Driving Torque

It's All About The Motors.

Driving Torque

This is the YouTube page for Driving Torque - Articles, reviews and opinions about cars and all things automotive.
Go to www.drivingtorque.com

Driving Torque
Review by Ben Harrington from Driving Torque of the Suzuki Jimny SZ5
Suzuki Jimny Review
YouTube Video UCOtVdrU-nsf_4BZwMKZ08NA_tBEwl0WmNRw
Watch as a Model X performs its Celebration Mode Easter egg in the snow
Tesla Model X Celebration Mode
YouTube Video UCOtVdrU-nsf_4BZwMKZ08NA_Z04UK1MRXjE
This is what the exhaust tail pipe of a Ford Focus RS sounds and looks like when you accelerate quickly.
2017 Ford Focus RS Exhaust
YouTube Video UCOtVdrU-nsf_4BZwMKZ08NA_QkKOE0J4baE
Another gratuitous exhaust video for you. This time it's the behemoth that is the Mercedes GL63 AMG.
Mercedes-Benz GL63 AMG exhaust sounding immense
YouTube Video UCOtVdrU-nsf_4BZwMKZ08NA_S7TdJrBe8aw
This is a Porsche Cayman in Sport Plus mode with a Sports exhaust, showing the exhaust revving and moving as the car is put through its paces. Great footage of over-run and even the heat haze from the hot engine.
Porsche Cayman PDK Sport Plus
YouTube Video UCOtVdrU-nsf_4BZwMKZ08NA_8l_WTgJB0sk
Subscribe
  • Home
  • About
  • Ben’s Car CV
  • DTQ Partners
  • Contact

Abarth 595 Competizione Review – It May Look Cute, But this Scorpion Means Business

May 8, 2018 by benharrington Leave a Comment

abarth 595 competizione red high front

The original Abarth 595 from the swingin’ 60s took the workaday Fiat 500, upgraded the engine from 479cc to a whopping 595cc and added some trick carbs and exhaust. It weighed less than 600 kg so you can imagine how well it performed.

Abarth 595 Competizione

That’s right – absolutely dreadfully. 0-60mph took nearly 30 seconds, and that’s because there’s only so much power to be gleaned from a 1950s design, two-cylinder, air-cooled engine. In this case – 27bhp.

Fast forward half a century or so and the Abarth name is now part of the gigantic FCA group, and that oh-so-cool scorpion badge is finding itself on pretty-much every Fiat with a speedy bent. In this case; the Abarth 595 Competizione.

abarth 595 competizione red side

The Fiat 500 may be the epitome of butter-wouldn’t-melt cuteness as it pootles inoffensively around pretty-much every town and city on Earth, but the Abarth’s a bit more grown-up. Look at it like the moody, rebellious teenager, cigarette drooping from its lip to the 500’s primary school kid if you like.

abarth 595 competizione grille letters

Many, many Abarth logos

There’s skirts and there’s skirts. The Abarth 595’s body modifications leave it appearing to be literally sucking the ground like a hovercraft. They’re evidently very keen to reinforce that this is an Abarth, as there are badges and motifs splashed liberally around. The lower front grille’s latticework spells out Abarth (easier to see when it’s highlighted in white), there’s scorpions on the side, there’s even a polished Abarth fuel filler cap and a 595 badge on the roof. In fact, the only 500 references you’ll find are on the dashboard and the infotainment system.

abarth 595 scorpion badge

Look closely at the Abarth 595 and you’ll see that the various grilles, scoops and spoilers aren’t just there for show. Peek inside the grille just ahead of the offside front wheel, for example, and you’ll find the intercooler for the turbo; it’s not F1 technology but this car isn’t mucking about.

abarth 595 brembo brakes turbo intercooler

How powerful is the Abarth 595 Competizione?

Cars just don’t weigh 600 kg anymore, not ones you’d walk away from a serious collision in, anyway, and the Abarth 595 tips the scales at 1045 kg. Thankfully, cars don’t come with under 30bhp anymore, either. In this case, the 1.4 l, T-Jet engine has been tuned to a state of 180bhp, meaning 0-62mph comes up in 6.9 seconds and it doesn’t stop accelerating until it tops out at 140mph.

abarth 595 competizione engine

This power is fed to the wheels via a 5-speed manual ‘box. For an extra couple of grand or so, there’s an alternative 5-speed ‘box that’ll change gear for you. Don’t do it. The ‘proper’ manual is an absolute treat. It’s notchy and every gear is where you’d expect it to be; it just adds so much to the drive. Trust me – if manual ‘boxes are eventually a thing of the past, it’s ones like this that we’ll miss. Do yourself a favour – save the £2K and change gear yourself.

abarth 595 competizione carbon seats

The Abarth 595’s ride is firm, there’s no getting away from it, but with a name like Competizione, what would you expect? It’s not bone-breaking, though, even in the optional, £1,200, carbon-fibre backed Sabelt sports seats, which are without doubt the closest things to racing seats I’ve ever sat in.

