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ABARTH REVEALS ITS TRIBUTE TO MASERATI AT THE GENEVA MOTOR SHOW
Abarth, the producer of the hottest small cars to come out of Italy, will reveal its tribute to Maserati at the Geneva International Motor Show next month (March 2012) when the wraps come off the Abarth 695 Tributo Maserati limited edition.
Following on from the success of the Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari, which sold out its first shipment in a matter of days in Australia and New Zealand, the Abarth 696 Tributo Maserati, which is limited to a production run of 499 cars, celebrates the bond between Abarth and Maserati, based on a host of shared values, including attention to detail, elegance and a passion for performance and sport.
Just as the Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari is the utmost expression of Abarth's sporty character and racing spirit, this new Limited Edition epitomises sheer elegance united to the comfort of a "GranTurismo", but with the handling of a car fit to take to the road every day.
The new Abarth 695 Tributo Maserati, which is being examined for possible sale in Australia and New Zealand, is an exclusive convertible which blends the aggression and 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 great performance, together with great attention to comfort, materials and detail.
The Abarth 695 Tributo Maserati features exclusive style details and special technical features developed by Abarth engineers in collaboration with Maserati. To start with, the 1.4 Turbo T-Jet 16v engine boosted to 180 HP and teamed with the electrically-operated manual Abarth Competizione gearbox with steering wheel controls, which enhances the performance of the engine with reduced gearshift times as well as guaranteeing an experience of superior comfort at the wheel.
Again to improve performance, especially acceleration, the car is fitted with performance tyres on 17" alloy wheels featuring a special "Neptun" design from Maserati. The ride and braking system have also been strengthened to cope with the extra power: Brembo 305 mm brake discs that can be dismantled with fixed four-piston caliper and special shock absorbers that guarantee performance in total safety. And of course there is a "Record Monza" variable back-pressure "dual mode" exhaust, designed to improve engine performance and deliver an inspiring sound at 3,000 rpm and above, with tailpipes which have been modified to assume the hexagonal shape which has always marked out Maserati cars.
The car's exterior features a body in Pontevecchio Bordeaux. This colour from Maserati is achieved with special three-layer paintwork which reflects light and accentuates the shine of the colour; it is also to be found on the door mirrors. The electrically controlled soft top is made of grey fabric.
The new Abarth adopts Xenon headlights 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-lamp headlights.
The customisation is just as complete on the inside. The interiors demonstrate both the attention to detail and the sportiness that characterise the two brands, starting with seats upholstered entirely in sand beige Poltrona Frau® leather, with containment 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 headrest and the pista grey contrasting electro-welding, to match the bodywork. The dashboard and gearbox trim are distinguished by a special matt-finish carbon lining, further enhanced with the 695 logo, while the door panels and rear panels undergo the special UV-LUX treatment, which lends the trims an elegant pista grey "flocking" effect. The black leather steering wheel is characterised by leather inserts and tricolour hub and houses the "steering wheel gearbox" controls, while the instrument panel has been specifically produced by the Jaeger brand. Other details enrich the interior, such as the aluminium pedal unit and sill plate, the carbon fibre kick plate with customised "Abarth 695 Tributo Maserati" graphics and the plate with the car's series number.
The Abarth 695 Tributo Maserati's touring vocation is expressed by the special boosted hi-fi audio system which comes as standard, to enhance the on-board experience.
In accordance with the tradition of Abarth Limited Editions, the already extensive equipment of the Abarth 695 Tributo Maserati is expanded through accessories and merchandising designed to enhance the experience of the brand both on board and outside the car, as dictated by the DNA of Abarth and Maserati - more than just a car, a genuine philosophy of life. To take just one example, the Tramontano Tribute to Abarth Travel Pack, comprising two stylish grey leather travel bags.
ABARTH AT THE GENEVA MOTOR SHOW
Abarth is appearing at the Geneva Motor Show with a spectacular stand, where road-going cars and world previews are being presented to lend emphasis - once again - to the brand's unique position on the world motoring stage.
