Wednesday 18th November 2015

Abarth 695 Biposto Record launched

Record for daftest hot hatch? Record for highest number of special editions spun off one car? Not exactly...

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The Abarth 695 Biposto is a car we like very much at PH. With two seats, a dog-ring gearbox, limited-slip diff and kerbweight under a tonne, it's as raw and exciting as we would want from an Abarth flagship. The sticking point being that it's fiendishly expensive, with £50K a real possibility after enough option boxes are ticked.

In celebration of acceleration records set 50 years ago

This hasn't changed with the new Biposto Record, as it starts from £36,610. Still one for the die-hard enthusiasts then. It celebrates 50 years since Carlo Abarth set acceleration records at Monza and also that Abarth as a manufacturer holds 133 records. Not every single record is listed so it looks like we'll have to take their word for it. This means 133 Records are being produced, all in Modena Yellow with 'Tar Cold Grey' accents, a smattering of 'Record' badges and a build plaque.

It's mechanically identical to the Biposto, meaning the same 190hp 1.4-litre turbo with that gearbox and diff. Abarth claims 5.9 seconds to 62mph and a 143mph top speed. The Sabelt seats with four-point belts are standard, though it looks from here the sliding Perspex windows are still on the options list...

Of course the Biposto is daft, but that's a large part of why it's so charming. It may be a hackneyed cliché but the hot hatch world would be a lot duller if Abarth wasn't in it and there was nothing to see but Golf Rs. Think of it as the second car to your 458 Speciale and it will fit in just perfectly.

[mnx42]

I like the look of these I really do .... but @ £50K with options ticked, thats a lot of dosh. Having said that I'd love to have a go in one!!

[jonby]

it's mechanically identical to the Biposto, meaning the same 190hp 1.4-litre turbo with that gearbox and diff. Abarth claims 5.9 seconds to 62mph and a 143mph top speed.

Its's not mechanically identical - the mechanical self locking dif comes as standard on the Record but only if you choose the dog box on the 'regular' Biposto. Meanwhile the dogbox does not appear to be an option on the Record edition

[David87]

The Abarth 500 seems to have missed out on the regular car's facelift. Curious.

[tomv1to]

David87 said:

The Abarth 500 seems to have missed out on the regular car's facelift. Curious.

I'm assuming because the front of the Abarth is slightly longer in order to make way for the intercooler on the Abarth it's probably more hassle to change.

[Fetchez la vache]

Test drove a biposto when I should have been test driving a 1.2 for the Mrs. (ok, I did do that afterwards...)

Great fun, but stiff, jiggety little buggers, aren't they

[SuperchargedVR6]

£36K for a yellow shoe box. And a very girly one at that. The world has gone mad.

[MikeGoodwin]

When the 500 Abarth is all about cheap thrills, I have to ask for £36k what else is there on the market? Frankly I would sooner have a Focus ST for 10k less.

[djt100]

didn't someone on here tune one of these to 250/300 bhp for much less than this, and i'm sure done from new also. just cant seem to find the thread. £36k is a lot for one of these, but as i drive past a VW dealer in the morning with a £42k golf on the forecourt i guess i shouldn't be surprised.

[Axionknight]

I appreciate a mad little car as much as the next person, but some of these 500 special editions are f*cking dear motors for what they deliver, IMO. I'd be lodging my cash elsewhere.

[k-ink]

These special editions are great as a used buyer. It means you get some daft spec for not much extra in years to come. I bought a carbon edition Mito Cloverleaf at two years old from a dealer, under half price, 1 years warranty remaining, only teen milage. The best bit was the spec - £4000 worth of optional carbon fibre seats, which I'll be keeping when I punt the car on. Thanks for the free seats first buyer!

[howardhughes]

No comment

[BristolRich]

tomv1to said:

I'm assuming because the front of the Abarth is slightly longer in order to make way for the intercooler on the Abarth it's probably more hassle to change.

Facelifted Abarth 500's are due mid 16 for some unexplicable reason...

[kambites]

As much as I love some of the details (especially the gearbox) I've never seen the point in hot hatches with the rear seats taken out, especially at this price. It's basically going up against things like the Exige and Cayman which is going to be a very tough ask for a transverse engined hatchback. For that money I'd at very least want them to have moved the engine to the middle.

Mind you people seem to buy them, so Fiat obviously know more about their market than I do.