FIAT 500c Abarth: Trims, Generations & Buyer's Guide
Last updated August 4, 2026
The FIAT 500c Abarth is a tiny four-seat performance convertible with front-wheel drive, a folding fabric roof, and a turbocharged gas engine. It is known for retro Italian style, a loud exhaust, and playful handling in a city-friendly package.
The 500c Abarth was the open-air, performance-focused member of FIAT’s small 500 family. Throughout its U.S. run, it paired cheeky styling and a power-folding fabric roof with sharper suspension and a louder turbo engine. Its appeal has always been personality and fun rather than passenger or cargo space.
Strengths
- Its tiny size and quick responses give it an eager, playful feel around town.
- The folding fabric roof brings fresh air into the cabin without changing the car into a larger traditional convertible.
- The Abarth exhaust gives the turbo engine a distinctive, lively sound.
- The gas-powered 2019 model produced 160 horsepower, a strong amount for such a small car.
- Its retro Italian shape and Abarth details give it a look that stands apart from ordinary subcompacts.
Who it's for
It suits a city driver or weekend shopper who wants a small used convertible with lots of character. It makes the most sense for one or two people who value sound, style, and open-air driving more than a roomy back seat or useful cargo area.
FIAT 500c Abarth lineup
The lineup is simple because the 500c Abarth came as a single Base trim rather than a ladder of increasingly upscale versions. That trim is the full Abarth experience, with the turbo engine, performance-focused suspension, distinctive exhaust, and folding fabric roof. Manual and automatic examples were sold, so used-car shoppers mainly need to focus on transmission preference, model year, condition, and options rather than trim level.
FIAT 500c Abarth generations
From 2017 to 2019, the 500c Abarth spans 1 generation. The current 1st Generation arrived for 2013.
1st Generation (2013–2019)
The North American 500c Abarth’s only generation combined a power-folding cloth roof with a turbocharged 1.4-liter engine, sport-tuned suspension, and a distinctive performance exhaust. Its core design and mechanical setup remained largely unchanged through its final U.S. model year.
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2019
Carryover year with no meaningful equipment or engineering updates. This was the final U.S. model year.
2018
A rearview camera became standard; the rest of the car carried over.
2017
The 500c Abarth carried over unchanged despite a simplified trim lineup for the broader 500 family.
What's new by year
See what changed in a specific model year of the FIAT 500c Abarth.
Frequently asked questions
Is the FIAT 500c Abarth a real convertible?
Yes. The FIAT 500c Abarth has a power-folding cloth top with three open positions. It delivers an open-air cabin while keeping the tiny footprint and four-seat layout of the 500.
Is the FIAT 500c Abarth a hybrid or electric car?
No. The U.S.-market FIAT 500c Abarth covered here is gas-powered, using a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine. It is not a hybrid or an electric model.
Does the FIAT 500c Abarth have AWD?
No. Every FIAT 500c Abarth in this North American generation is front-wheel drive. Its performance character comes from the turbo engine, sport-tuned suspension, and system that helps manage power at the front wheels.
Is the FIAT 500c Abarth practical for four adults?
Not especially. It has four seats, but the rear offers just 31.7 inches of legroom and cargo space is only 5.4 cubic feet. It works better for two people, with the back seats used occasionally or for extra storage.
What is the FIAT 500c Abarth known for?
It is known for character rather than practicality: retro Italian styling, a loud Abarth exhaust, eager turbo power, sharp front-wheel-drive responses, and a folding cloth roof in a very small city-friendly car.
How many generations of the FIAT 500c Abarth were sold in the U.S.?
There was one North American generation. The 500c Abarth arrived for 2013 and continued through 2019, the final U.S. model year for the gasoline FIAT 500 and 500c family.