Abarth has high hopes, for a WRC return, higher sales, more dealers, more models and a brighter future.

Fiat's Abarth unit, which is on track to boost sales by 50 percent this year, plans to more than double its global dealership network as it expands its lineup, said Paolo Gagliardo, who heads the performance subbrand.

Abarth is on course to increase global sales to about 10,000 cars this year, Gagliardo told journalists here early this month, despite only offering tuned versions of the Fiat 500.

Next year Abarth will add a new model, Gagliardo said without being specific.

Abarth's head of marketing, Fabrizio Simoni, told Automotive News Europe the brand wants to offer versions of Fiat's 500X subcompact SUV and the new Fiat 124 Spider, but he declined to say when the models would launch.

'Keep growing'

“We want to keep growing and stabilize at a certain level,” Gagliardo said, without giving an estimate of what that level could be. He said the brand now has 300 Abarth sales points within existing Fiat dealerships and will expand that to 750, without giving a timeframe.

He said that Abarth sales were worth a lot both to dealerships and to parent company Fiat Chrysler. 

“It's a huge business opportunity. Our cars are premium-priced,” he said, adding that Abarth variants of the Fiat 500 start at 18,000 euros ($19,000) compared with a the 13,600 starting price for a base 500 variant in Italy. The numbers only grow from there. 

“You find new Abarths selling for up to 40,000 euro even 50,000 euros,” said Gagliardo, who declined to reveal Abarth's average profit margin.

Rally return

A mock-up of the 124 Abarth roadster was shown on the sidelines of the event to a select group. The car is significant because a source at the event said Fiat would use a high-performance variant of the 124 to make its return to the World Rally Championship in a planned new category for rear-wheel-drive sports cars. Fiat's last success in the WRC came in the late '70s and early '80s with the 131 Abarth.

The source had no technical details on the racecar but said the Abarth version of the 124 that will be sold in dealerships will use higher-power versions of the 140-hp 1.4-liter turbocharged gasoline engine planned for the base Fiat 124, which goes on sale in Europe in next May.

Top markets

Abarth's biggest markets are the UK and Italy, which currently tie for first place in sales, Gagliardo said. The UK arm of Abarth plans to increase its dealerships to 105 by the end of next year from 68 now, a spokesman said. The third-biggest market is Japan, where the 124 Abarth will be built alongside the 124 Spider, the source said. Both Fiats are variants of the new-generation Mazda MX-5.

Abarth's aspirations

• Increase global sales points to 750 from 300
• Increase lineup to 3 from 1
• Increase sales 50% to 10,000
• Return Fiat to the World Rally Championship

Nick Gibbs

REPORT HERE

Donington Park see's Caterham move from Silverstone to become the flagships dealership and experience site.

• New showroom will open at prestigious race track in January 2016
• Caterham Experience will also be housed at new facility
• Caterham Cars UK dealer network continues to grow with four sites across UK

Caterham Cars has appointed BookaTrack, based at Donington Park race circuit, as its new dealer in the Midlands as it continues to expand its UK dealer network.

The brand new showroom will be based at one of Britain’s premier circuits, and will open its doors in January 2016. The move will also see Caterham’s Experience day activities relocate from Silverstone to Donington Park from January 2016.

The move marks the first time that prospective Caterham customers will be able to experience retail demonstrations in a Seven on track, due to the exclusive circuit access that Donington Park has given to BookaTrack Caterham at selected times.

BookaTrack Caterham will sell Caterham’s five-strong model range of lightweight sportscars, as well as offering a full aftersales and servicing package to new and existing customers. The BookaTrack team is already well-versed in the servicing and maintenance of Caterham Sevens, through its Experience fleet of 12 Sevens, including R300 race cars and Seven 620 Rs.

Aftersales activities will begin with immediate effect and will provide Caterham’s Midlands based customers with service, warranty and parts support in a central location conveniently located just off the M1. BookaTrack Caterham will also offer a store and forward service, allowing customer cars to be stored indoors and securely at Donington Park.

Caterham’s Chief Commercial Officer, David Ridley, said: “We are delighted to be able to expand our UK dealer network in partnership with a company as knowledgeable and experienced with the Seven as BookaTrack.

“Donington Park is perfectly aligned to the Caterham brand thanks to both of our rich motorsport heritages.

“Additionally, the opportunity to deliver Caterham Experience events alongside a showroom in tandem with having exclusive access to the legendary circuit for customer demonstrations is a ground-breaking move for Caterham.”

BookaTrack’s Director, Jonny Leroux, said: “The opening of our own Caterham franchise at Donington Park is the culmination of over 15 years worth of passion, enthusiasm and commitment to both brands. The strong partnerships BookaTrack has forged with both parties makes this a natural progression for us and one that we're all very excited to be involved with.

“Our new purpose-built showroom and the inclusion of the Caterham Experience in-house at Donington Park perfectly complement our existing range of services and ensures BookaTrack are able to offer a complete progression from first timer to seasoned racer."

Donington Park Commercial Director, Roger Lowe commented: “We are delighted that Caterham are heading to Donington Park and further strengthening the presence of BookaTrack on our site. Both companies are industry leaders and this announcement further adds to the recent regeneration of the circuit, and is another indication that Donington Park, with its central location is a key site for the motorsport industry. We look forward to the opening of the showroom, and of course the increased levels of driving participation for visitors to our circuit.”

BookaTrack is the UK's largest independent car track day organiser. Caterham has been working with the company since its inception in 2000 and throughout its progression as a premium track day provider. BookaTrack will continue to operate a fleet of Caterhams at around 120 events per year at race circuits across the UK and Europe.