Why The 2016 Fiat 500 Abarth Would Make An Excellent Google Car

Tiny cars are enjoying a design vogue right now, from the ubiquitous Smart Car 2Gos in the world’s most stylish cities, to the weird futuristic BMW i3, to the Google self-driving prototype, the pod of the future, which gets simultaneously mocked and admired in most public showings.

The new microcompacts represent sparks of light in a black mass of beige SUVs, witty, innovative machines that promise something new. But none of them seem to hit the design sweet spot as well as this Fiat 500 Abarth. Everything that feels bland and generic about the new Smart Fortwo feels fresh and interesting here. A lot of cars have crossed my driveway since I started this gig, but few have inspired so much enthusiasm from my friends, neighbors, and spouse. The gearheads among them saw the Abarth scorpion on the rear. That was all they needed. Everyone else just saw the car’s design and squealed with delight.

The Abarth has all the exterior zip and brio that the Google car lacks. It looks tough, like the hood would take a snap at your hand if it comes too close. The interior is unflashy, low-fi, and decorated with racing stripes. It has a killer sound system, a slick-looking dual exhaust, and bright red brake calipers that adorn it like tough-guy earrings. If the Google car looked like this, as opposed to the Toon Town reject it does, no one would be able to mock it.