Production Begins for 2015 Fiat 500 Abarth with New Automatic Transmission

- Specially tuned automatic transmission maintains high-performance legacy of Abarth models while delivering accessible performance to more customers

-Six-speed automatic transmission is paired with the 1.4-liter MultiAir Turbo engine to deliver up to 183 ft.-lb. of torque and 157 horsepower

-2015 Fiat 500 lineup features interior updates and arrives in studios later this summer

The high-performance 2015 Fiat 500 Abarth and Abarth Cabrio, now offering an optional six-speed automatic transmission, begins production at Toluca Assembly Plant in Toluca, Mexico.

The Abarth’s optional six-speed automatic transmission, new for 2015, is mated to the track-proven 1.4-liter MultiAir Turbo engine to deliver up to 183 ft.-lb. of torque and 157 horsepower.

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 Sport mode calibration 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.

“Accessible performance has always been a hallmark of the Abarth name,” said Jason Stoicevich, Head of FIAT Brand for North America, Chrysler Group LLC. “Now, with the addition of an optional automatic transmission, an entirely new group of customers will be able to experience the thrill of driving the Fiat 500 Abarth lineup. Fiat 500 Abarth sales increased more than 16 percent during this year, and we expect this sales success to continue with the launch of this new automatic transmission.”
 

Production also begins today for the 2015 Fiat 500 Turbo, which features an optional automatic transmission for this model year. The full 2015 Fiat 500 lineup, with interior updates such as an innovative instrument panel with a 7-inch high-definition color display, will arrive at FIAT studios later this summer.
 
FIAT brand sales were up 18 percent in May, its best ever monthly sales since the brand returned to the U.S. market in 2011. It was the brand’s sixth-consecutive month of year-over-year sales gains. Sales for the Fiat 500 Abarth lineup have increased by more than 16 percent during 2014.