This Abarth produces 437 hp and runs on ethanol, but its owner initially just wanted a minor upgrade

He clearly wanted to keep pushing the boundaries. This owner of’Abarth had entrusted his car to Abarth with an initial plan in mind. But as the months went by and the tuner proposed various upgrades, his ambitions shifted. The final result bears little resemblance to a classic small Italian sports car: this Abarth now produces 437 ch and is a true track car, while retaining some of the attributes of a street car. Kbarth Officiel has just unveiled this spectacular build in a video posted on YouTube. And behind that impressive number lies, above all, a project that has never stopped evolving.

A plan that was supposed to be much more reasonable

The story told by Kbarth is quite revealing. This Abarth 595 It was originally supposed to undergo a more moderate modification and spend only a few months at the shop. But its owner, who was passionate about the tuner’s work, gradually raised his ambitions. With each new phase, new parts were added. Kbarth explains that the build evolved over time, eventually resulting in this particularly radical configuration.

Under the hood, there’s now a forged engine configured to handle up to 450 ch. The four-cylinder engine is equipped with a GTX 2860 R turbocharger, a GMC intake manifold with an enlarged throttle body, a 4-into-1 exhaust manifold with an external wastegate, and 1,000 cc fuel injectors. The car also runs on ethanol, a choice made by Kbarth for this Stage 4 configuration. The drivetrain hasn’t been overlooked, of course, featuring a reinforced transmission and a limited-slip differential. The 63.5 mm Ragazzon exhaust system and its valve-controlled design help give this Abarth a particularly dramatic sound.

437 ch, but that's not all

To harness that much power in an Abarth, you can’t stop at just the engine. The tuner emphasizes this point: «Having the power is good. Having both the right setup and the power is better. » The chassis has therefore been extensively modified and tuned for track use. Notably, the car is fitted with Nankang AR-1 tires and features a Brembo braking system with 330-mm rotors. Special attention was also paid to cooling, with an opening designed to supply fresh air to the engine compartment, an oil cooler, and an intercooler mounted at the front.

Despite this transformation, the owner wanted to maintain a certain connection to the original car. The floor mats are still there, as are the air conditioning and the car stereo. Inside, the Sabelt seats sit alongside a short shifter and several gauges that monitor turbo pressure, oil pressure, and oil temperature, among other things.

On the outside, the contrast is just as striking. Its navy blue body, red Abarth stripe, and Brembo calipers give it a sporty look without immediately revealing the 437 ch hidden under the hood. Carbon fiber accents complete the transformation. With 437 ch in such a compact package, its next track outing is sure to turn heads.