Fiat is reportedly looking to expand its Abarth lineup with a hotter version of the 500X crossover.
Speaking with AutoExpress, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles chief operating officer Alfredo Altavilla says the automaker is “thinking about an all-new addition” to the Fiat lineup, specifically calling out the possibility of a high-performance 500X.
Like the rumoured Fiat 124 Abarth, the uptuned 500X will likely be powered by a less powerful version of the 1.75-litre turbo-four from the Alfa Romeo 4C. Expect somewhere around 200 horsepower and a lower ride height, more aggressive styling and Abarth-specific trim details, including the requisite scorpion badges.
If the 500X Abarth is green-lit, it will go toe-to-toe with other sporty crossovers such as the John Cooper Works-tuned Mini Countryman and the Nissan Juke Nismo and Nismo RS. Like the competition – and the rest of the 500X lineup – the Abarth version will likely be all-wheel-drive.
