2018 Abarth 595 Competizione pricing announced

Fiat’s go faster arm, Abarth, has announced Australian specs and pricing for the next iteration of its ‘hotted up’ version of the cutesy Fiat 500.

With a turbocharged 1.4-litre at its disposal, much like the 124 Spider… and every other Abarth, the 595 will have its output notched up a few rungs from 104kW to 107kW.

But it’s to the Competizione we think more fast car fans will turn their attention, with a 132kW donk and the option of a manual gearbox in a car that should weigh in at just over the tonne.

This is a notable increase over the 118kW available from the last 595 Competizione.

Of even more importance, however, is the significant drop in price the new 595 scores over its predecessor.

The standard 595 doesn’t become all that much cheaper, one must now only fork out $26,990 rather than the $27,500 used to cost to pick up a manual.

But a manual 595 Competizione now costs a far more reasonable $31,990. This places it down around the Renault Clio mark, though with less power and presumably less weight – Fiat-Chrysler hasn’t confirmed the weight of the hatch just yet.

FCA does however claim the Competizione will sprint to 100km/h in just 6.7 seconds now, which is quicker than a 124 Spider and over half a second faster than its predecessor.

The Competizione comes standard with Koni shocks front & rear, and four-piston front Brembo brakes, with the lovely bimodal Record Monza exhaust.

The good news for Australia is that the 595 Competizione (and the standard 595, if you’re that way inclined) is available in showrooms this month.