Abarth 500

The Abarth 500 debuted in 2008 as the performance flagship of Fiat's retro-styled 500 lineup, and it was the car that relaunched the Abarth brand for a new generation. Built around a turbocharged 1.4 liter engine, the 500 traded the standard car's cute, easygoing manners for stiffer suspension, bigger brakes, flared wheel arches, and an exhaust note that announced itself well before the car came into view.

Abarth offered the 500 in progressively hotter configurations, and the Esseesse (SS) upgrade package became the car's calling card, adding a reworked ECU, larger turbo, and upgraded exhaust for a noticeable jump in output over the standard Abarth 500. The SS badge traces back to Carlo Abarth's own history of factory-blessed upgrade kits, so fitting one to a modern 500 tied the car directly to that heritage.

Inside, the Abarth 500 kept much of the Fiat 500's charm, with a small footprint and light weight that made the extra power feel more dramatic than the numbers alone suggested. It remains a favorite among enthusiasts looking for an affordable, characterful hot hatch with real scorpion-badge pedigree.