The 2015 Abarth Track Experience begins this month, giving Fiat 500 Abarth owners the opportunity to develop their driving skills in a one-day performance adventure.
Participants will pilot cars from a fleet of Abarths provided and put their skills to the test through four driving modules: autocross, head-to-head challenge, driving dynamics and performance drive. They will end their day by riding shotgun as professional drivers push the track-tuned Abarth vehicles to the limit.
“The Abarth Track Experience allows owners to take the fun-to-drive factor of the ‘small but wicked’ Fiat 500 Abarth to new limits,” said Jason Stoicevich, Head of FIAT Brand North America. “With the success of the Abarth Track Experience last year and the popularity of the newly introduced specially tuned automatic transmission option, we’ve added stops this year to ensure more Abarth owners have the opportunity to develop their driving skills in a safe track environment.”
The 2015 Abarth Track Experience begins February 16 at Laguna Seca in Salinas, Calif., with stops throughout the year in Ft. Worth, Texas; Fontana, Calif.; Angleton, Texas; Daytona Beach, Fla.; Englishtown, N.J.; Brooklyn, Mich.; and Joliet, Ill.
The Fiat 500 Abarth’s optional six-speed automatic transmission, new for the 2015 model year, will be available to drivers at Abarth Track Experience dates this year.
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 transmission is mated to the track-proven 1.4-liter MultiAir Turbo engine to deliver up to 183 ft.-lb. of torque and 157 horsepower. The exclusive, Abarth-calibrated Sport mode 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.
The Track Experience registration fee is included in the cost of each Fiat 500 Abarth or Abarth Cabrio. For more information, please visit www.abarthexperience.com.
