We already know the cute Fiat 500 makes a credible hot hatch. But is it good enough to beat our favourite baby? Matt Prior is the judge. The Renault will win, won't it?" That's what everyone was saying on the run-up to this test, whether they had driven the Renault Twingo 133, the Fiat 500 Abarth, or neither. And it's mean, but not unreasonable, isn't it? The form book says no one is as adept at the hot hatchback as Renaultsport. For me, the R26R has the measure of a Focus RS, while the Clio Cup has the measure of everything at its price level. So the Twingo's going to walk it, right? Maybe. But here we are, with the base Fiat 500 Abarth. If lastyear's Punto Abarth is anything to go by, it'll be competitive. Abit like the Mini, the 500 is cannily positioned so that at the top end (the Esseesse, as road tested a couple of weeks ago) it takes on the Cooper S and the Clio Cup.
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