Abarth hits Geneva with special editions of the 595, 695 and 124 Spider
Three limited edition models will be on show: the 595 Pista, 695 XSR Yamaha, and 124 Spider Scorpione
The performance arm of Fiat, Abarth, has brought its full line-up to the 2017 Geneva Motor Show. In addition to its standard cars, the company has debuted three new special edition cars – based on the 595, 695, and 124 Spider. The company is also showing off tuning kits to improve the power of most models in its range.
595 Pista
The first special edition is the new 595 Pista. Abarth calls it the new icon of the brand, and it offers up unique styling and performance additions as well as luxury touches on the interior.
> 2017 Geneva Motor Show preview
The 595 Pista is powered by the same 158bhp 1.4-litre T-jet petrol engine as the standard car – endowing it with a 0-62mph sprint of 7.3 seconds. It’s paired to a five-speed manual gearbox as standard, while a paddle-shift automatic is optional.
The 595 Pista adds drilled and ventilated brake disks to the car, plus a rear suspension setup from specialist Koni. It’s topped off by quad exhaust pipes.
The 595 Pista is available as a hatchback or convertible, with a large fabric sunroof which rolls right back to the rear hatch. Five body colours are available, with unique contrasting details – including the ability to choose the colours of the front and rear bumper inserts.
Inside, the Pista features Abarth’s Uconnect infotainment system with a new addition – Abarth Telemetry. With famous race circuits pre-loaded into the car’s memory, drivers who take their Pistas out on track can view detailed maps, analyse their performance and receive helpful tips. The telemetry function can also create customised courses, if you fancy racing yourself on your own commute.
695 XSR Yamaha Limited Edition
For 2017, Abarth continues to sponsor the Yamaha MotoGP racing team, which means the two brands can collaborate for another Yamaha special edition – this time based on the 695. It’s inspired by a motorcycle – the Yamaha XSR900 Abarth, the first unique bike to spring from the collaboration, and the two products share a grey livery with red trim.
The 695 Abarth is specially lightened, with carbonfibre used extensively and a specially developed Akrapovic ultralight exhaust. Koni rear suspension with Eibach springs, 17” lightweight alloy wheels and perforated brake discs all aid the motorcycle feel. Customers can even spec things up a notch, upgrading the standard 163bhp engine to 178bhp, fitting Koni front suspension, and adding Brembo front brake discs with Ferodo front brake pads.
124 Spider Scorpione
Finally, the latest Abarth special edition is the Scorpione. It's based on the 124 Spider – the two-seat roadster which is itself based on the Mazda MX-5 and the similar Fiat 124 Spider. Abarth has specced things up, though, by giving the Scorpione a mechanical locking differential.
The colour choices are all named after Abarth rally wins – such as Turini 1975 White or Portogallo 1974 Grey. All are available with a classic black bonnet, while the interior is fitted with red and black leather sports seats.
The Scorpione doesn’t feature any extra power, but it’s still packing a 168bhp 1.4-litre turbocharged engine – plenty in a car that weighs barely over a tonne. We've driven the Abarth 124 on a couple of occasions now and for us it might just be the best car on the new MX-5 platform, with improved front-end grip and more potential for tail-out fun thanks to the turbocharged mid-range.
All three Abarth special editions are on display at the Geneva Motor Show, along with the rest of the manufacturer's range.
