Throughout its history, the Abarth^® and FIAT^® brand collaboration has produced more than 10,000 race victories, 10 world records and 133 international titles.

Inspired by the racing traditions that made Karl Abarth a success on international racetracks, the 2014 FIAT^® 500 Abarth and Abarth Cabrio provide one of the most visceral driving experiences in the industry.

 

Learn about the milestones that led to the success of the Scorpion in the timeline below.

• 1929 – Karl Abarth gets his start racing motorcycles. By 1929, he builds his first motorcycle to bear the Abarth name. In his competitive days, he becomes a five-time European champion.

• 1930 – A serious accident in Linz, Austria, causes Abarth to abandon solo motorcycle racing. However, he continues to race and build motorcycle sidecars until 1939.

• 1946 – Abarth is contracted to build his first car, a revolutionary new single-seater named Cisitalia D46. Two models place first and second in the 1946 Brezzi Cup in Turin.

• 1949 – Karl Abarth starts Abarth & Co., producing aftermarket products for production cars, as well as performance exhaust systems. He wins the Italian 1100 and Formula 2 championships with the first racecar he ever builds – the 204 A Roadster, derived from the FIAT 1100.

• 1955 – The FIAT Abarth 750, with a body by Bertone, debuts and immediately sets a number of endurance and speed records.
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• The FIAT Abarth 750

• 1958 – Karl Abarth creates the FIAT 500 Abarth at Monza. The car covers a distance of 11,300 miles at an average speed of 30 meters per second, breaking six international records, nearly one every day.

• 1965 – The ‘60s are a golden age for the Scorpion and the FIAT 595. During this time, the Abarth tallied nearly 900 victories over a seven-year run.
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• Testing the FIAT 695 Abarth at Monza in race trim, 1966

• 1979 – Karl Abarth passes away on October 24. The Abarth name continues into the ‘80s with the success of the FIAT Strada Abarth 130TC.

• 2007 – The Abarth brand is relaunched in Europe.

• 2011 – The FIAT 500 Abarth is introduced in the U.S. and North American markets. As unique and determined as its creator, the modern Abarth packs a powerful sting.

Staying faithful to the performance principles that made the Abarth name a success, the 2014 FIAT 500 Abarth and Abarth Cabrio continue to embody the brand’s motorsport traditions, including world-class performance and aggressive styling.

Make it your race. Test drive your own FIAT 500 Abarth or Abarth Cabrio at Alfa Romeo and Fiat of Tacoma.

We are excited to announce our new partnership with Vans! For decades, Vans has been a brand for those who choose to live a lifestyle that revolves around creativity, fun and competition. And these are all things that ring true with the FIAT brand; from the hundreds of customization options we offer on our vehicles, to our heritage of Italian racing, we’ve learned that self-expression and the drive to succeed is what fuels our drivers.

That’s why we’ve teamed up with Vans at the 2014 US Open of Surfing (USOS), an event that embodies the best of creative competition. The USOS is a week-long surfing competition held annually during the summer in Huntington Beach, California. The U.S. Open is part of the qualification process for the ASP World Tour and is an ASP Prime event. It’s the largest surfing competition in the world!

Starting today, the USOS brings together the top surfers from across the globe to compete at one of the most popular surfing competitions in the world. And we’re going to be right in the middle of all the action, bringing you live coverage on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

But we didn’t want to just team up with Vans during this year’s USOS, we wanted to totally immerse fans into the worlds of both Vans and FIAT USA throughout one of surfing world’s most eagerly anticipated events. That’s why we are proud to debut the FIAT 500L-Vans design concept. This slick ride features tons of customizations that make it unmistakably Vans while keeping it undeniably FIAT.

The FIAT 500L-Vans design concept will be on display at the USOS for fans to get an up close look at all of the sweet features. Can’t make it out to Huntington Beach? Well, don’t worry we’ve got the full run down of what makes the FIAT 500L-Vans design concept so special.

Inspired by Vans’ Sk8-Hi, which is a Vans classic shoe, and created as a joint effort between Vans and FIAT USA designers, the FIAT 500L-Vans design concept features many custom aesthetics, both inside and out:

Interior features –
Vans Canvas Pattern fabric with white and blue leatherette and leather accents
Vintage Vans Logo Stickers through the years detail on instrument panel trim
Vans waffle pattern Sole Texture on rubber surfaces and pedals



Exterior features –
Unique Vans Checker roof
Matte and gloss paint with gloss black accents
Off-road LED daytime running lamps in integrated brush guard
Unique cladding with pronounced fenders
Roof rack with basket and surf board double decker
Shoe sole waffle pattern accents (grille, step pad and rear cladding)
18” wheels with higher ground clearance and wider track



We’re excited for our fans to get an up close look at the FIAT 500L-Vans design concept at the USOS! What do you think of our newest concept vehicle? Tell us below in the comments!