Through the esses with the Abarth Esseesse
Officially, it's not even a Fiat, but the hottest colleague of the new 500 range the Abarth Esseesse does its stepmother company proud. David Thomson reports on mortal behind the wheel of an imperfect delight.
Memories of my first high-pressure of the nuveo Fiat 500, back in 2008, remain so unfledged that it might have happened more recently; a handful of week days out zipping around town, followed by a Saturday morning destroy over the hill from Port Chalmers to Waitati and, after a perspicacious U-turn, back from Waitati to Northeast Valley via the Mount Cargill Passage. We did the Mt Cargill trip four-up, and while it wasn't the fastest car I'd driven that year, or even that month, the 500 was a pack of fun.
Fast forward to 2011 - only one person this stretch, but the same roads, and the same car.
Well almost the same car. Last time around Drivesouth's first bite at the Fiat 500 cherry mixed up with the standard $32,490 1.4-litre, delivering 74kW and 131Nm from its normally-aspirated appliance, and sitting on standard suspension and 15-inch combination rims.