Currently reading: Abarth 695 Biposto promises class-leading pace

The hottest Fiat 500-based model yet promises 0-62 in 5.9sec and a sub-one tonne kerb weight

The Abarth 695 Biposto has made its UK debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Intended to mark the 50th anniversary year of Carlo Abarth’s original 695, the Biposto features a 187bhp 1.4-litre turbo engine, some very specialised performance accessories and running gear, and weighs just 997kg. 

In pursuit of that class leading pace from a sub-tonne car, Abarth has thinned down the doorskins, fitted polycarbonate side windows and a titanium roll cage, specified lightweight bucket seats by Sabelt and removed the rear bench altogether - explaining the ‘biposto’ name.

The car is the only street-legal production car fitted with a quick-shifting ‘dog-ring’ sequential manual gearbox, Abarth claims. The transmission contributes to a class-topping 0-62mph sprint of 5.9sec.

Unlike the earlier 695 Tributo Ferrari special edition, the Biposto has entered open-ended series production for Abarth, and its various components will also be offered as part of Abarth’s accessories catalogue for customers who prefer to mix and match them to their own recipe.

Pricing will be confirmed later this year, but we expect it to be well in excess of £30,000.

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Matt Saunders

Matt Saunders Autocar
Title: Road test editor

As Autocar’s chief car tester and reviewer, it’s Matt’s job to ensure the quality, objectivity, relevance and rigour of the entirety of Autocar’s reviews output, as well contributing a great many detailed road tests, group tests and drive reviews himself.

Matt has been an Autocar staffer since the autumn of 2003, and has been lucky enough to work alongside some of the magazine’s best-known writers and contributors over that time. He served as staff writer, features editor, assistant editor and digital editor, before joining the road test desk in 2011.

Since then he’s driven, measured, lap-timed, figured, and reported on cars as varied as the Bugatti Veyron, Rolls-Royce PhantomTesla RoadsterAriel Hipercar, Tata Nano, McLaren SennaRenault Twizy and Toyota Mirai. Among his wider personal highlights of the job have been covering Sebastien Loeb’s record-breaking run at Pikes Peak in 2013; doing 190mph on derestricted German autobahn in a Brabus Rocket; and driving McLaren’s legendary ‘XP5’ F1 prototype. His own car is a trusty Mazda CX-5.

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Cyborg 6 March 2014

Pricey

30k for a Fiat 500 variation is a little over-priced, inspite of the performance.
superstevie 6 March 2014

Ok, it is a lot of money, but

Ok, it is a lot of money, but I rather like it! It would look good in my lottery garage
iamnotbritishan... 5 March 2014

30 GRAND FOR A 500?! A car

30 GRAND FOR A 500?! A car that basically starts out at 9k? that interior better be all new at 30 grand, you can buy a real car for that much