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2026 Abarth Pulse Heats Up Brazil With Updated Design

2026 Abarth Pulse Heats Up Brazil With Updated Design​

A Performance Subcompact SUV That Leaves Us Asking: Why Not Here?​

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While Fiat continues to fade in the U.S., its performance arm Abarth is alive and well—especially in Brazil. The updated Abarth Pulse is the first SUV ever to wear the Scorpion badge, and it’s more than just a styling exercise. With a turbocharged engine, sport-tuned hardware, and a fresh new look, this affordable compact crossover is continuing to turn heads for all the right reasons.

 
A Performance Subcompact SUV That Leaves Us Asking: Why Not Here?
It's too small. The concept is great, but our market needs something closer to a C-segment size. Another sad fact is our market is getting the 1.6 PSA engine. I don't know if it will fit in the smaller Fiats. I have have my doubts about the GSE series engines because of the tariff uncertainty. The Stellantis overlords are heavily pushing the 1.2 liter three cylinder engine / Punch transmission for the small platforms. The 1.3 GSE-T 6 speed combo is a much better drivetrain option.

Stellantis needs to seriously invest in some small vehicles for our market. There should be a production line to produce STLA small and Smart platform vehicles for the CDJ brands. (Maybe even a Fiat.) There should be a C-segment Dodge hatchback, plus another one for the Chrysler brand with different styling. For Jeep there should be a Renegade replacement and a mini-Gladiator, both following the path laid out by the Fiat Grande Panda and its derivatives.

Now that Fiat is offering an IC engine in the new 500 maybe the brand could send an Abarth model our way.
 
Fiat, perhaps with some denial and too much hubris, continues to face a negative reputation in the U.S. marketplace, regrettably augmented by a mismanaged return to the U.S. market. “Fix It Again Tony” is not only is clever bit of humor to some, but it clearly reeks of bigotry and ignorance, but it exists. Fiat’s mismanagement and denial of past failures, blew it from the get go with the Fiat 500.
Sadly for Fiat and American consumers there is so much good product, like this Pulse, that if marketed smartly, could establish a beach head on American soil. “Euro Think” and a serious lack of understanding of “America Think” initiated the Fiat launch with a vehicle, wildly popular in Europe, that was doomed to failure, just like the Smart Car failure in big car loving America.
I am still amazed by this failure and the fact that Fiat still doesn’t get it. They nailed Brazil but hit their thumbs hard in America.
Time to get a Tony brand spokesman, a charming character creating humor around the “fix it again” albatross dragging at Fiat’s neck and FIX IT AGAIN for everyone. See if the Pulse has a pulse, and let charming Tony be its heartbeat.
 
Fiat, perhaps with some denial and too much hubris, continues to face a negative reputation in the U.S. marketplace, regrettably augmented by a mismanaged return to the U.S. market. “Fix It Again Tony” is not only is clever bit of humor to some, but it clearly reeks of bigotry and ignorance, but it exists. Fiat’s mismanagement and denial of past failures, blew it from the get go with the Fiat 500.
Sadly for Fiat and American consumers there is so much good product, like this Pulse, that if marketed smartly, could establish a beach head on American soil. “Euro Think” and a serious lack of understanding of “America Think” initiated the Fiat launch with a vehicle, wildly popular in Europe, that was doomed to failure, just like the Smart Car failure in big car loving America.
I am still amazed by this failure and the fact that Fiat still doesn’t get it. They nailed Brazil but hit their thumbs hard in America.
Time to get a Tony brand spokesman, a charming character creating humor around the “fix it again” albatross dragging at Fiat’s neck and FIX IT AGAIN for everyone. See if the Pulse has a pulse, and let charming Tony be its heartbeat.
Unlike USA, Europeans don't buy Asian cars because they understand it makes their money worth less
 
Unlike USA, Europeans don't buy Asian cars because they understand it makes their money worth less
Really because I see plenty of Asian cars when I visit Euro including a crap load of Chinese. No to mention that brands that are owned by China and India.
 
Going to Turkey, Germany, France, and UK quite often I would say your impression is biased by the Nationalism of the Italy.

In UK I see more new MGs than nearly any other cars. By my estimation the bottom of the market is dominated by Asian vehicles.

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4. Kia, 7.Toyota, 8. Nissan, 9.Hyundia, 10. MG, 14. Volvo, 15.Land Rover, 21,Honda, 24.Mazda, and 25. Suzki.
 
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