A QUICK LOOK AT THE 2017 FIAT 500 ABARTH

Let's take a quick look at the little 500 Abarth that never gets old!

This mini-compact hot hatch is for those of you who are seeking a left-field choice. Its main competitors are the Ford Fiesta ST and the Mini Cooper S!

The car features a 1.4-liter DOHC turbocharged I4. It is four-wheel-drive and a five-speed manual! In addition, the output is 160hp at 5,500rpm; and 183 lb-ft at 2,500rpm. 

The base price is set as $20,990, while the As-Tested price is $24,415. 

Although there haven't been too many changes to the 500 Abarth since it was announced in April 2012, there have been some new additions. These include some tech changes like Uconnect as well as an optional automatic transmission for the 2015 model.

A writer at Autoweek had this to say about the little Fiat:

"Here we have the automotive equivalent of a little puppy who somehow got into the coffee. He’s completely jacked on caffeine, bounding around the house with a crazed look in his eye, tail wagging, knocking over stuff, tongue hanging out, having a good old time.

That’s a compliment.

It’s also our way of saying this car is a goofy-looking hoot to drive -- perfect for bombing around town. With the WRX and the GTI and their ilk all grown up, there aren’t many cars like this for sale in the U.S. It’s full of character, and that counts for a ton in our book.

The car’s exhaust note is awesome, and there’s power aplenty, especially in sport mode. Yeah, the ride is a bit stiff, so you might find yourself trying to avoid rough pavement, but it’s nothing too bad. Besides, making the ride softer would just increase roll in the corners. As is, the tiny Abarth hatchback just carves through flat and quick. Like we said, fun.

It’s a scrappy little thing and has a great sense of humor. More cars should."