FIAT Brand Announces Kick-Off of 2015 Abarth Track Experience

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Feb 06, 2015, 11:00 ET

AUBURN HILLS, Mich,, Feb. 6, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

The Abarth Track Experience offers professional driving instruction to Fiat 500 Abarth owners
Participants can learn to maximize their driving skills on the street and track in a one-day session
Expanded 2015 schedule includes events in California, Texas, Florida, New Jersey, Michigan and Illinois
Owners can experience the 2015 Fiat 500 Abarth, now available with a specially tuned six-speed automatic transmission

The 2015 Abarth Track Experience begins this month, giving Fiat 500 Abarth owners the opportunity to develop their driving skills in a one-day performance adventure.

Participants will pilot cars from a fleet of Abarths provided and put their skills to the test through four driving modules: autocross, head-to-head challenge, driving dynamics and performance drive. They will end their day by riding shotgun as professional drivers push the track-tuned Abarth vehicles to the limit.

"The Abarth Track Experience allows owners to take the fun-to-drive factor of the 'small but wicked' Fiat 500 Abarth to new limits," said Jason Stoicevich, Head of FIAT Brand North America. "With the success of the Abarth Track Experience last year and the popularity of the newly introduced specially tuned automatic transmission option, we've added stops this year to ensure more Abarth owners have the opportunity to develop their driving skills in a safe track environment."

The 2015 Abarth Track Experience begins February 16 at Laguna Seca in Salinas, Calif., with stops throughout the year in Ft. Worth, Texas; Fontana, Calif.; Angleton, Texas; Daytona Beach, Fla.; Englishtown, N.J.; Brooklyn, Mich.; and Joliet, Ill.

The Fiat 500 Abarth's optional six-speed automatic transmission, new for the 2015 model year, will be available to drivers at Abarth Track Experience dates this year.

To ensure the 2015 Fiat 500 Abarth and Abarth Cabrio remain true to their high-performance and track-ready heritage, the six-speed automatic transmission has been reinforced with more clutch plates and a more robust heat treatment to allow for higher torque capability. The transmission is mated to the track-proven 1.4-liter MultiAir Turbo engine to deliver up to 183 ft.-lb. of torque and 157 horsepower. The exclusive, Abarth-calibrated Sport mode allows for an even more engaged driving experience with special features such as fuel-cut upshifts, rev-matching downshifts, brake-assist downshifts, corner gear hold and fast-off gear hold, as well as a more aggressive pedal map.

The Track Experience registration fee is included in the cost of each Fiat 500 Abarth or Abarth Cabrio. For more information, please visit www.abarthexperience.com.

About the Fiat 500 Abarth and Abarth Cabrio
Faithful to the "small but wicked" saying coined for Karl Abarth's cars in the 1960s, the 2015 Fiat 500 Abarth and Abarth Cabrio embody the racing traditions that have made it a success on European roadways and racetracks — world-class performance and precision, purposeful and aggressive styling, high power-to-weight ratio and limited-production volume.

Building on the excitement of the Fiat 500 (Cinquecento), the Fiat 500 Abarth and Abarth Cabrio are designed for track-day enthusiasts and driving purists who want the ultimate high-performance small car with the pedigree of an exclusive Italian exotic.

With its 1.4-liter MultiAir® Turbo engine, Abarth-tuned suspension and brake systems, race-inspired design, and technology features not traditionally included on a small car, the 2015 Fiat 500 Abarth and Abarth Cabrio unleash legendary Italian performance heritage to American streets.

About FIAT Brand
The FIAT brand stands for discovery through passionate self-expression. That philosophy is embodied by the iconic Fiat 500 or Cinquecento – a small car that lives big. Italian at heart and rooted in a rich heritage, the 500 is sold in more than 100 countries around the world and is synonymous with modern, simple design blending form, function, technology and a pride of ownership that is genuine.

In North America, the Fiat 500 was introduced in March 2011 and was soon followed by the Fiat 500c (Cabrio), the high-performance Fiat 500 Abarth and Abarth Cabrio, the fully electric Fiat 500e and the five-passenger Fiat 500L. The FIAT brand continues to expand with the introduction of the Fiat 500X, an all-new crossover that combines Italian style with functionality, performance and all-wheel drive confidence. The all-new Fiat 500X will arrive in FIAT studios in the second quarter of 2015.

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