Italian aftermarket specialist Lucarelli-Monza has transformed the Abarth 500 into a mid-engined track beast named Motore Centrale R230. The car will be unveiled at the upcoming Top Marques Monaco show (April 14-17), alongside the Spada Codatronca.
Called Motore Centrale R230, the Fiat Abarth 500-based car is rear-wheel drive, with the engine having been moved behind the driver and passenger seats. Even the car’s battery has been moved at the rear of the car to help achieve an ideal weight distribution and improve traction. Of course, all these modifications mean the rear seats are gone (not that they were of much use to adult passengers anyway).
The standard 1.4-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engine has been tuned up to 230 horsepower and 330 Nm (243.4 lb-ft) of torque, with the car also receiving a new suspension with Bilstein dampers and larger brake disks (335 mm front, 305 mm rear). In order to stick to the track even better, the Motore Centrale R230 rides on semi-slick Kumho tyres, as you can see in the unusual teaser photo.
But that’s not all: the car will also be available in a 280HP track version called Pista, which will weigh 900 kilograms (1,984 lbs) and will be fitted with a roll-cage, completely adjustable suspension and dampers, limited-slip differential and telemetrics. Lucarelli-Monza hopes to build at least 30 units each year of the Motore Centrale R230.
By Dan Mihalascu
