Abarth Launches Its New 695 Esseesse Collector’s Edition:

FIAT’s Abarth performance brand has unwrapped details on its latest limited edition, earlier this month. The Abarth 695 Esseesse, which pays homage to the brand’s early days in the 1960s was based on tuning kits from founder Carlo Abarth and making him an early pioneer in the car tuning culture.

Available in either Scorpion Black or Campovolo Grey exterior colors, the limited run of 1,390 models will be divided in half by color.

Drawing inspiration from the original 1964 695 Esseessee (pronounced “SS”), the original featured a 38 horsepower 690cc engine that could achieve a top speed of 140 km/h (87 mph) and be used as an everyday sporty city car. Although the original was aimed at those who were seeking the best performance from their subcompact city car, only 1,000 units of the original were produced.

Fast forward to today, the new Abarth 695 Esseesse was designed and engineered to improve performance further in terms of acceleration and handling. The Abarth team focused on three major areas, a reduction of weight, a different balance, and attention to aerodynamics. 

From an aesthetic point of view, the new doubly hunched aluminum hood reduces the weight by 25% compared to a normal hood, and combined with the adoption of the Akrapovič exhaust and other targeted interventions, has reduced the car’s overall weight by 10 kg (22 lbs) compared to an Abarth 595 Competizione. Available as a hatchback only, the new Abarth 695 Essseesse also adds a new “Spoiler ad Assetto Variable” (Variable Assetto Spoiler) allows the rear spoiler to be adjusted from 0 to 60° providing an increase in downforce up to 42 kg (92.5 lbs), resulting in improved stability on bends and greater responsiveness in mixed sections. 

Under the hood is a 1.4-liter T-jet inline-four-cylinder delivering 180 horsepower and 250 Nm (184 ft.-lbs.) of torque @ 3,000 rpm. Customers can choose between a 5-speed manual or a 5-speed robotized-squential automatic transmission with paddle shifters. 

This gives the 695 Esseesse a top speed of 225 km/h or 140 mph (with the spoiler adjusted to 0°). It can also sprint from 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) in an impressive 6.7 seconds with the manual (6.9 seconds with the robotized-sequential automatic). Quarter-mile times have the car in the low 15-second range.

The 695 Esseesse also features Koni Frequency Selective Damping (FSD) shock absorbers and 4-piston Brembo red calipers in the front and 305/240 mm self-ventilated discs in the rear. 

The aesthetic features of the exterior continue with a series of elements inspired by the past and present, such as the white details on the front and rear DAM, mirror caps, and side stickers. Also white are the 17-inch rims with red hub caps, red Brembo calipers, 695 logo on the side and 695 Esseesse badge on the rear. Worthy of note are the two titanium Akrapovič tailpipes, capable of imparting pure emotions in sound both on the road and on the track, for unique driving fun and pleasure.

The new Abarth 695 Esseesse also features exclusive elements in its interior. The seats include the wording “one of 695” on the headrest. This is a great innovation, the new 695 Esseesse Collectors’ Edition including numbered seats for the first time. In fact, each of the car’s two body colors matches a Sabelt seat with stitching in the same hue as the bodywork. Worthy of note are the red seat belt and the white rear shell. The customization also continues on the Alcantara dashboard fascia, where the laser-cut wording “695 Esseesse” stands out in the lower right corner. And to emphasize the racing soul, not to be missed are the elements in carbon fiber, such as the gear lever, pedals and steering wheel inserts.

Finally, on the technology and connectivity front, the Abarth 695 Esseesse is equipped with the Uconnect infotainment system with satnav, 7” touchscreen with built-in Apple CarPlay and Android Auto™ compatibility, and DAB digital radio.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdsCRhFgKeE

To celebrate the new 695 Esseesse Collectors’ Edition, a special advertising campaign has been released for the 695 Esseesse and it is joined by the Abarth 595 Turismo and 595 Competizione. You can see the new campaign at the top of this article.

What you do you think of the Abarth 695 Esseesse Collectors’ Edition? Leave your comment below or on the MoparInsiders forum.

Abarth 695 Esseesse Collectors’ Edition” Image Gallery:

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