Author:
ROBIN ROBERTS
It’s the mental Maserati, otherwise labelled the Abarth 695 Maserati.
This baby supercar is the new limited edition Abarth 695 Maserati Edition and it will set you back a nappy filling £32,000 when it goes on sale in the UK at the end of this year.
It hits 62mph in under 7seconds, tops 140mph and comes in some head-turning colours and with a very special equipment list, including a set of stunning Tramontano leather luggage as standard.
Just 499 of the 180bhp 1.4-litre turbocharged superminis will be produced. It follows the hugely successful Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari project of three years ago – but this time the collaboration with a sporting legend has resulted in a limited edition epitomising the elegance and comfort of a Gran Turismo with the handling of a car fit to take on the road every day.
The Abarth 695 Maserati Edition features exclusive style details and special technical features developed by Abarth engineers for Maserati. The 151gkm 1.4 Turbo T-Jet 16v engine is linked to an electrically-operated manual Abarth Competizione gearbox with steering wheel controls, while performance tyres on 17-inch Maserati-inspired Neptune design alloy wheels also improve acceleration. It is said to achieve 43mpg on the EC fuel tests.
The chassis has also been engineered to cope with the extra power. Front brakes feature Brembo monobloc callipers with floating 305mm discs while special Koni shock absorbers guarantee high performance in complete safety. A variable back-pressure ‘dual mode’ exhaust improves engine performance and delivers an inspiring sound above 3,000 rpm.
The car is finished in Pontevecchio Bordeaux – a colour from Maserati which is achieved with special three-layer paintwork to reflect light and accentuate its shine. The same paintwork is added to the door mirrors while the electrically controlled soft top is made of grey fabric.
Inside, the seats are upholstered in sand beige leather, with a 695 logo embossed on the headrests. The dashboard and gearbox trim are distinguished by a special matt-finish carbon lining, further enhanced with the 695 logo, while the door panels and rear panels undergo a special UV-LUX treatment, to give an elegant grey ‘flocking’ effect.
The black leather steering wheel is characterised by beige leather inserts and tricolour hub and houses the steering wheel gearbox controls, while the instrument panel has been specifically produced by the Jaeger brand. Other details include the aluminium pedal unit and sill plates, the carbon fibre kick plate with customised Abarth 695 Maserati Edition graphics, and a plate with the car’s series number from 1 to 499.
The new model may be an ideal head turning advertisement as a business car for a company but look at our business car tax to help you decided if it’s right for you.
