Fiat: Big demand for hot little ride

The 500 Esseesse has 17-inch alloy wheels, cross-drilled disc brakes and a top speed of 212km/h. Photo / Supplied

The 500 Esseesse, the extra hot version of the Fiat 500, will go on sale in New Zealand next month.

"Blame the European performance car enthusiasts for the delay in the Abarth 500 arriving in New Zealand," says Lawrie Malatios, general manager for Abarth in New Zealand.

"Ever since it was launched, Abarth has been unable to meet demand for the Abarth 500. It's the ultimate giant killer."

The Esseesse (that's "SS" in Italian) uses a turbocharged four-cylinder 1.4-litre petrol engine delivering 120kW and 230Nm of torque to the front wheels via a five-speed manual gearbox. A sport mode sharpens throttle responses.

Fiat claims town-and-around fuel consumption for the Esseesse of 6.5 litres/100km, or 43mpg.

The same engine in the standard 500 Abarth delivers 100kW. Abarth claims the 500 Esseesse claws its way from zero to 100km/h in 7.4 seconds and on to a top speed of 212km/h.

It comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, cross-drilled disc brakes, lower suspension, stiffer springs, a new engine ECU and a performance air filter along with some Esseesse badges. Safety equipment includes seven airbags.

"The Abarth 500 has been a remarkable success in Europe and it has become the small car to be seen in right across Europe," says Malatios.

"We know that this success is about to be duplicated in New Zealand because we have had people banging on our door. Demand will be further compounded by the keen pricing and specification which will be announced in March."

Malatios wouldn't be drawn on pricing but there has been talk on that the three-door 1035kg flyer will sit between $40,000-$45,000.