Performance Review: Fiat 124 Abarth Rallye - [1972]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Fiat 124 Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Fiat 124 Abarth Rallye is the 5 speed / Manual version and was first brought out in 1972. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 1973 Monteverdi Hai 450 GTS and the 1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona.This particular Fiat 124 has a 1756cc Naturally Aspirated Petrol powerplant with 4 cylinders in a St formation.

Alternative Petrol St4's includes the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo

The 124 shares its Petrol St4 engine configuration with the likes of the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo and the 2013 Caterham 7 620 R 2.0 L Supercharged. If you're looking for other fast cars which share the 124's Rear Wheel Drive, Coupe combination then how about the 1982 Fiat X1/9 1.5 8V or the 1965 Aston-Martin DB6 1965.

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 939 kgs (2070 lbs) this makes the Fiat 124 Abarth Rallye in the same weight category as the 2020 Lotus Elise Cup 250 1.8 Supercharged or the give or take 50kg.

The Fiat 124 shares the same bhp with the 2022 Mini Cooper Countryman John Cooper Works 1.5 Turbo (134 bhp)

In terms of power the 1756cc 8V St4 engine produces 128 bhp (95 kW) @ 6200 rpm similar to the 2022 Mini Cooper Countryman John Cooper Works 1.5 Turbo (134 bhp) or the 2020 Audi A1 A1 Sportback 35 TFSI S tronic S line (148 bhp).

The Naturally Aspirated St4 throws out 117 lb-ft (158.6 Nm) @ 5200 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2013 Renault Captur 1.2 Turbo TCe 120 EDC (140 lb-ft) or the 2012 Mini Cooper Paceman (118 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If one combines the weight with power or torque performance for the Fiat 124 you can get a better idea of it's real world performance.

The 2012 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works Clubman (161.2 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Fiat 124.

The Fiat 124 has a Power to weight ratio of 136.3 bhp per ton and 124.6 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 1972 124 competing with the 2012 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works Clubman (161.2 bhp per ton) or the 2010 Citroen DS3 Racing 200 (161.2 bhp per ton).

Power to Weight(cont.):

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance, Torque. Use weight as well and you end up with - Torque per ton, with the Fiat 124 generating around 124.6 lb-ft per ton. If you're curious as to what other cars have as much torque to weight then look no further than the 1987 Alfa-Romeo 75 3.0 V6 (149.5 lb-ft per ton) or the 2006 Seat Leon 1.8 20vt Cupra R 210 (149.5 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 7.50 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 7.7 secs, this made the Fiat 124 Abarth Rallye as fast as the 2020 Audi A1 A1 Sportback 35 TFSI S tronic S line (7.50 secs) the 2019 Ford Focus ST 2.0 EcoBlue Wagon (7.50 secs) the 2017 Volkswagen-VW Golf GTD Variant 2.0 TDi DSG (7.50 secs) the or the 2017 Subaru Forester 2.0 XT Premium (7.50 secs). This Fiat 124 Abarth Rallye is also faster than the 2013 BMW i3 0.6l Hybrid (7.60 secs) the 2011 Abarth 500C 1.4 Turbo (7.60 secs) the 2011 Fiat Punto Evo Abarth 1.4 Turbo (7.60 secs) the and the 2010 Peugeot 308 1.6 GTi (7.60 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the 124 and the 2012 Volvo V40 T5 2.5 Turbo

When talking about the performance of the Fiat 124 on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 16.03 secs @ 85.4 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 2012 Volvo V40 T5 2.5 Turbo (15.96 secs), the 1997 Mercedes SL Class 500 (15.97 secs), and the 2010 Audi A8 3.0 TFSI Quattro (15.97 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 1972 version of the Fiat 124 Abarth Rallye has a maximum speed of 118mph.

Top Speed of the 1972 124 equals the 2022 Toyota Corolla GR 1.6 Turbo (129 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 1972 Fiat 124 Abarth Rallye then how about the 2022 Toyota Corolla GR 1.6 Turbo (129 mph), the 2019 Land-Rover Defender 110 3.0 Turbo (129 mph), or the 2009 Ford Fiesta ST185 (129 mph).

Related Links:

1972 124 Rivals List.

A Brief History of Fiat

Car Comparison