The Abarth is a sport version of the recently introduced Fiat 500 and has 59% more horsepower and 70% more torque than the standard model.

Taking dead aim at the driving enthusiast community, Fiat trotted out a sport version of the recently introduced Fiat 500. Legitimately tuned for the track, the Abarth (pronounced “ah-bart”) edition has 59% more horsepower and 70% more torque than the standard model.

“With the addition of a turbocharger to the 1.4-liter engine, advanced intake technology including FIAT’s exclusive MultiAir system, a heavy-duty five-speed manual transmission and other internal refinements to the powertrain, the ’12 Fiat 500 Abarth transforms the Fiat 500 into a high-performance precision driving machine that every enthusiast will appreciate,” said Mike Vincent, platform manager for the 1.4-liter MultiAir Turbo engine.

The engine also benefits from twin intercoolers and upgraded thermal capacities, forged rods and forged crank. The Honeywell turbo operates at 18 psi; premium fuel is recommended, but not required.

The 500 Abarth also boasts driveline and suspension upgrades, including bigger brakes with 11.1-in. rotors, stiffer springs and bars and P-zero tires on 17-in. forged wheels. Three-mode stability control can be switched off for track use and 10% faster steering and a 15mm lower stance are part of the package.

According to Fiat spokesman Tim Kuniskis, the Abarth was designed to be fun on the track, but not punishing on the street.

The Fiat 500 was the recipient of the SEMA Award at the 2011 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, making it the “Hottest Sport Compact of the Year.” The award is based on a count of vehicles in exhibitor booths—a measure of how the aftermarket performance industry embraces a new model.

The U.S. International Trade Administration (ITA) has issued final duty rates for certain steel wheels from China that are being sold at less than fair value in the United States. The subject wheels range from 18 to 24.5 in. in diameter and include rims and discs whether imported as an assembly or sold separately. The wheels are typically used in commercial vehicles (trucks, buses, trailers, etc.), but passenger car wheels within that size range fall within the scope of the investigation. 

Last year, two U.S. auto wheel manufacturers submitted petitions claiming that at least two dozen Chinese producers and exporters were “dumping” the wheels in the U.S. market. Calculations for the final dumping margins range from 44.96% to 193.54% ad valorem and countervailing duties range from 25.66% to 38.32% ad valorem. 

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

The U.S. International Trade Administration (ITA) has issued final duty rates for certain steel wheels from China that are being sold at less than fair value in the United States. The subject wheels range from 18 to 24.5 in. in diameter and include rims and discs whether imported as an assembly or sold separately. The wheels are typically used in commercial vehicles (trucks, buses, trailers, etc.), but passenger car wheels within that size range fall within the scope of the investigation. 

Last year, two U.S. auto wheel manufacturers submitted petitions claiming that at least two dozen Chinese producers and exporters were “dumping” the wheels in the U.S. market. Calculations for the final dumping margins range from 44.96% to 193.54% ad valorem and countervailing duties range from 25.66% to 38.32% ad valorem. 

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

The United States Senate passed its version of legislation to fund highway construction and other transportation projects for the next two years. SEMA supports the bill’s maintenance of current funding levels in order to address the nation’s aging infrastructure and provide states with more spending flexibility. The legislation also would dramatically increase fines for vehicle or equipment recalls and include mandates to address distracted driving, unintended acceleration and pedal placement, expand the availability of early warning data and require installation of event data recorders. 

SEMA contends that current civil penalties are already higher than those imposed on manufacturers for many other types of consumer products and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is already addressing the other issues. The legislation has been sent to the House of Representatives, which is attempting to draft its own bill for a five-year plan. The draft bill currently does not include the auto safety provisions. The government’s authority to fund highway programs expires at the end of March. Congress is expected to pass a short-term extension while the House drafts its version of a bill. 

For more information, contact Dan Sadowski at dans@sema.org.

The United States Senate passed its version of legislation to fund highway construction and other transportation projects for the next two years. SEMA supports the bill’s maintenance of current funding levels in order to address the nation’s aging infrastructure and provide states with more spending flexibility. The legislation also would dramatically increase fines for vehicle or equipment recalls and include mandates to address distracted driving, unintended acceleration and pedal placement, expand the availability of early warning data and require installation of event data recorders. 

SEMA contends that current civil penalties are already higher than those imposed on manufacturers for many other types of consumer products and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is already addressing the other issues. The legislation has been sent to the House of Representatives, which is attempting to draft its own bill for a five-year plan. The draft bill currently does not include the auto safety provisions. The government’s authority to fund highway programs expires at the end of March. Congress is expected to pass a short-term extension while the House drafts its version of a bill. 

For more information, contact Dan Sadowski at dans@sema.org.

Legislation that originally sought to provide legal registration to hobby vehicles with a clear title, required safety equipment and in good working order was passed by the Wisconsin Senate and House and now moves to Governor Scott Walker for his signature and enactment into law. Due to opposition from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, the bill was amended to now only affect former military vehicles. 

Several pro-hobby provisions of the bill with application to all hobby vehicles were eliminated. While the amended bill does not solve the many problems associated with registering a hobby car in Wisconsin, it does provide incremental improvement to the rules governing former military vehicles and is still worthy of our support. 

More information is available. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

Legislation that originally sought to provide legal registration to hobby vehicles with a clear title, required safety equipment and in good working order was passed by the Wisconsin Senate and House and now moves to Governor Scott Walker for his signature and enactment into law. Due to opposition from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, the bill was amended to now only affect former military vehicles. 

Several pro-hobby provisions of the bill with application to all hobby vehicles were eliminated. While the amended bill does not solve the many problems associated with registering a hobby car in Wisconsin, it does provide incremental improvement to the rules governing former military vehicles and is still worthy of our support. 

More information is available. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

A bill to provide a cap on property taxes paid by owners of antique and classic motor vehicles was vetoed by Governor Early Ray Tomblin due to a technical issue. The bill had been amended and approved by the West Virginia State Legislature with a new $5,000 assessed value for all of these cars. Previous versions of the bill contained an assessed value provision of $1,000. Generally, the bill vetoed by the governor benefited antique and classic vehicle owners whose cars are worth more than $5,000. However, it would have penalized most antique and classic vehicle owners whose cars are worth less than $5,000. The Legislature chose not to call an additional vote on the bill in an attempt to override the veto. 

For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

A bill to provide a cap on property taxes paid by owners of antique and classic motor vehicles was vetoed by Governor Early Ray Tomblin due to a technical issue. The bill had been amended and approved by the West Virginia State Legislature with a new $5,000 assessed value for all of these cars. Previous versions of the bill contained an assessed value provision of $1,000. Generally, the bill vetoed by the governor benefited antique and classic vehicle owners whose cars are worth more than $5,000. However, it would have penalized most antique and classic vehicle owners whose cars are worth less than $5,000. The Legislature chose not to call an additional vote on the bill in an attempt to override the veto. 

For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

In 2010, SEMA-supported legislation to extend the emissions inspection exemption to vehicles five model years old or newer was signed into law, subject to approval by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Previous law only exempted vehicles four model years old or newer. The EPA has now incorporated revisions to the State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to include the extension of the new vehicle inspection exemption from four years to five years. This action acknowledges the relatively minimal environmental impact of the vehicles targeted for this exemption and that it is senseless to test newer vehicles, the results of which demonstrate no significant air quality benefits.  

For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.