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An exclusive distribution network
The Abarth & C. S.p.A structure is agile and fast-moving, in the true spirit of the brand, and it has created its own exclusive distribution network, on four levels: flagship branches, dealerships, specialist tuners and service workshops.
The flagship branches are known as the ‘Officine Abarth’, and there will be four in the world (in Italy, Germany, Great Britain and Japan), representing the brand in the key markets. The Italian headquarters obviously had to be in the historical premises in Corso Marche in Turin, to demonstrate that the link with tradition is not only hypothetical but tangible and concrete.
The second level of the Abarth network is made up of the dealerships, which will be limited in number, and will guarantee a specialist, targeted relationship with all customers. The third level comprises the independent Tuners who will be recognised by the ‘Abarth Assetto corse’ sign, and they will be the real experts of the tuning possibilities and sole installers of the kits.
This guarantees respect for all the relevant environmental and safety standards and will keep the make’s hands-on character alive. And finally, the last distribution level comprises the Service workshops which maintain high standards of specialisation, technology and service, guaranteeing the necessary assistance to all Abarth customers.
The marketing network is organised to embody three of the make’s important values: sportiness, relations with the customer and safety, generating a unique ‘shopping experience’ for the customer at every Abarth showroom. The same distinctive elements will identify Abarth on the new European markets that open up in 2008.
In the first months of the year the Abarth network will move into Switzerland and Austria, followed in the Spring by Germany, Portugal, Greece, Holland and Belgium, and by Spain, the United Kingdom, France and Poland in the Summer. The expansion of the marketing network in Europe includes the inauguration of about 60 dealers, 120 specialist tuners and 180 service workshops. For example, the Swiss market, the first to be inaugurated, will have 6 dealers (in Geneva, Zurich, Cadenazzo, Biel Bienne, Spiezwiller and Basel), while Austria will soon have 4 dealers, in the cities of Vienna, Salzburg, Graz and Innsbruck.
We should underline that the choice of dealers is not random; only the best Fiat dealers have been chosen, in order to guarantee an efficient top quality service to customers. All the showrooms will be furnished with a uniform style, a true ‘concentrate’ of concepts and references to the Abarth world: history, sports cars, tuning kits, accessories, merchandising and the racing world.
The ‘Assetto’ and ‘esseesse’ kits for the Grande Punto Abarth are launched
An Open Day will be held in Italy in April to mark the official start of sales of the two tuning kits for customers of the Abarth Grande Punto 1.4 Turbo T-Jet 155 bhp.
The first tuning kit – known as the ‘Assetto’ kit – includes drilled disc brakes at the front and rear, high performance front brake pads, special low profile 15/20 mm springs, 18” alloy wheels painted white and fitted with 215/40 ZR18 Pirelli Pzero tyres. The second trim and engine tuning kit– known as the ‘esseesse’ kit – adds several features to the contents of the ‘Assetto’ kit: a special air filter ‘powered by BMC’, a Garrett turbo, twin chrome-plated exhaust terminals, a reflash of the engine control unit with ‘esseesse’ software and engine performance boosted from 155 bhp to 180 bhp, ‘esseesse’ logos on the tailgate, wing mirror covers and an engine cover.
The ‘esseesse’ and ‘Assetto’ kits, which will be delivered to customers packed in original wooden crates, to respect Abarth tradition, may only be sold and installed by the official network of Abarth ‘Assetto’ Corse tuners in the Abarth Grande Punto 1.4 Turbo T-Jet 155 bhp within one year or 20,000 km from its first registration, and will be covered by a two-year Abarth warranty from the installation date.
The selling price to the public will be Euro 2,500 for the ‘Assetto’ kit and Euro 4,500 for the ‘esseesse’ kit, including the cost of homologation formalities (which will be dealt with by the official Abarth tuner), but excluding labour costs.
And finally, any customer who tunes his Abarth Grande Punto with an ‘esseesse’ kit will be entitled to join the Abarth ‘esseesse’ Club, a community of Abarth fans, who will thus be involved directly in the events organised by the Scorpion.
