2012 Fiat 500 Abarth Virtually Sold Out - In Six Weeks

Just the Facts:

• The $22,700 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth is virtually sold out, Chrysler told Inside Line on Tuesday, but the automaker will boost production on the 2013 model in response to "incredible customer demand."
• Car shoppers can't order the 2012 500 Abarth from dealers at this point, but they may still be able to find a few available in showrooms or dealer lots, said Jiyan Cadiz, a Fiat spokesman.
• Dealers will begin taking orders for the 2013 Fiat 500 Abarth in late summer, with deliveries slated for the fourth quarter of 2012.

AUBURN HILLS, Michigan ? The $22,700 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth is virtually sold out, Chrysler told Inside Line on Tuesday, but the automaker will boost production on the 2013 model in response to "incredible customer demand."

The Fiat Abarth's sales performance is noteworthy, especially since May marked the first full month of deliveries for the high-performance model, which went on sale in the U.S. in mid-April. Fiat sold a record 16,702 Fiat 500s in the first five months of the year, but individual sales figures are not available on the 500 Abarth.

"We don't break out model differentiation," said Jiyan Cadiz, a Fiat spokesman, in a phone conversation with Inside Line. "It's a very low production car. We've tried to keep that exotic Italian pedigree."

But he added that "the customer wants to make sure it's fully loaded with upgraded leather interior and bigger wheels and tires."

Cadiz said that car shoppers can't order the 2012 500 Abarth from dealers anymore, but they may still be able to find a few available in showrooms or on dealer lots.

"There are still Fiat 500 Abarths available for retail customers," Cadiz said in a phone conversation. "You couldn't order one. But whatever is on the ground is what we have left."

Dealers will begin taking orders for the 2013 Fiat 500 Abarth in late summer, with deliveries slated for the fourth quarter of 2012. Pricing on the 2013 Fiat 500 Abarth will be announced around the beginning of September.

Inside Line says: The race is on to snap up the few remaining 2012 Fiat 500 Abarths on dealer lots.

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