2013 Fiat 500 gets modest turbo model

Fiat is adding a midlevel model, the 500 Turbo, to its U.S. lineup for 2013.

The car will get a turbocharged 1.4-liter MultiAir engine rated at 135 hp and 150 lb-ft of torque. It will have larger brake rotors, sport-tuned springs and shocks and a rear spoiler. It will start at $20,200.

It's paired with a five-speed manual gearbox and gets 34 mpg on the highway.

The car also has a Beats by Dr. Dre audio system.

By comparison, the base 500 is rated at 101 hp and 98 lb-ft from a naturally aspirated 1.4-liter four-cylinder, which costs $16,200. The Abarth pushes out 160 hp and 170 lb-ft from a turbo I4 and starts at $22,700.

Fiat sold 3,710 copies of the 500 in July and 24,415 units this year.

By Greg Migliore