A special edition of the fiesty hatch is the best way to wish your birthday.
Abarth is celebrating its 70th year anniversary in 2019. What better way to mark this important milestone than by releasing a special edition? The Fiat 500, a special edition limited to 1,949 units in honor of Abarth’s birth year, is based upon the 695 hardcore version of Abarth’s pocket rocket. It also includes a variety of cosmetic tweaks.
Although the visual changes won’t make you rush to your local dealer, the Abarth695 70deg Anniversario has an advantage. The special edition’s party item is a large, roof-mounted spoiler. The spoiler can be manually adjusted in dozens of positions. It was designed in the wind tunnel to maximize aero efficiency, regardless of speed.
The spoiler’s inclination can vary from 0-60 degrees. This helps to increase aerodynamic loads by 42 kilograms at speeds up to 124 mph (200 km/h). Abarth has calculated that the new aero component can reduce steering corrections up to 40%, based on testing done at FCA’s wind tunnel in Orbassano, a municipality southwest of Turin.
The turbocharged 1.4-liter turbocharged engine produces 180 horsepower and 250 Nm (184lb-ft) respectively. It can sprint from 0-60 mph (100 km/h), in just 6.7 seconds, before reaching 140 mph (225km/h) when the spoiler is at 0deg. The 17-inch SuperSport wheels come paired with a Brembo brake system that features four-piston aluminum discs finished in red. They hug the 305-mm front and rear self-ventilated disks.
Monza 1958’s green livery is a nod to the original 500 Abarth, which scored six international records in that year. This retro-flavored color is combined with Campovolo grey accents for an interesting two-tone appearance. The new Record Monza exhaust features an active valve, which provides a better sound quality.
Abarth also updated the cabin with body-hugging seat designs that are only available to this edition. The plaque, which is individually numbered reminds you this is not an ordinary 695. The onboard tech includes support both for Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, DAB radio, and a navigation system that can be used with the seven-inch touchscreen display. If you are planning to take the hot hatch to the track, additional equipment is available such as automatic climate control, daytime lighting, LED fog lights and unique mats.
These are the latest news from Abarth:
The Abarth 695 70deg Anniversario is available in Italy, where it will be available to dealers within a few weeks. It has a starting price EUR34,600, which is approximately $38,000 at current exchange rates.