The cannon-like exhaust pipes can be seen to indicate that the concept is performance-oriented.
Name: Fiat Abarth 2000 Scorpione
Launched: 1969 Brussels Motor Show
Specifics:Abarth2000 Sport Spider SE chassis with 2.0-liter inline-four engine with 220 HP, five-speed manual transmission, rear-wheel drive. 1,477 lb (670 kg) dry weight. Top speed of 175 MPH (281 km/h).
Why It Matters Now:
Pininfarina’s retro-futuristic design is still a hit, even after nearly half a century. It also has the performance to match its stunning appearance.
The concept was created in the early days for wedge era. It started with a chassis from Abarth 2000 Sport Spider SE. Pininfarina then worked her magic to transform it into an art piece. The cockpit view is 180 degrees thanks to the wraparound windshield and absence of A-pillars. The central pop-up headlight bar has six lights. The rear end hosts a glass canopy that provides a stunning view of the engine.
You might think that the unique design has an eight-cylinder engine, but it is possible to mistakenly believe that the V12 would be sufficient power. It actually has a 2.0-liter four-cylinder Fiat engine that Abarth upgraded to produce 220 horsepower (164 kW).
You may think the four-banger doesn’t do the concept’s supercar-like design justice. However, for a vehicle that was built in the 1960s, it packs a lot of punch. The Fiat Abarth 2000 Scorpione weighs in at 1,477 lbs (670 kilograms), so it doesn’t have to be very powerful to be fast. Although details regarding the sprint time were not released, Abarth stated that the low-slung concept could reach a respectable 175 MPH (281 Kph), although this may have been theoretical maximum speed.
The Fiat Abarth 2000 Scorpione, unlike other concepts, was and is fully functional. It was first seen at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este a few years back. The audience was astonished by its incredible design and the brutal sound it made.
The car is owned by Shiro Kosaka, a Japanese architect. He was only able to purchase it from Fiat after agreeing to create a museum. He did so in 1992, and the concept has been displayed at Gallery Abarth in Japan’s Yamanaka Lake since.