Currently, Abarth’s offerings are limited to various versions of the 500 hatch and Cabrio, but Fiat’s performance sub-brand is working on two more separate models, one based on the 124 Spyder and the other, on the 500X crossover.
We snapped a prototype of the latter testing under the coverage of the 500X Trekking’s body with a few spicy additions, the most telling of which were the twin exhaust outlets at the back, as no other current Fiat 500X comes with more than one pipe. According to our photographer, the tester’s exhaust note was “quite aggressive”.
Other telltale performance signs include the 18-inch alloy wheels with a suspiciously similar design to those found on the Alfa Romeo 4C, behind which are bigger brakes with red calipers and larger rotors.
By the time it matures into a production model, the Abarth-branded 500X will get bespoke treatments on the outside, such as redesigned bumpers and side sills, together with some modest updates to the interior.
There’s a bit of a mystery surrounding the powertrain(s) of choice at this point, but we suspect that the 500X will share Fiat’s highly-tuneable 1.4-liter Multiair with the 124 Spyder, producing around 170hp with the possibility of a 190hp version to be available as well.
Photo Credits: CarPix for CarScoops
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