Abarth now from $27,500

The chasm between the Fiat 500 and Abarth’s hottest versions of the same car has been filled with a new entry-level Abarth model, the 595.

Priced at a $6500 premium over the $21,000 Fiat 500 Lounge, the Abarth 595 makes the jump from Fiat to Abarth ownership easier than the $34,000 595 Turismo (all prices plus ORCs).

According to Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Australia product planning manager, Allan Swanson, the 595 will be Abarth’s top-selling model, offering Fiat 500 buyers a more sporting alternative now that the Fiat 500 Sport has gone.

The Abarth’s 1.4-litre turbo engine pushes out 103kW at 5500rpm and 206Nm at 2000rpm and is linked to a five-speed manual. A five-speed single-clutch auto is a $2000 option, while the convertible version costs $4000 extra at $31,500.

The Abarth 595 manual reaches 100km/h from rest in 7.9 seconds, averages 6.0L/100km and emits 139g/km C02.

It comes standard with ventilated disc brakes with two-piston red callipers (and semi-metallic brake pads), air-conditioning, a 7.0-inch TFT instrument cluster display, turbo-boost gauge, tinted windows, fog lights, reverse parking sensors, 16-inch alloys, tyre pressure monitoring, Abarth side stripes and mirror covers, and aluminium pedal covers.

The 595 also has a form of limited-slip diff, called Torque Transfer Control (TTC). TTC is an enhanced electronic limited-slip diff that controls torque via the brake system and electronic stability program (ESP) sensors.

This enables the Abarth 595 to transfer torque from a slipping wheel to the wheel that has grip. The TTC mode is selected via a dash button, the default mode being a more invasive traction control that both quells wheelspin with brakes and reduces engine power.

The Abarth 595 also has a driver-selectable Sport mode that firms up steering feel, increases throttle response and in auto versions quickens gear changes. Sport mode also activates an upshift light integrated in the TFT cluster as engine speed approaches redline.

In default mode, torque in first and second gears is reduced to enhance fuel efficiency and minimise CO2 emissions.

The 595 gets stiffer front spring rates and a 15mm lower ride height compared to the Fiat 500 on which it’s based. Abarth-designed cast-iron front lower control arms are claimed to improve lateral stiffness, while an increase in negative camber to -1.5 degrees is said to improve grip and steering precision.

The 595 also has Koni FSD front dampers, which are dual-valve frequency-selective dampers that filter out high-frequency suspension inputs from uneven road surfaces.

The rear-end misses out on the Konis but has strengthened coil-spring supports plus a 22mm Abarth solid rear stabiliser bar and stiffer rear springs that, like the front coils, provide a 15mm lower ride height than the Fiat 500.

The electronic power steering (EPS) has a specific calibration for the 595 with improved steering response and feedback. The 595’s EPS also gets a road-crown and crosswind algorithm that automatically compensates for situations where the car is pushed to one side or another.

2016 Abarth 595 pricing (plus ORCs):
Abarth 595 — $27,500
Abarth 595C — $31,500