Abarth Bringing 595 “esseesse,” 124 Rally Tribute To Geneva Motor Show


Abarth has two debuts for this year’s Geneva Motor Show and chances are both will send your heart racing.

The first is the Abarth 595 esseesse (the Italian pronunciation of “SS”) which is inspired by the legendary 1960s tuning kit and the later Abarth 500 edition launched in 2009. The second is the Abarth 124 Rally Tribute, a limited edition of just 124 cars that celebrate the 2018 FIA R-GT Cup victory.


Starting with the Abarth 595 esseesse, it places itself at the top of Abarth’s 595 lineup as it’s equipped with the brand’s most powerful engine, the 1.4-liter turbo-four rated at 180 PS (178 hp).

It features performance-enhancing standard equipment including an Akrapovic exhaust system, Brembo front braking system with perforated, ventilated front brake discs and oversized red brake calipers, BMC air cleaner, as well as Koni FSD (Frequency Selective Damping) rear suspension. The latter is said to improve cornering abilities.


On the tech front, the 595 esseesse gets the 7-inch Uconnect HD touchscreen infotainment system that includes Abarth Telemetry, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto compatibility.

It’s not easy to recognize Abarth 595 models nowadays but that’s a relatively easy job with the esseesse which features several white details including the 17-inch Supersport alloys, Abarth side stripes, and mirror caps. Specific “esseesse” badging and 70th-anniversary logos complete the exterior package. Inside, the small but mean Fiat (sorry, Abarth) feature “Sabelt 70” sports seats with carbon rear shell and carbon pedals.


Abarth’s second Geneva Motor Show debut is the motorsport-inspired 124 Rally Tribute special edition. Celebrating the 124 rally car’s 2018 triumph in the FIA R-GT Cup, the 124 Rally Tribute packs a number of unique features that should make it a collectible.


You’ll recognize it when you’ll see it thanks to the specific commemorative badge on the front fenders and the numbered metal plaque inside. It will be available in only two exterior colors, Costa Brava Red and Turini White, both combined with matte black bonnet — a reference to the historic Abarth 124 Rally which adopted this solution to reduce sun dazzle for the driver. Other exterior details include the gunmetal grey or red mirror caps and bumper details.


There are no major mechanical changes, with the 124 Rally Tribute featuring a 1.4-liter MultiAir turbo-four making 170 PS (168 hp) and 250 Nm (184 lb-ft) of torque. However, the limited edition model does feature a Record Monza exhaust with dual mode system, Brembo brakes, and ultralight 17-inch alloys in Racing White. The rims contribute to a weight reduction of 4 kg (8.8 lbs).


Standard convenience features include heated leather seats, Alcantara trim, Abarth mats, automatic climate control, and the Radio Plus Pack which includes a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system and Bose stereo.

carscoops

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Limited Edition Ford GT 'Competition Series' Is All About The Track

Image
Ford's new GT Competition Series was built with weight-saving in mind, but also with an improved center of gravity for better road-holding. Among its features, you'll notice the lightweight carbon fiber racing stripes, A-Pillars and side mirrors, as well as the unique race-inspired Perspex acrylic engine hatch with integrated venting. Thanks to the manual latch and the carbon fiber prop rod, weight near the roof has been reduced, though Ford engineers went even further in their quest to make the car lighter, by making the bulkhead Gorilla Glass behind the driver about half as thick (and as light) as on other models. "The Ford GT has racing in its blood," said Ford exec Raj Nair, while adding that the Competition Series "was developed with the most hardcore track enthusiasts in mind, providing a tailored set of lightweight features and unique livery to match." There are also plenty of remaining performance features from the production car, such as ...
Read more

Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet Is A Crossover For Droptop Lovers

Image
Droptop crossovers have always been rather odd and the T-Roc Cabriolet is no different. It will be the only convertible Volkswagen on sale for the foreseeable future and will celebrate its public debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. Rather than simply removing the roof of the standard T-Roc, Volkswagen has drastically altered the vehicle’s structure and body. In fact, its wheelbase is 37 mm longer than the standard T-Roc while its overall length is up by 34 mm. In addition, the Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet features structural strengthening in the underbody, side panels, cross members, doors, and windscreen frame to make up for the lack of a roof. The folding fabric roof developed by Volkswagen retracts in just nine seconds at speeds of up to 19 mph (30.5 km/h) and is similar in operation to the roof of the outgoing Golf Cabriolet. The presence of the soft top reduces trunk space by 161 liters down from the 284 liters of the run-of-the-mill T-Roc. We don’t think bu...
Read more

Alpine A110 Hits Geneva With Pure, Legende And GT4 Versions

Image
Renault’s reborn Alpine brand has been getting rave reviews for its new A110 and now, as promised, it’s revealed new versions of its coupe at the Geneva Motor Show. Following the success of the sold-out Premiere Edition, the A110 will now be offered in Pure and Legende trims. The A110 Pure is targeted at driving enthusiasts. It features one-piece Sabelt sports seats that weigh barely more than 13 kilograms (28.6 pounds) each and, combined with other weight-saving measures, helps keep the curb weight below 1,100 kg ( 2,425 lbs). It’s not entirely stripped out, though, and still comes with features like air-conditioning and satellite navigation. Buyers can also add upgraded Brembo brakes and an adaptive exhaust system and can upgrade to the adjustable comfort seats. Those come standard on the Legende model, which is geared more towards every day driving and grand touring and comes with leather upholstery. Customers can also choose between two Focal sound systems and two wheel...
Read more