Driven: Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari
Ferrari is well known for branding up any old bit of merchandise it thinks it can flog to its fans, Abarth 500s included
Launched to great fanfare in 2010 as a highly exclusive take on the Abarth 500 theme, by August last year Fiat had in fact taken orders for nearly 1,700 examples. So not actually that exclusive. And less so now there's a Maserati branded version too. And somewhat pricey, at over £30K. Hot hatch exotica for the discerning petrolhead or brand prostitution in the Ferrari World Abu Dhabi league? PH got its hands on one to find out.
The predictable truth of the matter is it's more Ferrari inspired than Ferrari built. Not that there's anything wrong with using the Ferrari name to your advantage, but Fiat has asked big money for what is essentially a bog-standard Abarth 500 1.4-litre turbo that's had a bit of a tickle to produce another 20hp for what the spec sheet coyly describes as "over 180hp".
Mmm, stripes...
In the metal there is an unmistakable sense this isn't any ordinary 500 after all. Firstly, it's been given a Scuderia Red paint job with a de rigueur dollop of racing stripes, extra venting in the bodywork, carbon door mirrors and a set of 17-inch Corsa Grey alloy wheels. Springs and dampers are 'strengthened' to handle the mighty power and front disc diameter increased to 284mm and gripped by four-pot Brembo calipers to keep it all in check. There's also a variable pressure 'Record Monza' exhaust which, just like a proper Ferrari (OK, not a lot like a proper Ferrari...), increases with volume as the revs rise, in this case beyond 3,000rpm. To further justify the price there are Sabelt leather-clad seats, branded aluminium pedal trimmings and, just behind the steering wheel, shift paddles for the Abarth five-speed semi-automatic Competizione gearbox.
All in all then, it appears to be a serious-looking tool and the smartest Fiat 500 you'll ever likely to sit in.
Starting it up, and the 1.4 T-Jet engine wakes-up with a glorious raspy noise. Selecting the gears is either via the manual mode (a la the flappy paddles) or simply leave it in auto and let it do its own thing. And here's the problem. It's hard to like this gearbox. There's an unacceptable time lag between gear changes - more prevalent in auto - and as the Competizione transmission snatches the next cog there's a neck-snapping jolt. In effect, you end up driving around the gearbox, feathering the throttle to avoid having your head ripped off your shoulders. Which ruins any sense of fluidity in the driving experience, which is a shame because once you learn to tame the transmission there lurks a very competent little car.
Designer labels
The engine is torquey enough and readily rasps up to its redline (marked on Jaeger dials, natch), which is good news for acceleration - 0-62mph time is "under" seven seconds - although it does seem to run out of puff beyond 90mph (achieved in a different location from the photos of course - Ed.), which is well below its published top speed of 139mph. The ride is super stiff, which is all well and good if you happen to be ragging a hot lap out of it, but for everyday driving it does become a little irksome. Overall there's feistiness in this car that makes you want to forgive its awful gearbox though.
There were only ever 152 right-hand drive models destined for the UK, and most of these have now been sold. With that said, if you do fancy owning one there are still a few unregistered 695s about, but you will need to be act quickly. Alternatively, you could always save yourself a wad of cash and buy a red Abarth, have it chipped and stick a Ferrari badge on the side. Which, after all, is what Fiat did in the first place.
Thanks to Joe Macarifor the loan of the car.
ABARTH 695 TRIBUTO FERRARI
Engine: 1,368cc turbo 4-cyl
Transmission: 5-speed automated manual, front-wheel drive
Power (hp): 180@5,500rpm
Torque (lb ft): 185@3,000rpm
0-62mph: 7sec
Top speed: 139mph
Weight: 1,070kg
MPG: 43.4mpg (NEDC combined)
CO2: 155g/km
Price: £29,600
Photos: Max Earey
http://www.meridien.co.uk/detail?template=/meridie...
