1970 Fiat 500l on 2040-cars

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Fiat 124 Abarth spied looking sporty

Fiat isn't wasting any time. Mere weeks after the Italian brand introduced the new 124 Spider, we've captured our first spy shots of the Scorpion-badged Abarth model undergoing testing somewhere in Europe. The biggest giveaway that this is the hotted-up 124 are the four pipes sticking out of the rear bumper. While we can get a good look at the new exhaust arrangement, camouflage conceals a new bumper with bigger front intakes, meatier side sills, and of course, bigger wheels. As for the matte black hood – a touch that would be inspired by the Abarth 124 of yore – we simply can't spot anything to indicate that it's here (or that it's not, for that matter). You can check out this render for an idea of what the body mods will end up looking like. While our spies are reporting that the 124 Abarth will only get 170 horsepower in standard trim, that shouldn't disappoint you. Like the 500, the European 124 Abarth will likely come in two power levels, with the US market Abarth getting the higher output as standard. Our spies expect the EsseEsse model to produce 210 to 220 hp, which will probably sound a bit more palatable to US enthusiasts. There's no telling when the 124 Abarth will debut right now – it's still a bit too early in the process – although either Geneva or New York, both of which take place near the beginning of convertible season, would probably be safe bets.

Fiat 500X Abarth could pack 200 horsepower

Enticing as some of its products might be, Abarth has been rather limited. Fiat revived the name to serve as its performance sub-brand in 2007, tasking it with producing hot versions of the 500 and Punto. The Punto never even made it to America, and isn't even offered overseas anymore, either. But don't think that Fiat Chrysler is just going to let the Scorpion marque skate by on just one model for much longer. Abarth is expected to offer its own performance version of the upcoming Fiat 124 Spider that's based on the Mazda MX-5 Miata. But that's not all. According to Alfredo Altavilla, FCA's COO for Europe, Africa and the Middle East, the company is closely evaluating a performance version of the 500X (pictured here with Mopar accessories). "Besides the 124 and 500, we are thinking about an all-new addition to the line-up," Altavilla told Auto Express. "The 500X is one of the options being considered." If approved for production, the 500X Abarth would target the likes of the Mini Countryman JCW and Nissan Juke Nismo. It may be too early to make the call on powertrain options, but we could be looking at a retuned version of the adaptable 1.75-liter turbo four in the Alfa Romeo 4C that's also tipped to power the Abarth 124, with around 200 horsepower. That'd put it right in line with the 197 hp in the Juke Nismo, 215 hp in the Juke Nismo RS, and 208 hp in the Countryman JCW. This isn't the first time we've heard the prospect of an Abarth 500X brought up. The last time was the better part of the year ago, when we we hoped the project would lead to an amped-up Jeep Renegade as well. The Italian-American automaker has no intention of phoning it in with the Abarth 500X. "We went a bit too far with the Punto Abarth. Now our customers won't buy a fake. If the 500X becomes the addition to the Abarth line-up, it will be everything but a family version," said Altavilla. "Any new version of an Abarth car should deliver some sort of a performance enhancement, otherwise it is useless."

FCA US under-reported death and injury claims to NHTSA

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says FCA US significantly under-reported death and injury claims due to flaws in its early warning system. The government first discovered a potential problem with the automaker's reporting in late July, and FCA US has been investigating the issue since. NHTSA claims that the problem appears linked to the way the company gathers and reports safety information. The agency is still investigating how serious the flaws are and their causes. "This represents a significant failure to meet a manufacturer's safety responsibilities," NHTSA Administrator Mark Rosekind.Rosekind said in a statement. FCA US admits that it "identified deficiencies" in the reporting, but in a statement the company said that it notified NHTSA of the issue immediately. The company promised that it is taking this problem "extremely seriously" and pledged to remedy the situation. In late July, FCA US was hit with a potential $105-million fine by NHTSA for the way the automaker conducted some recalls. As part of that agreement, the company also consented to more rigorous oversight by safety regulators in the future and a buy-back of some affected vehicles. Other automakers have been punished for failing to submit EWR data. Honda incurred a $70 million fine in January from NHTSA for missing 1,729 incidents over 11 years. Ferrari had to pay $3.5 million in 2014 for not sending them in for three years. Statement from NHTSA Administrator, Mark Rosekind, on Fiat Chrysler Automobiles' under-reported discrepancy in FCA's Early Warning Report data September 29, 2015 "In late July, NHTSA notified Fiat Chrysler Automobiles of an apparent discrepancy in FCA's Early Warning Report data. FCA has informed NHTSA that in investigating that discrepancy, it has found significant under-reported notices and claims of deaths, injuries and other information required as part of the Early Warning Reporting system. Preliminary information suggests that this under-reporting is the result of a number of problems with FCA's systems for gathering and reporting EWR data. This represents a significant failure to meet a manufacturer's safety responsibilities. NHTSA will take appropriate action after gathering additional information on the scope and causes of this failure." – Mark Rosekind, NHTSA Administrator. Statement: TREAD Reporting September 29, 2015 , Auburn Hills, Mich.