Fiat 500 Abarth Goes Mainstream, Offers Automatic
The Fiat 500 Abarth and Turbo models are getting a bit more boring, but they’ll more accessible to the general consumer.
The Italian automaker has announced that it will be adding the six-speed Aisin automatic transmission to the two models starting with the 2015 model year. The brand hopes to broaden the appeal of the Fiat 500 Abarth and 500 Turbo by adding the optional automatic to the lineup.
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Since it was first introduced onto the market in 2012, both models have only been offered with a manual transmission. Currently, Abarth models account for about 15 percent of the Fiat 500 sales, but Fiat believes the lack of an automatic has been the biggest reason for the sluggish business. Fiat hopes that offering an automatic will boost sales as much as 50 percent.
In addition, certain models of the 500 will receive a new seven-inch electronic display in its instrument cluster for the 2015 model year.
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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