2012 Fiat 500 Abarth US is being currently exhibited at the LA Motor Show.

"Bringing the 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth to the U.S. enables us to reach out to driving enthusiasts who want Italian performance at an attainable price," commented Olivier Francois, Head of FIAT Brand and Chief Marketing Officer - Chrysler Group LLC.

"With its lightweight, track-tuned handling and purpose-built design, the Fiat 500 Abarth brings to life the legendary racing heritage of the brand and becomes the Italian high-performance car for everyday driving.", he added.

The small city car will be powered by an all-new 1.4 liter MultiAir Turbo engine. There are no exact numbers, but probably the US 500 Abarth will be slightly more powerful than the EU model. The European model boasts 140PS (103 kW) and 206Nm (152 lb-ft) of torque.

Other goodies include Abarth-tuned suspension and brake systems, race-inspired design, and technology features not traditionally included on a small car. The new 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth unleashes the brand's legendary performance heritage to American streets.

The exterior boasts complete aerodynamics body kit and 16" alloy wheels as standard and possibility for 17" as an option.

2012 Fiat 500 Abarth US

The interior comes with Abarth-designed steering wheel with perforated leather and flat bottom. There are also cruise, audio and BLUE&METM Handsfree Communication technology controls on the steering wheel. The instrument cluster has 160-mph speedometer, tachometer and trip computer. For a touch of sophistication, the instrument-panel cluster brow is wrapped in Nero leather with Rosso accent stitching. There are Unique Abarth-styled front performance seats feature a one-piece design with large side bolsters, racing-harness pass through, accent stitching around the perimeter and integrated side-thorax air bags.

For a contemporary and technical look, the Fiat 500 Abarth features the center stack, radio and climate control system, as well as the headliner and pillars finished in Nero, while the four-passenger seating is available in Nero (cloth or leather) or Rosso/Nero (leather) color combinations.

2012 Fiat 500 Abarth US Interior

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Source: Fiat