Another month, another special edition of the Fiat 500. This time, it’s from Abarth and has a motorsport flavor of the two-wheeled kind. To celebrate the fact that it’s the official sponsor and car supplier of the FIM MotoGP Championship, the Italian company has just announced the 595 Yamaha Factory Racing Edition. It’s not very exciting, but it might be good value.
The model has been created in partnership with the sports bike company and its star rider, Valentino Rossi, who also happens to be a car fanatic. The guy has been seen racing all sorts of Fords and owns a Ferrari 458, so the Abarth was right up his alley.
The special edition brings a choice of seven bright colors, 17-inch matt black alloy wheels, painted brake callipers and optional matching Abarth side stripes and mirror covers. You may also notice the tinted windows, flat-bottom leather steering wheel, aluminum pedals and a special “Yamaha Factory Racing” badge, which are part of the standard equipment list.
Meanwhile, xenon headlights, a leather interior and dual zone air conditioning are among the options. As with most 595 models, the engine is a 1.4-liter (actually, 1368cc) turbo engine tuned to deliver 160 hp at 5,500rpm.
There are a few changes, however, as the Yamaha model comes with Record Monza exhaust system with butterfly valves on both sides, Koni shock absorbers with FSD valves and Eibach lowering springs.
When going in a straight line, the IHI RHF3-P will give you the necessary boost to reach 100 km/h in 7.4 seconds. But the engine still complies with Euro 6 emissions standard and will achieve up to 57.7 mpg UK on the extra-urban cycle, Abarth says.
“The new 595 Yamaha Factory Racing Edition adds a new dimension to the Abarth 595 line-up” says Gerry Southerington, brand manager, Abarth UK. “With an upgrade to 160 horsepower, lowered suspension, sporting looks and a great sounding exhaust system, we expect a lot of interest in this car from Abarth enthusiasts and new customers alike.”
