FIAT 124 Spider Abarth Hand Painted Hood – Video

Through unspecified means, the Abarth team stripped about 100 pounds from the stock 124 Spider’s already feathery 2436-pound claimed curb weight. The squad then added 10 horsepower to the turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder—the torque rating is the same as the regular Spider’s 184 lb-ft—and bolted on a “Record Monza” quad-outlet exhaust that’s said to sound bellissima. A standard-fitment limited-slip differential replaces the Fiat 124’s open rear diff and helps evenly distribute torque application in corners. We’re happy enough with the slight power bump and the weight savings, but the rear diff might just be the Abarth’s most critical upgrade, especially for owners looking to make the most of their race-inspired Fiat at the track.

In fact, we appreciate how Abarth seems to have focused more on its tweaked 124’s driving experience than chasing outright performance numbers. (For the record, Abarth claims the 124 Spider can accelerate to 62 mph in 6.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 143 mph.) The car retains the regular 124’s 50-50 front-to-rear weight balance while incorporating stiffer anti-roll bars, “Abarth by Bilstein” dampers for better body control, and aluminum Brembo brake calipers for improved stopping performance. A six-speed manual transmission is standard, but an automatic with a manual mode and steering-wheel shift paddles is optional.