The sporty Fiat 500C Abarth is great fun to drive with its turbocharged engine. It’s a proper hot hatch with the added bonus of a convertible top. The price has come down a little, but it is still rather expensive particularly when you see how much fun can be had in the TwinAir Fiat 500C for a lot less. The Abarth brand, interior and styling details, however, do go a long way to making it feel special in a way very few other cars can. The aluminium pedals and stitched leather steering wheel make it feel like an Italian exotic with a much higher price tag.
The Abarth 595 covers several cars which are all based on the same engine and chassis platform with various different trim specifications. These include the Turismo, Competizione and Cabrio Italia. The aim is to produce a pocket supercar that can compete with the Mini John Cooper Works. It is entertainingly quick and nimble although the high driving position and lack steering of steering feedback are a bit disappointing. It does look the part though in true Italian style which manages to look cool and never boy-racer. There is a full body kit with air intakes, big alloy wheels and beefy exhaust pipes. There are also numerous little details throughout the car both inside and out which make it feel special and set apart from the standard 500 Convertible. It gets a healthy 25 extra horsepower over even the standard Abarth model. There is a clear difference in the speed of the 595 and a raspy exhaust note that makes it an enjoyable car to drive while also easy to live with in the city.
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