Abarth 595C review
What better way to explore the postcard perfect Italian
Riviera than in a feisty local motor, with the roof down and the promise of
olive oil drenched seafood in a Genoese coastal retreat? It might not quite
feel the same on a dreary Berkshire ring-road, but with the Abarth 595C, at least you
can take a little slice of Italy with you.
Based on the seemingly evergreen chassis of the Fiat 500, all cars in the
pocket-sized Abarth range (which
also features the 595 and souped-up 695) come
with a smorgasbord of racing accessories that can add almost unparalleled
excitement to your daily commute. Sure to be a favourite with young drivers and
true petrol-heads alike, read on to find out whether the Abarth 595C could have
that little extra spark you’ve been looking for.
Exterior
Of course, the little kid in all of us will be most excited
about the electrically operated soft-top roof, but we’ll get on to that later.
While the Abarth 595C would be immediately recognisable to
long-term fans of the 500, the racing car manufacturer has subtly tweaked the
bodywork to give it a sturdier, more dynamic feel. The slim sides of the Fiat have been exercised into
muscular haunches, and the debatably po-faced front-end has been improved by
the addition of a racing-style grille and Xenon headlights. As you walk around
the car, you’ll notice features like the perforated rear brake discs, 17-inch
Formula alloy wheels and tinted rear windows – all of which highlight the
model’s racing pedigree.
Buyers can choose from titanium grey and black for the soft
top roof, to keep things in line with Abarth’s distinctive styling. And, it’s
no ordinary soft top roof, as Abarth has cleverly integrated a glass
rear-window pane and shifted the third brake light on to the spoiler. That’s
the technical stuff, but what you really want to know is that you can maintain
all conventional performance elements with the roof up, but with the roof down
the car becomes an absolute animal. When you’re exposed to the elements and the
wind’s rushing past you, you really start to appreciate the full force of what
Abarth has been able to achieve with the 595C.
There’s a host of other advantages to choosing the
convertible over the regular model too, such as the elimination of the
blind-spot, optimisation of headroom and chance to soak up a few rays on the
way to work.
Interior
In line with the car’s sporty credentials, the interior of
the Abarth 595C might come across as somewhat stripped-back on initial
inspection. The aim, clearly, has been to limit overall weight in order to
improve performance, so all of Fiat’s frivolities have been scrapped. However,
Abarth has been clever in keeping all the right features in all the right
places.
The Abarth Corsa fabric racing seats (made by Sabelt) will
keep you securely in place as you nimbly navigate around sharp turns, while the
aluminium racing-style pedals give you a highly-responsive and integrated
driving experience. The leather-clad steering wheel centralises most of the
tech controls within easy reach, enabling you to control the Blue&Me audio
and hands-free system, which includes both Bluetooth and USB connections.
You’ll also get a 7-inch TFT colour display instrument panel, and automatic
climate control to keep the temperature just so.
Space is generous throughout both the front and rear
portions of the car, and split rear seats with head restraints ensure that your
passengers will have the same racing feel, even from the back. The boot, while
far from palatial, can stow 185-litres of kit, which is relatively standard for
a car of this size.
On the road
The performance of this pocket-rocket is what really defines
the Abarth 595C. Based around a 4-cylinder in-line 1.4-litre, the 595C can
crank out 180bhp and reach a top speed of 140mph. In a car with this
slimmed-down waistline, that adds up to an acceleration rate of 0 – 62mph in just
6.7 seconds.
The 595C also comes with a whole stack of other finely-tuned
engineering accessories that make this feel legitimately like a mini-supercar,
such as:
- Torque
Transfer Control
- Copaf
front suspension with Frequency Selective Damping technology
- Koni
rear suspension with Frequency Selective Damping technology
- Brembo
four-piston aluminium fixed brake calipers
- Self-ventilated
oversized 305×28 mm perforated front brake discs
- BMC
high-performance intake system
- Abarth
‘Record Monza’ exhaust system
You also get rear parking sensors for when you inevitably
arrive earlier than scheduled, and can choose between a sequential automated
gearbox and wheel-mounted gear shift paddles.
Verdict
Since their cars first graced our roads back in 1949, Abarth
has shown absolute care and dedication to making their vehicles as fun and
expressive as possible. The 595C is certainly no different, in fact the
soft-top version just feels like it’s meant to be. With the roof down, you get
a feel for the elements, as well as a front-row seat for the orchestra of
engineering that’s stored under the bonnet. So, whether you consider yourself a
motoring purist or just get an occasional need for speed, the 595C is well
worth a look.
For more information on the Abarth 595C or any of our
other new cars, contact the
experts at your local Perrys
dealership today.