This Weird Abarth SUV Is A Brazil Market-Only Oddity

Performance SUVs are a dime-a-dozen these days, be it from the mega-powerful, mega-expensive Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 to the faux hot hatch Ford Puma ST, it seems everyone is making one these days. Surprisingly, that extends to Abarth - if you’re in Brazil, at least.

This is the Abarth Fastback, a genuine performance-oriented SUV based on the odd-looking, South America-only Fiat Fastback. It’s powered by a 1.3-litre Abarth-honed engine that doesn’t exist in any European Stellantis model, putting out 182bhp (on ethanol at least, dipping to 178bhp on regular petrol) and 199lb ft of torque.

All of that is delivered to the front wheels through a six-speed automatic gearbox, which is said to result in a 0-62mph sprint of 7.6 seconds and a 137mph top speed. For context, that’s just shy of a second slower than the Abarth 500e, though with a 41mph higher top speed.

Naturally, the Abarth makeup has been applied. This includes a huge scorpion badge up front, Abarth name badging at the rear and 18-inch alloys - as well as some appropriate stickers.

Some genuine chassis changes seem to have been made, too. According to the (admittedly Google Translated) press release, the Abarth Fastback gets sportier suspension, more direct steering and stickier tyres. There’s even a ‘Poison’ mode (granted, we’re unsure how accurate that translation is, hopefully very) which puts the engine and gearbox into their most aggressive settings.

As mentioned though, only customers in Brazil will be able to buy the Abarth Fastback, remaining an untouchable oddity to those of us in Europe. Prices start at 159,990 Brazilian Real (approx £26,000).

Interestingly, it’s not even the first time the market has had an Abarth SUV. There’s the smaller Abarth Pulse, too. One to watch for the hire car roulette if you’re in that part of the world.