DEBUT - ABARTH FIAT 500

Once named Southern Europe's Impact Car of the Year can also be had in the once-revered (still-revered) Abarth form now. Carlo Abarth founded the firm in 1949 as a racing outfit and tuner but Abarth was sold to Fiat in 1971. Although there have been rough years for Fiat in the recent past - which equated to Abarth neglect - Fiat can now rightfully attach the Scorpion logo to its suddenly famous small car.  

Does 135bhp sound weak to you?  It ain't.  The very good Fiat Panda 100HP on which the 500 is based makes do with, yes; 100 horsepower.  152 lb-ft of torque isn't shabby, either.  Fiat generates this power with a turbocharged 1.4L four-cylinder.