Abarth 695 coming to UK

The Fiat 500-based Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari was first announced way back in September of last year. It wasn’t originally going to be built in right hand drive but, with that decision now reversed, 152 examples are heading for the UK.

Exclusivity won’t come cheap though. Abarth is going to be charging an incredible £29,600, which is mad when the normal £14,155 Abarth 500 is less than half that.



Even after specifying the hotter Esseesse upgrade kit - with its 157 bhp (117 kW / 160 PS) engine and better brakes, suspension and alloy wheels - for the Abarth 500, its price tag is still £12,945 below the Abarth 695’s.



So what do you get for all the extra cash?



For starters, the 1.4-litre turbo engine is now tuned to 177 bhp (132 kW / 180 PS), and is coupled to an Abarth Competizione electro-hydraulic gearbox. This can be used in auto or manual modes, and comes with gear change paddles mounted behind a leather-trimmed Abarth steering wheel.



As a result, the Abarth 695 accelerates from 0-62 mph (100 km/h) in 7.0 seconds, before going on to reach a top speed of 140 mph (225 km/h). Those figures are quite an improvement over the Abarth 500 Esseesse, which manages 7.4 seconds and 131 mph (210 km/h), but they’re still not desperately special.



A Mini Cooper S, for example, posts the same 0-62 mph time as the Abarth 695 and is 2 mph faster, yet it’s a comparative bargain at £17,640.



The Abarth 695 also gets a dash mounted Sport button which makes the gearbox, engine control unit and steering more responsive, as well as a ‘Record Monza' dual-mode exhaust that changes its sound above 3,000 rpm.



On the outside, there are carbon fibre door mirrors, and the 17” alloy wheels and front air intakes are finished in Corsa Grey to contrast with the Scuderia Red paintwork.



That’s the only colour available, and it seems Abarth has missed the point somewhat if the hope is for the Abarth 695 to appeal to existing Ferrari drivers. Surely it must have realised that quite a few of those customers would want their Abarth to match their Ferrari? Therefore, offering the Abarth 695 in alternative popular Ferrari shades such as yellow, blue, grey and black could have helped increase demand.



There’s no doubting the enormous allure of the Fiat 500 in general and the Abarth 500 in particular. But maybe the Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari is stretching things too far. Sure, it looks great, but are there really 152 simpletons in the UK who are so enamoured by the tenuous Ferrari connection that they’re willing to shell out almost £30,000 for one?