Road Test: Fiat 500 Abarth South Africa

Driven: Fiat 500 Abarth essesse 2015 in South Africa

Review of Fiat 500 Abarth essesse in South Africa

We’ll admit, when this Fiat 500 Abarth essesse arrived we had no idea why it was any different to the model we drove last year, or was that two years ago? Three perhaps? That’s how slow development has been on the Fiat 500 Abarth range. Do we care? This one sounded infinitely better as it pulled to a halt; somewhere between the raspiness of a two-stroke motorcross bike and a Porsche’s crackle, minus two cylinders. It’s worth remembering that Karl Abarth first plied his trade as an exhaust fabricator as far back as 1949. We feel his presence in this.

A look around the back confirms the source of the extra fizz – four pipes like the 695 Tributo compared to the usual two. But let’s get one thing straight, this was not the Tributo because this has the manual gearbox and that is the only gearbox you should ever choose. Frankly, the auto is painful and ruins the car.

Fire off a quick email and our curiosity is quenched. This Fiat 500 Abarth Essesse is fundamentally no different but we’re driving one with a few extras we’ve never seen before. Back to that exhaust. Known as the Monza system it  is worth sliding down the windows or blipping the throttle on downshifts to hear it spit and splutter. But there’s an issue; the exhaust is more vocal at low rpm and quietens at speed whereas we just wanted the thing to get progressively louder. It’s baffling.

And there was reason to drive it with gusto. The upgraded map elevates power from 99kW to 119kW – the 695 Tributo rated at 132kW – and seems to be just as economical on fuel, using roughly 9.0l/100km despite being channelled through five short gears. We didn’t test it but with this 20 per cent power gain, the claimed 7.9 sec to 100km/h seems beatable.

Combined with shortened Koni shocks able to raise an inside un-driven wheel on aggressive turns, there’s a set of 282mm drilled discs which for a car that weighs 1035kg, don’t get taken too seriously. Sandwiching high performance brake pads means the pedal feel was a bit dull for road conditions however behind the 17-inch white wheels (two styles are available) the brakes’ sporty intentions elevate the Fiat’s edgy determination.

Verdict? Still the same problems persist that will prevent it from being a mainstream success like the Mini Cooper. Bugbears like seating position aggravated by minimal steering adjustment, enormous turning circle and the confusing Bluetooth system paint a dire picture of the available tech. What we love? Style and charm coupled to massive amounts of lateral grip. You can’t take your eyes off the thing.

This website link is a must visit and shows all the available accessories – some of which weren’t on our car.

http://www.abarthcars.co.za/Site/za/ABARTH_KONI_ESSEESSE_KIT

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