Autocar has cooked up the latest rendering of the forthcoming Abarth Roadster, and while it keeps the basic shape of previous images, it adds a more distinct Fiat flavor to the front.

The Roadster will form one prong of Abarth's three-model lineup, joining the Punto and 500 variants, but will be based off a new platform, complete with an engine mated amidships, shared by a new Fiat Group vehicle, likely the Lancia Fulvietta.

Click on either image to view in high resolution

As if the Fiat 500 didn't look cartoonish enough as it was, a special edition of the retro supermini has been created. But truth be told, the Fiat 500 Diabolika looks far more badass than the original, sporting a matte black finish with red tail fins, Borrani wire wheels, Brembos and special Pirelli tires hand carved with the Diabolika eye motif. The interior is decked out in black leather interior with all manner of custom touches from the digitally-painted "serial art" frames to the special steering wheel, shifter and handbrake lever.

Click to view the '66 Fiat 500 Giannini Tony Stewart

http://buzz.yahoo.com/article/1%3A3cafef6339dbfb9fffdbd6dbc2b4cc69%3Ac35... would Luigi make of this? The little Fiat 500 from Pixar's Cars said he only follows Ferrari, but then his cousin shows up, decked out in NASCAR livery.

Click above for a high-res version from WorldCarFans.

We've always been fond of the Smart roadster, which never officially made it to U.S. shores and proved to be a flop across the pond. But this rendering, courtesy of WorldCarFans, has us thinking that a second attempt might be worthwhile.

If the Abarth roadster ever comes to fruition, it would be an exercise in balancing a lightweight structure with a small price tag. Cost prohibitive carbon fiber couldn't be used, so some other form of composite would have to be employed for the chassis and body panels. Abarth could source the 135 hp, 1.4-liter mill from its own version of the Fiat 500 for power, mount it amidships and call it done.

Fiat has confirmed it will be producing a convertible version of the 500 and although a launch date has yet to be announced, Fiat brand styling director Roberto Giolito revealed that the model is on its way... at some point.

Click above image for a gallery of the Novitec Fiat 500

Fiat's retrolicious 500 is designed to transport people with panache, if not punch. Novitec's specialty is both bringing the punchbowl to the party and then spiking it. Sure, the tuner tweaks the likes of Alfa and Ferrari, but the everyman isn't left out either, as evidenced by the new collection of mods it's now made available for the Fiat 500.