More previews before next week's Geneva Motor Show and this time it's Abarth previewing the latest Punto EVO and the tuner has announced the three-door 1.4-liter turbocharged Multiair four-cylinder supermini will debut alongside a souped up Abarth 500X.<!--more-->
To help with the need for more power, Fiat's performance division sourced a larger turbocharger from Garrett in order to lift output to 165hp and 250Nm of torque at 2,250rpm. The Abarth Punto EVO will be able to see off the 100km/h mark in just 7.9-seconds and to keep everything manageable, Abarth has beefed up suspension that consists of McPherson struts up front and a torsion-bar equipped "semi-independent" rear suspension out back. This combined with a new, bigger anti-roll bar and springs that have been stiffened by 20%, the Abarth Punto EVO should be able to impress with it's handling and it could just be one of the car's finer points.
Predictably, aerodynamics have also improved but this time it's more than just a couple of beauty enhancements. The Abarth Punto EVO features a wider front bumper, realigned air inlets/outlets, redesigned rear bumper that features a carryover diffuser with new details and reorganized reverse/fog lights, colour-matched side-skirts, and a new rear spoiler. Finishing the look are different satin finish on the exhaust tips, new 17-inch wheels, and a fresh set of graphics.
Inside, drivers have access to optional Sabelt racing buckets and a new vehicle dynamics system that allows them to control braking/steering/engine characteristics with a 2-mode lever (Sport and Normal) housed on the center tunnel. The selected driving mode appears on the dashboard, while a shift light (Gear Shift Indicator, or GSI) resides in the Jaeger-filled instrument panel.
Other features to be found on Abarth's latest hot-hatch include Start&Stop technology and Torque Transfer Control (TTC), which provides a locking differential that is automatically activated in sport mode.
And just to push the limits even further, Abarth will be offering a SS kit that features lowering springs, 18-inch wheels in white or titanium. Power will also be cranked up to 180hp and brakes will also be beefed up with new pads and vented discs. More details on this next week.
Source: CarScoop
