Opinion – Eduardo Sodré: Fiat Pulse Abarth is revealed during race at BBB 22

Abarth, Fiat’s sports division, is back in Brazil. The model chosen for the premiere is the compact SUV Pulse, which will receive the 1.3 turbo flex engine (175 hp) that already equips the Toro pickup and the two national models of Jeep, Compass and Renegade.

The first appearance of the car took place this Sunday (13), during the Prova Bate e Volta do BBB 22. The model shown on the program had black wheels and red side stickers with the name Abarth highlighted.

The commercial launch, however, will still take some time. According to the manufacturer, the Pulse with 1.3 turbo engine will only hit stores in the last quarter.

The scorpion that symbolizes the sports division was the sign of Carlo Abarth (1908-1979). Its preparation workshop was created in 1949 in the Italian city of Bologna.

To honor the tradition of the house, the new Pulse version will have changes in the suspension system and visual elements that refer to the sportiness both in the body and in the interior. The automaker, however, has not yet detailed the changes.

The Stellantis group has a new global strategy for Abarth, which gains weight in the product portfolio. The name and emblems of the sports division replace those of Fiat, and even dealerships authorized to sell these products receive the scorpion coat of arms on the facade.

The choice of Pulse is also a sign of the times: for the first time, an SUV is given the special treatment by Abarth. In Brazil, the brand has already named versions of the medium hatch Stilo (launched in 2002) and the subcompact 500 (2014).

“Our planning is aimed at implementing the Abarth brand, and not just launching a new product,” says Herlander Zola, Fiat’s Senior Vice President for South America, in a statement.