Fiat Abarth 695 Maserati Edition joins Mille Miglia

Fiat is taking its Abarth 695 Maserati Edition, which we first saw in Geneva, to the famous Mille Miglia 1,000-mile race. The company is only producing 499 examples of the special edition. It will be displayed at Piazza della Loggia in Brescia, Italy, in conjunction with the race. Fiat says this car “combines the sheer elegance and comfort of a GranTurismo with the handling of a car fit to take to the road every day.” It has even more power than the basic Abarth at 180 hp. The 1.4-liter turbocharged unit is connected to an electrically operated Abarth Competizione manual transmission with paddle shifters, which is just a fancy way of saying dual clutch. Like the 500 Abarth, the 695 has Brembo brakes, Koni shocks and a dual-mode exhaust that opens up with the sport button. Most of the cars will go to Europe, according to Fiat, but you might be able to get your hands on one here if you rattle the right cages. Full press release below: The Abarth 695 Maserati Edition Debuts at the Mille Miglia 2012 The new Abarth limited edition will be displayed at Piazza della Loggia in Brescia in conjunction with the historical revival of “the most beautiful race in the world” The new Abarth 695 Maserati Edition is an exclusive convertible equipped with a 180 HP 1.4 Turbo T-Jet 16v engine combined with the Abarth Competizione gearbox May 17, 2012 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - The Abarth 695 Maserati Edition, the new limited edition of only 499 vehicles to be sold mainly in European markets, will make its public debut on the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of the Mille Miglia, which Enzo Ferrari called “the most beautiful race in the world.” Displayed at Piazza della Loggia in Brescia, in the midst of the collectors' automotive jewels and “luxury cars” of today, this glamorous car represents the bond between Abarth and Maserati and is based on a host of shared values, including attention to detail, elegance and a passion for performance and sport. Following the collaborative project three years ago with Ferrari and the creation of the Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari, this project reinforces the presence of Abarth in the luxury sport segment, this time flanked by a brand whose history of sporting achievements and elegant road cars is recognised worldwide. Karl Abarth and Alfieri Maserati: two legends, united by passion for mechanics and engines, who lent their names to two of the most prestigious companies to manufacture cars marked by style and unmistakable performance. Just as the Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari is the utmost expression of Abarth's sporty character and “racing spirit,” this new limited edition combines sheer elegance and the comfort of a “GranTurismo” with the handling of a car fit to take to the road every day. The new Abarth 695 Maserati Edition is an exclusive convertible that blends the sportiness of a high-performance car with the refined, elegant aesthetics of a convertible. In keeping with Maserati's standards, this new limited edition is distinguished by excellent handling and outstanding sportiness, together with a great level of comfort and attention to materials and details. The new Abarth 695 Maserati Edition features exclusive style details and technical features developed by Abarth engineers for Maserati. To start with, the 1.4 Turbo T-Jet 16v engine is boosted to 180 HP and teamed with the electrically operated Abarth Competizione manual gearbox with steering wheel controls, which enhances the performance of the engine with reduced gearshift times as well as offering an experience of superior comfort behind the wheel. To improve performance, in particular for acceleration, the car is fitted with performance tires on 17” alloy wheels featuring a special Maserati-inspired “Neptune” design. The ride and braking system have also been strengthened to cope with the extra power: Brembo 305 mm disc brakes with grey fixed four-piston calipers and special Koni shock absorbers guarantee performance in complete safety. The Abarth 695 Maserati Edition wouldn't be complete without the variable back-pressure “dual mode” exhaust, designed to improve engine performance and deliver an inspiring sound above 3,000 rpm, with tailpipes that have been modified to assume the hexagonal shape that has always been a hallmark of Maserati cars. The car's exterior features a body painted in Pontevecchio Bordeaux. This color from Maserati is achieved with special three-layer paintwork that reflects light and accentuates the shine of the color. The same paintwork is also found on the door-mounted mirrors. The electrically controlled soft top is made of grey fabric. The new Abarth adopts Xenon headlamps with dipped and driving light functions for improved light emission and excellent performance in all weather conditions. These devices deliver three times the light intensity and duration of standard halogen headlamps. The customization is just as complete on the inside. The interiors demonstrate both the attention to detail and the sportiness that characterize the two brands, starting with seats upholstered entirely in sand beige leather, with strips featuring single-layer padding, sporty but elegant and comfortable at the same time, and stylish details such as the number “695” heat-printed on the head restraints. The dashboard and gearbox trim are distinguished by a special matte-finish carbon lining, further enhanced with the 695 logo, while the door panels and rear panels undergo a special UV-LUX treatment, which lends the trims an elegant grey “flocking” effect. The black leather steering wheel is characterized by beige leather inserts and tri-color hub and houses the wheel-mounted gearbox controls, while the instrument panel has been specifically produced by the Jaeger brand. Other details enrich the interior, such as the aluminum pedal unit and sill plate, the carbon fibre kick plate with customized “Abarth 695 Maserati Edition” graphics and the plate with the car's series number from 1 to 499. Lastly, as proof of its touring vocation and to enhance the on-board experience, the Abarth 695 Maserati Edition comes as standard with a boosted JBL hi-fi audio system with nine speakers and an eight-channel amplifier supplying 400 watts of total power.