#abarth

Aiming to broaden appeal for the performance-oriented version of its city car, the Fiat 500 Abarth Cabrio made its U.S. debut on the L.A. show floor today.

If the Fiat 500 Abarth has one signature feature, it’s the tiny car’s rather un-tiny exhaust note. And now with the new 500C Abarth model you’ll be able to hear that droning buzz a few decibels louder courtesy of a folding soft-top.

As expected, the Fiat 500 Abarth Cabriolet will be making its North American debut at the upcoming 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show.

A pleasant surprise greeted us in the Mopar booth at the 2012 SEMA Show; an SRT Viper modified by none other than famed Italian tuning house, Abarth.

“Do you come with the car?” Sadly, no, but you can now get an Abarth with more accessories than ever before.

At this year’s Paris Motor Show, Abarth will introduce its new personalization service, showcasing the possibilities on an Abarth 695 model.

It didn’t used to be free, but now it is thanks to Fiat – an English/Italian translator app distributed through the iOS App Store.

Abarth will be adding two new models to its lineup in the UK market, with the 595 Turismo and 595 Competizione heading to dealerships sporting a turbocharged 1.4-liter, T-Jet powerplant with 160-hp.

Fiat’s latest commercial, “Immigrants,” gives a cinematic portrayal of the 500 making its journey from Italy to the U.S., but as anyone who watched it will know, several cars were apparently sacrificed in the process.

Credit sex, swagger or supportive reviews from the automotive community. Actually, scratch that and credit them all for the Fiat 500 Abarth’s warm reception that demanded triple what the automaker originally expected to sell in North America.

When it goes on sale, the Fiat Abarth 695 Maserati Edition won’t be available in the U.S. and that’s a good thing because dealers would have to tack “unsellable” onto its laughably long name.

Back at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, Abarth unveiled its 695 Tributo Maserati, a custom Fiat 500C inspired by fellow Italian automaker, Maserati. The special edition model will now make it to production as the 695 Edizione Maserati.

Catrinel Menghia, the lingerie model who starred in the Fiat brand’s sexy Super Bowl ad is back in several new spots for the Italian automaker.

Helping promote the new Fiat 500 Abarth performance model, the ad was a clear indication of a change in gears from the automaker, after dropping its female US brand boss and its female-targeted J-Lo ads for some sex appeal directed right at a male audience.

Are they as good as the original? Are you going to watch them anyway no matter what we say? Of course you are. So stop reading and start watching below:

It appears that is Fiat will continue to expand its American 500 offerings based on documents filed with NHTSA and the California Air Resources Board (CARB). 

The Fiat 500 Abarth Venom is the culmination of American and Italian minds working together. Mopar partnered up with Italian parts manufacturer Magneti Marelli to create the Venom variant of the Fiat 500 Abarth model.

The demo vehicle was debuted out in Las Vegas and even had a surprise visit by supermodel Catrinel Menghia that has made her claim to fame in the popular Abarth ads. Between Mopar and Magneti Marelli, the Fiat 500 Abarth Venom features carbon fiber goods for the body – including hood and side mirror housings – that in total drop 200 lbs from the vehicle’s weight. The roof also gets a large scorpion graphic.

Horsepower from the 1.4-liter turbocharged engine gets bumped up by as much as 40-hp (from the stock 160-hp) thanks to a retuned ECU and exhaust system.

Other options include Magneti Marelli 17-inch wheels in black, seats, and upgraded interior trim.

While the Fiat 500 Abarth Venom won’t make its way to America as a complete vehicle, Fiat tuning shops in America are already finding a way to import the parts so that you can build your own. Expect to pay a premium though, Magneti Marelli goods are expensive.

Watch the video – featuring the beautiful Catrinel Menghia – after the break.