In fact, they had a 695 Tributo at the dealership in a gorgeous blue, I was mightily suprised by the two-piece brake discs, like the one in the article!
http://beta.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
I had the standard Esseesse kit, and to be honest, although I never took it on a track, I felt the brakes were more than adequate, and that was almost half the price of the 695 esseese kit.
I don't think you get enough from the Ferrari Abarth Tributo 695 to justify its price. Maybe if they had taken out the rear seats and made it mid engine and rear wheel drive, but as it stands, I would feel hard pressed to justify the 695 over a standard 500 SS. I had one, and I miss it everytime I think of it, after almost 2 years of ownership the only real thing I felt it could have done with was a better gear box (I had the manual.) Everything else was perfection and the amount of equipment that you get as standard is incredible. If I were to chose one of these over any of the other super mini's it would be the Abarth everytime. There may be other supermini's which are more competent but none of the others can match the 500 in terms of character.
I do kind of wish that Fiat would stop messing around with special editions of the Abarth 500's and make 180bhp a tuning option on the standard Abarth though.
i would struggle to justify spending £10k on one
what next a Tributo Lancia?
http://www.chrysler.co.uk/ypsilon
I had the standard Esseesse kit, and to be honest, although I never took it on a track, I felt the brakes were more than adequate, and that was almost half the price of the 695 esseese kit.
I don't think you get enough from the Ferrari Abarth Tributo 695 to justify its price. Maybe if they had taken out the rear seats and made it mid engine and rear wheel drive, but as it stands, I would feel hard pressed to justify the 695 over a standard 500 SS. I had one, and I miss it everytime I think of it, after almost 2 years of ownership the only real thing I felt it could have done with was a better gear box (I had the manual.) Everything else was perfection and the amount of equipment that you get as standard is incredible. If I were to chose one of these over any of the other super mini's it would be the Abarth everytime. There may be other supermini's which are more competent but none of the others can match the 500 in terms of character.
I do kind of wish that Fiat would stop messing around with special editions of the Abarth 500's and make 180bhp a tuning option on the standard Abarth though.
Time for gratuitous shot?
OK there is being different and there is just being stupid! and you would have to be a real badge w-h-o-r-e to buy one of these. Like the ppl who buy a Ferrari T shirt for £100, but drive a Golf..
I apologise for my strong views, but this car seems like badge engineered highway robbery.
I ran a 500 Abarth for two years and loved it - really fun car to own and it seemed to get a lot of interest from petrolheads! For under £20k you can have a great all round brand new car. IMO perfect spec below which should cost under £20k all in brand new;
Tick most of the option boxes with your new car, so 17" wheels, leather interior, climate control, sunroof, etc. The standard car has a load of kit as standard like hands free bluetooth, upgraded speaker system including underseat subwoofer (sounds great). With leather and the sunroof the car feels pretty expensive inside.
Then go for the following dealer fit stuff (genuine Abarth parts).
Koni FSD damper kit - makes the ride much much better - standard dampers biggest downside of car
Record Monza exhaust (same as Tributo) - really nice sound and not intrusive at all - similar level of noise to standard exhaust but sounds a lot nicer, but saying that the standard exhaust sounds great too.
MORE POWER - don't bother with the Esseesse kit - instead fit a TMC motorsport ECU override box for about £300(gives a realistic 160 bhp, maybe 165 bhp tops) and it's not a fixed re-map - just a plug in device that overrides the ECU and can be installed and removed easily - seems to be the most popular upgrade by most owners on the Abarth forum. Just as good as a re-map but very easy to put the car back to standard again by removing the unit. I've driven a car with 180+ bhp and it's not that much quicker than a 160 bhp car, bang for your buck 160 bhp more than enough for fun factor.
The standard brakes are very good so not sure the Esseesse cross drilled items are really needed.
Only my opinion - did a load of research when I ran my car, so just passing on my findings.... tempted to buy another one now after writing this! Such a great little fun car, bang for your buck and to own something with character and feels special, it's very difficult to beat....
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff