With The Power Boost to the Abarth 595, Is The 695 Biposto Still the Better Option as a Track Ready Small Fiat?
The Italian tuning company Abarth has been manufacturing insanely powered up versions of what would otherwise be cute little Fiats for decades. The brandnow has the kind of reputation and pedigree that makes the launch of a new Abarth edition something that piques the interest of car enthusiasts. With the launch of the 695 Biposto model came much furore as Abarth themselves billed this vehicle as the world's first 'small supercar'.
Reception for the Abarth 695 Biposto
While some drivers and motoring journalists did in fact think the company's claims that the 695 Biposto classed as a supercar were justified, for the most part it sounded like marketing hubris. However, there is no denying that this is a great vehicle for those who want a small car that can do great things on the track. Slimmed down to the lowest possible weight, this little beast may look like a lovable Fiat city car, but it is designed to be powerful, manoeuvrable, and of course, fast. Some felt that the price, which can approach £50,000 if you get all of the best racing options, was a little crazy for a Fiat. However this car is designed for excitement and competitive edge and it is that,which makes people willing to part with money for it.
Picture: Abarth 695 Biposto
The Mid Range Option
The 695 Biposto is the top end edition in terms of Abarth's models based on the Fiat 500. At the lower end is the Fiat 500 Abarth, which is essentially just a sport version of the regular car and is designed to rival other sports editions like the Mini Cooper S. In the middle is the 595 Competizione and it has just been announced that this is going to be getting a boost in spec and power. The top speed has been boosted to 140 mph and the speed from 0-60 has dropped to 6.7 seconds from 7.4. This makes for a significant difference and with the tougher 1.4 litre Fiat turbocharged engine, it also gets an increase of 20hp to 180hp.
Do You Still Want the Biposto?
The improvements to the specifications of the 595 Competizione do of course come at a price.However, even the predictable price hike for the latest spec still doesn't put it in the same 'crazy money' category as the Biposto, with even the most expensive options costing under £25,000. This makes it a much easier choice to justify to yourself as a sporty car you can take on the track and it is also much better suited to normal road use than the luxury-free Biposto. However, if you really want a car with a lot of power that can provide an extremely exciting, competitive track experience, the Biposto is the best option.
With Abarth producing some great cars over the years, only time will tell what upgrades they have in store for us next.
