In the pantheon of classic Italian motoring, names like Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Alfa Romeo usually dominate the conversation. Fiat is often relegated to the role of the volume manufacturer—the maker of sensible city cars and family runabouts. But buried deep in the marque's history lies a rare gem that challenges that reputation entirely: the Fiat 1500. Specifically, the high-performance, limited-production variants often affectionately referred to by enthusiasts as the "Hot" P1500s.

On older Fiat engines (like the FIRE engine used in Puntos and Palios), there is a separate stepper motor attached to the throttle body. If this motor fails, it cannot adjust the idle air bypass.