This is from member "Simer" on "an" Abarth web site in the UK. This site apparently doesn't want actual American members (they blew me off), so I can't ask where this information came from, although I would guess Italy. This was posted on their Site today, 11 May 2011. Any "bolding" is mine. I'm always happy to throw wood on the fires of speculation. Here it is and thanks to Simer. I wish I could thank him via PM:


Excuse the online translation but this seems to be the latest info on the US market A500. Perhaps we will get the same engine come the facelift?

"The Abarth 500 will be reviewed, as was the Fiat 500 during its passage across the Atlantic for the transition to standards.
The main constraint to respect is that the more severe rear crash test in the USA. This will result in the use of a specific rear, currently used on the 500 NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement).
The amounts of the windshield will also be modified to meet the standards of frontal crash test.

The performance will also be revised upwards from its European cousin. The 500 Abarth will indeed be equipped American bloc 1.4 MultiAir developing a maximum output of 175 bhp and 230 nm of torque (15CH is more than the 500 Abarth esseesse European). (I have no idea what "15CH" means, Anyone know?)

Other differences are mainly located at the cockpit, or access to the rear seats will be optimized, the addition of steering wheel to use the cruise control function (speed)."

ch = chevaux

It's just another power measurement unit, like horsepower, kw, etc

1 ch ~ 1 hp. The conversion rate is something like 0.99something iirc.

Italy uses CV, Germany uses PS, many different countries use different things to measure power. It is confusing, and it can work out differently. That's why 0-60 times are sometimes 0-62 times as they are often timed 0-100 KPH, and 100 KPH is 62 MPH

Thanks for the info. I now know something new. I appreciate it.

Cheers!

geeded said:

This site apparently doesn't want actual American members (they blew me off)

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I was also rejected yesterday, the forum is for UK guys only.

The news sounds fresh. 1.4L N/A produces 175HP. Maybe done by a ECU chip? :slayer::slayer:

loveivs said:

I was also rejected yesterday, the forum is for UK guys only.

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That's why you want a good all welcoming international forum, like us.

loveivs said:

The news sounds fresh. 1.4L N/A produces 175HP. Maybe done by a ECU chip? :slayer::slayer:

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The use of N/A keeps confusing me. I've always used it to mean naturally aspirated as opposed to North America. Keep thinking that can't be the right power output for a non turbo.

loveivs said:

I was also rejected yesterday, the forum is for UK guys only.

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Venters said:

That's why you want a good all welcoming international forum, like us.

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Yeah! it would be a real face palm if Ben wasn't able to access his own site.

Personally, I think he made it accessible across the globe so the mods/admin can't use going on holiday as an excuse to shirk their responsibilities, lol.

DraigFlag87 said:

Italy uses CV, Germany uses PS, many different countries use different things to measure power. It is confusing, and it can work out differently. That's why 0-60 times are sometimes 0-62 times as they are often timed 0-100 KPH, and 100 KPH is 62 MPH

Click to expand...

France also uses CV, hence 2CV or 2 horsepower, and also why there were many French cars such as Renault 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 and so on.

Probably teaching my Grandmother(s) to suck eggs here but this was for taxation purposes as opposed to actual BHP. Cars in France were subject to punitive taxation the more powerful (larger capacity) they became. This is why France has produced very few large capacity cars. The same applies in Italy and is why most larger engined cars are for export with smaller, usually 2 litre engines available only for the domestic market.

Italy got the Ferrari 206 Dino in the late '60s, early '70s while the rest of the world got the 246. We got the 308 dino and GTB, they got a 2 litre version, albeit with a turbo. From the very early '70s onwards Lancia didn't produce a petrol engine over 2000 cc.

In Britain as well we used the HP system with cars like the Austin 7, Morris 8, Austin Big 10, although big, of course is a subjective word. Even Rolls Royce had a 20hp model in the 1920s.

The Beard said:

France also uses CV, hence 2CV or 2 horsepower, and also why there were many French cars such as Renault 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 and so on.

Probably teaching my Grandmother(s) to suck eggs here but this was for taxation purposes as opposed to actual BHP. Cars in France were subject to punitive taxation the more powerful (larger capacity) they became. This is why France has produced very few large capacity cars. The same applies in Italy and is why most larger engined cars are for export with smaller, usually 2 litre engines available only for the domestic market.

Italy got the Ferrari 206 Dino in the late '60s, early '70s while the rest of the world got the 246. We got the 308 dino and GTB, they got a 2 litre version, albeit with a turbo. From the very early '70s onwards Lancia didn't produce a petrol engine over 2000 cc.

In Britain as well we used the HP system with cars like the Austin 7, Morris 8, Austin Big 10, although big, of course is a subjective word. Even Rolls Royce had a 20hp model in the 1920s.

Click to expand...

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CV in Francophone countries/regions does in fact mean Cheveaux or Horses but there are two different types. The first is the measurement of actual engine horsepower. The second is fiscal or taxable horsepower, which is based on engine size. In France and Belgium (at least), one CV is 200 cm3. I don't think the two systems use the same scale. The old 2CV or 2CV4 had an engine of +/- 400 cm3. As one CV was 200 cm3, the car was taxed with 2CV (literal translation: Two Horses) The 2CV6 had an engine of around 600 cm3 and was taxed at the rate for 3CV. The system has gotten more complex over time and you may find that an automatic greabox gets an extra CV added and so on. Renault model numbers were exactly that, model numbers. The reason for that is many car models had different sized engines in different CV classes so using the CV designation would be hopelessly confusing when the same family of engines is used in more than one model. Only the old (1947-1961) 4CV had a model number related to the tax rate. That would have been up to 800 cm3 and the car actually had engines of 760 cm3 and later 747 cm3. In Belgium, the minimum is 4CV, which is up to 750 cm3. Then you go up one CV for each 200 cm3 but here and there for larger engines you get 300 cm3 per CV. Belgium also limits the engine power per CV. Actually, the power isn't limited but if the engine makes more than about 10 KW per CV you'll be paying some extra taxes on it. That accounts for many 1.9 litre cars having only 136 HP on offer. At some point the KW per CV is increased but it's designed to extract as mush tax money as possible from high volume cars.
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