Koni shocks and TTC

Handling is pin-point accurate, thanks in no small part to Koni front shocks that come as standard, although it does have a tendency to push wide if you take too much speed into a bend. The Abarth 595 has a TTC system (Torque Transfer Control) which basically acts like an LSD. It detects which front wheel may be slipping and instantly sends power to it. You don’t notice it working until you turn it off – the difference to handling is dramatic.

abarth 595 competizione turbo gauge sport

There’s the most satisfying feedback through the Alacantara steering wheel that you’ll be hard pushed to believe it’s not unassisted. The trade-off for such a fabulous steering setup at speed is a turning circle that the QE2 would embarrass; three point turns are tricky.

abarth 595 competizione interior

The most bizarre sound 

So, the Abarth 595 Competizione looks the part, goes well enough and the handling is communicative and fun. What you might not expect from a 1.4, 4-cylinder is the sound it creates. The standard ‘Record Monza‘ exhaust system wakes with a bark  and then goes through what can only be described as a rock guitarist’s entire pre-gig tuneup, thoroughly testing every effect on his pedal. It sounds like nothing else and is instantly recognisable as an Abarth – great fun and adds no end of character.

abarth 595 competizione exhaust record monza

Should I buy an Abarth 595 Competizione?

The Abarth 595 Competizione isn’t the most modern hot-hatch on the market – it’s ‘only’ got a 5-speed ‘box and doesn’t even have stop-start tech. Stop the turbo from spinning, though, and it’s economical enough, we found its claimed 47.1mpg combined pretty accurate. What it undeniably is, though, is a whole lot of fun for just over £20K, just don’t expect to go anywhere unnoticed.

By Ben Harrington

Abarth 595 Competizione Specifications:

Engine – 1.4l 4-cyl petrol, Layout –Front engine, FWD, Transmission – 5-speed manual, Power – 180bhp, Acceleration –0-60mph – 6.9s, Maximum Speed –140mph, Maximum Torque – 230Nm, Economy – 47.1 mpg combined, Emissions – 139g/km CO2, Price – £20,715 OTR

The Abarth 595 is available now. For full details go to; www.abarthcars.co.uk

Filed Under: Driven Tagged With: 500, 595, 695, abarth, competizione, Fiat, Mini, t-jet, trofeo

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

About Driving Torque

I'm Ben Harrington and I'm a car lover, freelance motoring journalist and family-man (I'll let you decide the order!) I started Driving Torque in 2010 to share my love of all things motoring with the wider world. Since then, … continue reading

Driving Torque’s Instagram Posts

driving_torque

Got to be honest, I didn’t think much of the las Got to be honest, I didn’t think much of the last Honda HR-V. This goes back today, though, and I think I’ll miss it. #honda #hondahrv #carsofinstagram
Got to be honest, I didn’t think much of the las Got to be honest, I didn’t think much of the last Honda HR-V. This goes back today, though, and I think I’ll miss it. #honda #hondahrv #carsofinstagram
Got to be honest, I didn’t think much of the las Got to be honest, I didn’t think much of the last Honda HR-V. This goes back today, though, and I think I’ll miss it. #honda #hondahrv #carsofinstagram
Another highlight from this week’s SMMT Test Day Another highlight from this week’s SMMT Test Day was this; the unashamedly macho Ford Mustang Mach 1. A full review will follow later this year, hopefully. #ford #fordmustang #forduk #carsofinstagram
What do you do when you own two VW vans? Why, you What do you do when you own two VW vans? Why, you go and drive the latest VW Multivan, of course! The Multivan is not, I repeat, is not based on a van, though. Got it? Good. #vw #volkswagen #notavan #carsofinstagram
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Driving Torque’s Twitter Feed

Ben Harrington Follow

Freelance motoring writer and Editor of Driving Torque. @NGMWcars member. Classic VW owner. Husband and father to a wonderful wife and two amazing young ladies.

DrivingTorque
drivingtorque Ben Harrington @drivingtorque ·
23 Jun

https://buff.ly/3ObO4Z5 #honda #hrv #review #hybrid

Reply on Twitter 1540033698485133313 Retweet on Twitter 1540033698485133313 1 Like on Twitter 1540033698485133313 Twitter 1540033698485133313
drivingtorque Ben Harrington @drivingtorque ·
22 Jun

https://buff.ly/3ObO4Z5 #honda #hrv #review #roadtest

Reply on Twitter 1539671061008191492 Retweet on Twitter 1539671061008191492 1 Like on Twitter 1539671061008191492 1 Twitter 1539671061008191492
drivingtorque Ben Harrington @drivingtorque ·
22 Jun

https://buff.ly/3ObO4Z5 #honda #hrv #review

Reply on Twitter 1539565356506816514 Retweet on Twitter 1539565356506816514 Like on Twitter 1539565356506816514 Twitter 1539565356506816514
drivingtorque Ben Harrington @drivingtorque ·
16 Jun

Anyone struggling on @TicketmasterUK for Taylor Hawkins tribute concert - try following the link from the email they sent you. That just worked for me after over an hour of being thrown out of the site 😃

Reply on Twitter 1537366165013643264 Retweet on Twitter 1537366165013643264 Like on Twitter 1537366165013643264 Twitter 1537366165013643264
Retweet on Twitter Ben Harrington Retweeted
yorkshiremsf Yorkshire Motorsport Festival @yorkshiremsf ·
15 Jun

We’re excited - a little over a week to go until the Yorkshire Motorsport Festival

Tickets still available if you follow the link below👇🏽

https://www.ymsf.net/buy-tickets

#Motorsport #Festival

Reply on Twitter 1536972026304507906 Retweet on Twitter 1536972026304507906 12 Like on Twitter 1536972026304507906 18 Twitter 1536972026304507906
Load More

© 2022 · DrivingTorque.com · Site designed and built by Kobestarr.com