2013 Fiat 500c Abarth Cabrio Preview: 2012 LA Auto Show

The Fiat 500 Abarth is a pretty fun little car. It’s not perfect, but for the price it provides great grin factor and a gregarious personality. With the new 2013 Fiat 500c Abarth Cabrio, drivers can now giggle from behind the flat-bottomed steering wheel while drenched in sunlight. When the 500c Abarth Cabrio arrives at Fiat Studios during the first quarter of 2013, it will compete against the Mazda MX-5 Miata, Mini Cooper S Convertible, and Volkswagen Beetle Turbo Convertible.

2013 Fiat 500c Abarth Cabrio Preview: 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show

• 160-horsepower, turbocharged engine
• Lowered sport suspension
• Bigger brakes, wheels and tires
• Performance-tuned steering and exhaust
• Three-mode traction and stability control
• Optional 17-inch forged aluminum wheels with summer performance tires
• Power cloth top retracts at speeds up to 60 mph
• Beats by Dr. Dre premium audio system
• Includes one-day Abarth Driving Experience school

2013 Fiat 500c Abarth Cabrio Preview: 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show

When viewed from the side, the 2013 Fiat 500c Abarth Cabrio looks just like the standard 500 Abarth, because this isn’t a traditional pillar-less convertible. Instead, the power cloth roof retracts in channels built into the original and intact outer roof rails, adding structural rigidity and reducing windshield header shake by as much as 70 percent.

Otherwise, the new 500c Abarth Cabrio looks just like the standard 500 Abarth, equipped with the same restyled front end, revised rear bumper and valence panel, dual exhaust outlets, aluminum wheel selections, side stripes, and color combinations.

2013 Fiat 500c Abarth Cabrio Preview: 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show

The new Fiat 500c Abarth Cabrio is equipped with a turbocharged 1.4-liter 4-cylinder engine that generates 160 horsepower and 170 lb.-ft. of torque (150 lb.-ft. when Sport mode is disengaged). Before you dismiss this as an ineffective level of output, remember that the Abarth weighs little more than 2,500 lbs.

A heavy-duty 5-speed manual gearbox with a 3.35 final drive ratio is standard, delivering power to the front wheels. It includes equal-length drivetrain half-shafts to help quell torque steer. The 500c Abarth is also equipped with Torque Transfer Control (TTC) to maximize acceleration when powering out of a corner.

Performance-oriented upgrades for this model include an Abarth-designed fresh-air intake, a high-flow air filter, quicker electric steering calibrated to provide additional feedback, a sport-tuned exhaust system, a lowered sport suspension, and 4-wheel ventilated-disc performance brakes with red-painted brake calipers. FIAT says its new 500c Abarth Cabrio is “track ready,” so it offers a three-mode stability control system.

The standard wheel for the 500c Abarth Cabrio is a 16-inch aluminum design wearing 195/45 Pirelli Cinturato P7 all-season performance tires. As an option, buyers can install 17-inch forged aluminum wheels equipped with 205/40 Pirelli P-Zero Nero summer performance rubber.

2013 Fiat 500c Abarth Cabrio Preview: 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show

The 2013 500c Abarth Cabrio is equipped with a thick-rimmed, flat-bottomed, leather-wrapped steering wheel and a 160-mph speedometer. Additional cabin upgrades include a leather-wrapped gauge cluster brow, a leather-wrapped shift knob, aluminum pedal covers, and a turbo boost gauge. The one-piece, performance-bolstered front seats are designed to accept a 5-point racing harness.

Standard equipment includes an Alpine audio system, satellite radio, a USB port with iPod connection, Bluetooth hands-free connectivity, and automatic climate control. Options for the 500c Abarth Cabrio include a new Beats by Dr. Dre audio system and a portable navigation system.

2013 Fiat 500c Abarth Cabrio Preview: 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show

Let’s face it. No self-respecting dude would ever be caught dead in the standard Fiat 500c. Not even as a passenger. The addition of the 500c Abarth Cabrio to the Italian automaker’s lineup expands the Fiat ragtop’s appeal to people with XY chromosomes.