Yes but the 500 is a totally different platform and being a smaller car having a bigger gearbox will bring with it problems. I can tell you for sure that the Assetto Corse will be a total pig to drive every day and try to park at the supermarket or in a tight spot. The boggo 500 Abarth should be a car you can live with quite easily plus it's already quite expensive for what it is so why go adding an extra cog for very little benefit when the car will be driveable with a 5 speed. I've read a few reviews of the Abarth and no one seems to say it needs another cog.
I just don't get why people think more is automatically better.
Lets sum up the +'s and -'s of a 6 speed
+'s
-You can brag that your car has a 6 speed gearbox when most cars only have 5 speed boxes
-'s
- Less MPG
- Less performance
- You'll be changing gear more often
- Your car will have the turning circle of an aircraft carrier
- More CO2 emissions so you'll possibly be in a higher tax band
- More to go wrong with the box
Seriously.... if you have the torque band to use a 5 speed then a 6 speed only slows you down or gives you other issues.
I get exactly what you are saying and I agree. I'm not suggesting that I would want one, I'm just saying that it could be done.
The main thing that I don't get with the 500 Abarth is why it doesn't have the same power as the GP Abarth. They could give it the same power at the same price if they wanted to and it would be even faster. It is just marketing bullsh*t, as they do not want to make a lighter and significantly faster 500 for the same price as the GP.
It might still be early days though. I guess that none of us know how the Abarth cars will be developed over the next couple of years, I just hope that they do keep developing / improving them and the brand doesn't just die out with the credit crunch. It was a long time waiting between the Strada 130TC and the GPA.