Fiat’s 500 is a fun little city car that could always do with a little bit more, shall we say, presence. The distinctive ovoid-shaped 500 is by no means dull, but the special edition Abarth-fettled 695 Tributo Ferrari has been on a diet of automotive steroids to pay homage to the legendary stable of Prancing Horses. It does a good job of it too.
There’s certainly a lot to look at, as the 500 695 commands the attention of onlookers wherever it is. The bright “Corsa” red paintwork is contrasted by charcoal racing stripes not unlike those featured on the F430 Scuderia and 17-inch alloy wheels, but items like a quad exhaust system, rear diffuser, deep front apron and the huge Abarth badges fore and aft also suggest that this is not your run-of-the-mill 500.
Even inside there’s a spattering of race-inspired gear, like form-fitting bucket seats, alloy pedals and a decent helping of carbon-fibre panels for good measure. There are 695-Ferrari logos everywhere, lest you forget how special this 500 is, too. I was, however, disappointed to find that the front seats don’t have any height adjustment, because the standard setting perches the driver a little too high for my liking.
Turning the key in the ignition is met with a cheeky bark from the quad exhausts, which settles into a deep thrum. Blip the throttle and the note becomes raspy. The gutsy tone is all the doing of a 1,4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder, a motor that produces a promising 132 kW and 250 N.m. In a car that weighs little over 1 100 kg, there’s a lot of potential for big fun.
The power delivery is old-school turbo-boost, with an initial hesitancy – then just before 3 000 r/min the 695 really comes alive as it the 205/40 Michelins scrabble for grip. What really takes some getting used to is the five-speed semi-automatic gearbox – which lurches uncomfortably when left to its own devices, but can be exploited more comfortably in the manual setting by using the steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters.
Engage Sport mode, and the ECU frees up the extra torque on overboost (the full 250, instead of just 230 N.m) tweaks the transmission’s characteristics and tightens the steering. Activating the TTC (Torque Transfer Control) via a button on the facia also preps the 500 for optimum acceleration. This allows the driver to dial in the revs without having to hold the brakes and the 500’s ECU chooses when to engage the Pilot Exalto rubber in a brief altercation with terra firma. Remember to shift up twice and the 500 breaks the 100 km/h barrier in 8,25 seconds. The TTC system also uses the ESP to brake the inside front wheel during hard cornering to sharpen the car’s line.
The experience feels a lot more dramatic than it really is. Even though 8,2 seconds is nothing to really write home about, it’s the boost-building, tyre-chirping and exhaust popping that add effect. This isn’t a car meant for crawling about in everyday traffic, though. It’s edgy and eager to respond and the low-profile tyres and short-wheelbase don’t encourage a relaxed driving style. It tends to get choppy at times, but if driving fun is what you’re all about and you can forgive that silly transmission, then the 695 is quite a hoot.
But even the most hardcore fans can’t deny that R550 000 is a hefty asking fee for a supermini – even if it is the slickest boutique hatch currently available.
Specifications
Model: Fiat Abarth 500 695 Tributo Ferrari
Engine: 1,4-litre inline four, turbocharged
Power: 132 kW at 5 500 r/min
Torque: 250 N.m at 3 000 r/min
0-100 km/h: 8,25 seconds
Fuel consumption: 6,5 l/100 km
CO2: 151 g/km
Top speed: 225 km/h
Price: R550 000
