Abarth

Founded in 1949 by Carlo Abarth and Guido Scagliarini in Bologna, the company originally specialized in performance tuning kits and high-performance exhaust systems for Fiat, Lancia, and Cisitalia vehicles. During the 1950s and 1960s, Abarth became legendary in motorsport, producing lightweight racing cars that achieved hundreds of class victories and speed records, most notably with the modified Fiat 500 and 600 models. In 1971, Fiat acquired Abarth, transforming the brand into the group's official racing department. This era saw the development of iconic rally champions such as the Fiat 124 Abarth Rally and the Fiat 131 Abarth, which secured multiple World Rally Championship titles. By the 1980s, the brand name was primarily used as a performance trim level for various Fiat and Autobianchi models before going into a period of relative dormancy. The brand was officially relaunched as an independent business unit in 2007, starting with the Abarth Grande Punto and the successful Abarth 500. Under the ownership of FCA (now Stellantis), Abarth has maintained its niche as a dedicated tuning division. In recent years, the brand has embarked on a strategic shift toward electrification, launching its first battery-electric models to ensure the Scorpion legacy continues in the zero-emission era.