – though the foldable roof doesn’t intrude on boot space when down. Equipment Fairly generous standard kit levels include parking sensors, leather steering wheel, 16” alloy wheels are fitted as standard. Climate control, coloured mirrors and red brake callipers are some of the options available on higher specifications. Price At £17,500, the Abarth 500C sits between the Mini Cooper and Cooper S but is almost £5,000 more than the Fiat 500C. It’s a lot of money, and not far off the Punto Evo. Quality The Abarth’s interior is well built with relatively good quality materials. Not much to complain about here. Safety Seven airbags and ESC as standard. The Fiat 500, on which the Abarth 500C is based, was given a five-star rating in the EuroNCAP safety tests. Pros The 500C in Abarth format is a great looking car offering drop-top driving for sun worshippers wanting more performance from a small car. Powerful engine and superb handling as well as all the charisma you could wish for. Cons Has some niggles with the robotised manual gearbox – while day-to-day driving may get tiresome. Very little space and that price tag is big for a car this size. Alternatives Mini Cooper S Convertible.
