Skip to main content

This all-wheel drive, 350hp Fiat 500 is a Demogorgon on four wheels

Fiat 500
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Italian tuner Giannini wants to remind enthusiasts it exists, and what better way to build a brand image than with a 350-horsepower Fiat 500?

Named 350 GP4, the car isn’t entirely new. It’s an evolution of the rear-wheel drive, Alfa Romeo 4C-powered 350 GP introduced a few months ago during the Turin Auto Show, an event so small it frequently flies under the radar. Italian website OmniAuto reports Giannini moved the turbo four from behind the front seats to under the hood, where it normally resides. This frees up space for rear seats, assuming you find passengers brave enough to ride with you.

Recommended Videos

Tuned to 350 hp, the engine sends it power to all four wheels. Giannini will release additional details (such as performance specifications and the type of transmission used) when it’s done putting the car through its paces. We’ll have to be patient to find out what this pocket rocket is capable of.

Along with the monstrous amount of power comes a muscular look that wouldn’t seem out of place on the starting line of a World Rally Championship (WRC) event. Giannini added a deeper front bumper with large vents to give the engine the air it needs to keep cool, a pair of lights to take the rally look a step further, and flares over the four wheels. Out back, the 350 GP4 receives a roof-mounted spoiler, a massive air diffuser, and vents drilled into the hatch. They create a visual link to the rear-engined 500 Fiat built from 1957 to 1975.

Many of the add-ons are made with carbon fiber to keep weight in check. Peeking inside reveals Plexiglas front windows and a full roll cage, among other modifications. This is serious stuff, and it makes Abarth’s hot-rodded 500 look mundane by comparison.

Pricing hasn’t been announced yet. For what it’s worth, the rear-wheel drive model starts at 150,000 euros, a sum which represents roughly $175,000. We expect the addition of all-wheel drive will make the GP4 considerably more expensive, bumping its price even further into supercar territory. For that kind of money, it better offer supercar-like performance and dynamism.

If the name Giannini doesn’t ring a bell, it’s likely because the tuner has remained quiet for the past few decades. It was a lot more active during the 1960s and the 1970s, when it turned the original 500 into a beast of a car that could give comparable Abarth-badged models a run for their money on the track. While cachet isn’t on Giannini’s side, the 350 GP4 suggests the brand is ready to make a stunning comeback.

Ronan Glon
Ronan Glon is an American automotive and tech journalist based in southern France. As a long-time contributor to Digital…
Scout Terra vs. Tesla Cybertruck: retro and futuristic, head to head
Scout Motors Terra driving front

Scout Motors is back. The classic brand has been reinvigorated under Volkswagen Group, and not only that, but it has already announced two new vehicles that it plans to launch in the next few years. Of the two, the Scout Terra is the electric truck, and it's built to offer a modern design with an excellent range and fast performance.

But how does the Scout Terra compare with another popular electric truck, the Tesla Cybertruck? While the Scout Terra is set to be much cheaper than the Cybertruck is now, it's entirely possible that by the time the Terra is released, it could have a higher price tag than expected, while Tesla lowers the price tag of the Cybertruck. Is one of these trucks objectively better? We put the two head-to-head to find out.
Design
The Scout Terra and the Tesla Cybertruck arguably couldn't be further apart in terms of design. Of course, variation is a good thing, at least as long as both options are solid under the hood too.

Read more
Hyundai 2025 Ioniq 5 is under $44,000, with more range and NACS port
hyundai ioniq 5 44000 nacs 64149 large631652025ioniq5xrt

Hyundai is on a roll. In October, the South Korean manufacturer posted its best U.S. sales ever, largely driven by sales of its popular Ioniq 5 electric SUV.

Now, all eyes are on the Ioniq 5’s 2025 model, which is set to become available at dealerships before year-end. As Digital Trends previously reported, the crossover model adds a more rugged-looking trim level called XRT and provides additional driving range as well as new charging options.

Read more
Mazda confirms a hybrid CX-5 and electric SUV are on the way
mazda hybrid cx 5 electric suv 2024 arata concept 4

Mazda might be making headway in the pursuit of bringing back an electric vehicle (EV) stateside.

Ever since it discontinued the MX-30 EV in the U.S. last year, the Japanese automaker has had zero EV offerings for potential U.S. customers.

Read more