After deferring the hatchback’s launch for more than a year, Fiat is finally going to launch the Abarth 595 Competizione in the Indian market on August 4. A souped-up performance-oriented version of the 500 hatchback, the Abarth 595 Competizione will be the first product from the Italian manufacturer’s stable to adorn the iconic ‘Abarth’ badge.
Though the Abarth 595 Competizione is visually and dimensionally identical the Fiat 500, it gets a host of cosmetic upgrades to set it apart from the standard hatchback. It features an aggressive body kit, racy decals and special alloy wheels which give it a distinct look. Under the bonnet, the Abarth 595 Competizione gets a 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine, which puts out 158bhp and 230Nm of torque.
While Fiat recently upgraded the Abarth 595 Competizione with a retuned version of the same engine which puts out 180bhp, it is not yet confirmed whether this model will make it to the Indian shores. Fiat has also upgraded the suspension to aid the hatchback’s handling.
The Abarth 595 Competizione will be imported as a completely built unit, which means the hatchback will attract heavy custom duties. We can expect it to be priced around the Rs 25 lakh mark. It will compete with the only other premium hatchback in the Indian market – the Mini Cooper S.
