Wednesday 20th May 2015

More power and kit for Abarth 595

595 Competizione boosted 20hp to 180hp amid range of upgrades to the cutesy Abarth

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The world is not short of Abarth editions of the Fiat 500, with everything from the entry-level 135hp 500 Custom through to the barking mad 695 Biposto with a pricetag nudging £50,000 when specified with all its performance options.

And now the mid-ranking 595 Competizione is getting a power and spec increase, together with a predictable price hike. It now gets the brawnier 180hp version of Fiat's 1.4-litre turbocharged engine, a 20hp increase on before. Standard equipment includes 17-inch alloys, Brembo brakes, Sabelt sports seats and - of course - aluminium pedals. The official 0-62mph time drops to 6.7 seconds (previously 7.4) and the top speed goes up 10mph to 140mph. Oh, and the 'standard' no-cost colour has now been switched from Campovolo Grey to Officina Red.

As before there will be both manual and auto 'MTA' versions and both hatchback and cabriolet bodystyles. The hatch now costs £19,890 with the manual 'box, an £800 increase on the 160hp version. The MTA hatch is £21,190. The cabrio will be £21,890 as a manual and £23,190 as an auto.

[mrclav]

These cars are a real hoot. For me, a true guilty pleasure...

[TaylotS2K]

I do like these but you can't help but think £23k for one is waaaaaaay too much.

[DeltaEvo2]

AWESOME!

[Never you mind]

Wife has a 595 auto. I love it. Superb fun to drive and you can really chuck it around. The noise the exhaust makes is simply awesome, a lovely burble which pops and bangs on up shifts. You can almost hear it say "When I grow up, I want to be a racing car."

[smilo996]

Buying an Italian car is rarely a logical decision. This proves why but also why people do. The 500 is by far the best reinvented retro and great fun to drive.

[Charliesum]

Any Abarth can be remapped to 180plus
Great fun
Very very cheap fun!!!!!

[bobtail4x4]

what do they do? fit pedals?

[Martin_M]

I sold my 595 comp about a month ago. Was a great little car for the money and no doubt the extra power will make it even more fun but for me, the driving position was so bad that I would never consider another in its current form.

[JMF894]

I shouldn't like these. But, but...........

[Captain Muppet]

TaylotS2K said:

I do like these but you can't help but think £23k for one is waaaaaaay too much.

It makes the £23k 200bhp GT86 look cheap and overpowered...

[Mr Tidy]

smilo996 said:

Buying an Italian car is rarely a logical decision. This proves why but also why people do. The 500 is by far the best reinvented retro and great fun to drive.

You obviously haven't driven a Mini Cooper then!

[Pistom]

Mr Tidy said:

smilo996 said:

Buying an Italian car is rarely a logical decision. This proves why but also why people do. The 500 is by far the best reinvented retro and great fun to drive.

You obviously haven't driven a Mini Cooper then!

Have you driven the 595? The Cooper is great but the 595 is more Mini like than anything from BMW.

Both are great but for all out legal fun, the Abarth does it for me.

[cirian75]

needs nitrous

[Axionknight]

Awesome! I bet that is a right laugh to punt down a knackered old B Road.

The price seems a tad steep though, you're getting in to Focus ST and Astra VXR money for the top end model, whilst I know they aren't quite the same sort of ownership prospect it does put it into perspective.

Edited by Axionknight on Friday 22 May 06:23

[Pistom]

What makes the Abarth to me over other pseudo sportsters is it is narrow enough to drive fast, safely on the great roads in the UK.