Abarth Autobianchi A112 Abarth History

The Autobianchi A112 Abarth launched in 1971 — five years before the Volkswagen Golf GTI would define the hot-hatch segment — making it a genuine pioneer. Autobianchi was a Fiat subsidiary, and Abarth tuned the small front-wheel-drive hatchback with a 58 hp engine that was soon boosted to 70 hp across successive versions.

By the later 1970s the A112 Abarth had grown to a 1,050 cc unit producing up to 70 hp, making the lightweight car genuinely quick and a favourite in Italian touring car racing. Multiple generations of the A112 Abarth were sold through 1984 under the Autobianchi name, with a final Lancia-badged run ending in 1986.