GENEVA MOTOR SHOW: Abarth goes Biposto
Baby Fiat spawns “world's smallest supercar” – and it's coming Down UnderFiat’s Abarth arm has gone postal – well, Biposto anyway.
Claimed to be the world’s smallest supercar, the Fiat 500 based Abarth 695 Biposto celebrates the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the Abarth marque and is “fastest street legal Abarth ever”. And it’s coming Down Under, although in local terms street-legal is a term that might need a little clarification...
Fiat Chrysler Australia boss Veronica Johns told motoring.com.au that 10 of the two-seat uber-Abarths had been earmarked for Australia. However, she cautioned that a number of the features that distinguish the car from its siblings could be problematic for local road use.
Powered by a 142kW (190hp) version of Fiat group’s 1.4-litre turbo four, the Biposto weighs in at 997kg. It features a ‘dogged’ H-pattern manual five-speed gearbox that allows clutchless shifts, special Akrapovic exhaust system, racing seats and harnesses and fixed polycarbonate windows. All of these items could cause issue when it comes to local compliance.
Essentially the Biposto is a “road-going reinterpretation” of the Abarth 695 Assetto Corse one-make car which motoring.com.au recently drove in the Bathurst 12 Hour. Abarth claims the road car will accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in 5.9sec. Top speed is around 230km/h.
Other equipment fitted includes a plate locking differential, adjustable dampers, uprated Brembo brakes, 18-inch OZ alloys and MXL digital data logger. The vehicle also gets a bespoke Abarth Style Centre body kit.
As is often the case with race-orientated road cars, you will have to sacrifice a few staples in the pursuit of performance. The 695 Biposto sheds rear seats, xenon headlights, fog lights, electric windows and the audio Bluetooth system.
Also ditched is the aircon – something to consider when you note that just a small section of each window slides to provide ventilation…
No word on price. To date the most expensive road-going 500 Down Under has been the 2012 Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari, which was priced at $69,990.
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