Fiat is readying a pair of eye-catching spinoffs of its popular 500 model for this year’s Geneva Motor Show – a luxurious limited edition with ties to the Maserati nameplate and, no jokes, an MPV.
The Abarth 695 Tributo Maserati won’t be the first 500 to make an association with another premium Italian carmaker – the Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari did that a couple of years ago – but it will be the first open-top 500 to do so.
So what we essentially have here is a convertible version of the car that did service as a courtesy vehicle for a number of European Ferrari dealerships – power will yet again be provided by a 1,4-litre T-Jet engine developing 132 kW and coupled with an Abarth Competizione gearbox with paddle shifters. The exhaust system features a “Record Monza” variable back-pressure pack that helps the Tributo develop a sportier note from around the 3 000 r/min mark. Upgraded suspension and Brembo brakes further distinguish the Tributo from lesser models.
The Tributo rolls on a set of 17-inch Neptun alloys and features a triple-coat Pontevecchio Bordeux paint finish along with a grey fabric roof. Xenon headlamps round off the revisions to the exterior.
The cabin features Poltrona Frau trimmed leather seats with “695” stitching details, matte carbon-fibre-effect facia trim, aluminum trim for the pedal boots and sill plates and a series-numbered plaque. Buyers can also specify a set of grey leather Tramontano travel bags to match their car – a sound idea, but you might need something more capacious to lug such wares: enter the 500L…
Also set for a Geneva debut, the 500L measures a shade over four metres (about 400 mm longer than a standard 500) and will, according to Fiat, offer “MPV passenger space and the feel of a small SUV on the road” thanks to its cab-forward layout. It will, however, sport only five seats.
The engine line-up will comprise a pair of petrols – a two-cylinder 0,9-litre TwinAir petrol unit with 62 kW and a 1,4-litre with 74 kW – and a range-topping 1,3-litre MultiJet III diesel developing 70 kW and 203 N.m of torque.
