Fiat 500 Abarth to Get Automatic Transmission
Fiat is planning on adding an automatic transmission to the 500 Abarth in an effort to make the car more accessible to a wider range of customers.
“I think when we’ll see more women is when we have the automatic, and we’re planning to add the automatic in the Abarth at some point, only because we’re getting that feedback from customers,” Tim Kuniskis, the brand’s North American president told Ward’s Auto.
About 80 percent of Abarth sales come from males, thanks in part to the brand’s marketing which has been mainly targeted at men. A new 500 Abarth Cabrio model will likely draw in some more female buyers, although Kuniskis says “I don’t think it will change radically.”
Exactly which automatic will come to the Abarth was not mentioned, but it will likely be a dual-clutch unit. The 500 Abarth is currently only available in North America with a manual transmission.
[Source: Ward’s Auto]
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Stephen covers all of the day-to-day events of the industry as the News Editor at AutoGuide, along with being the AG truck expert. His truck knowledge comes from working long days on the woodlot with pickups and driving straight trucks professionally. When not at his desk, Steve can be found playing his bass or riding his snowmobile or Sea-Doo. Find Stephen on <A title="@Selmer07 on Twitter" href="http://www.twitter.com/selmer07">Twitter</A> and <A title="Stephen on Google+" href="http://plus.google.com/117833131531784822251?rel=author">Google+</A>
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I am now on car 20 since HS ....and all were all stick ..........I want an ABARTH but the 5spd stick was making me say why change my 6spd manual 11 Cooper S then? This is good news as it will likely be a 6spd dual clutch type automatic . Typical DSG units ( think VW GTI )make the car quicker AND more economical. If this is coming I would really like to know the timeframe expected.