The stand represents a "road to performance" which connects two distinct but coexisting spirits in the world of Abarth: the more purist sports spirit rooted in the world of competition and racing, the perennial foundation of the brand's values, and the more elegant, refined spirit which expresses a concept of sports which is more exclusive and oriented towards the world of the "Gran Turismo".
The journey starts from the authentic, pure sports character of the new Abarth Punto Scorpione, a Limited Edition dedicated to all those who love to pit themselves against every challenge, in the constant search for speed and performance.
Another milestone on the "road to performance" is the new Abarth 595, with a concept inspired by the historic 595 model that Karl Abarth presented in 1963 as a variation on the Fiat 500: it represents the return to the concept of tuning, which enhances the performance features of a "basic" car, offering a power upgrade to 160 HP as standard. The new Abarth 595 expands the Abarth 500 product range and bears the brand's two spirits in its two customisation options: "competizione" and "turismo". The first is dedicated to race lovers, who love sportiness without compromise, whereas the second is dedicated to all trend-setters who love a marriage of comfort, elegance and sport. These three display models "race" along a platform coated with a special resin that evokes the atmosphere of a road - the ideal road for those who rise to the challenges in their everyday lives, in a constant search for "everyday performance".
The concept of "sportiness with elegance" represented by the "turismo"-customised 595 finds its ultimate expression in the last car making its international début at this Motor Show: the brand-new Abarth 695 "Tributo Maserati", a genuine Gran Turismo convertible and special, limited and numbered series which celebrates Italian excellence, attention to detail and technological innovation which two brands like Abarth and Maserati express perfectly. Two historic brands which contributed, with passion and dedication, to the birth of Italian racing history and culture.
The four cars on show make their contribution to the established success of the brand, which once again reached its predetermined targets for the year. In the course of 2011, almost 10,000 cars have been sold. The contribution of the Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari has also been significant. Between its launch in July 2008 and today, more than 1500 cars have been delivered. These figures contribute to confirming the excellent results the brand has recorded since its relaunch to date. Suffice it to say that since 2008 the brand has grown non-stop, as about 39,000 Abarth Punto and Abarth 500 cars sold, plus more than 10,000 performance kits for the two models, demonstrate.
This commercial success was also possible thanks to the extraordinary network of dealers and official tuning shops, a phenomenon which is unique in its field and which, after branching out into new markets such as Finland and South Africa in 2011, will forge further ahead into other new markets such as Morocco and Ukraine in 2012. Following the great success of its presentation at the LA Auto Show, the Abarth 500 will also be launched on the US market in March.
Finally, the Geneva Motor Show is the perfect stage for presenting the 2012 Abarth sporting programme. The formula adopted in conceiving the trophies this year as well was intended to make the cost of entering the competitions extremely accessible, a concrete example of "democratising" races in the true spirit of the Scorpion. And, in line with this concept, Abarth isn't missing the opportunity to present the 2012 edition of "Make it your race". With a new, international format, this year it offers those aged 18-40 the chance to live out a dream, to take to the track in a genuine Trofeo Abarth 500 race.
(ends)
Editor’s Note
Please note that the correct names for these models are: Abarth 500 Esseesse and the Abarth 500C Esseesse.It is incorrect to call it a Fiat 500 Abarth and the car carries no Fiat badging.Abarth now has its own section on the Ateco Media Web site, with full information on the company and a wide range of pictures
For further information:
Fiat media web site:
Andrei Zaitzev / Edward RoweGeneral Manager ~ Abarth / Public Relations Manager
Ateco Automotive Pty Ltd / Ateco Automotive Pty Ltd
Ph: (02) 8577 8030 / Ph: (02) 8577 8015
Mob: 0400 166 147 / Mob: 0407 913 244
Fax: (02) 8577 8199 / Fax: (02) 8577 8199
E-mail: / E-mail:
Abarth Media web site:
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Release Number:0020_Abarth_AU
Date of Issue: 18 September 2018. Time of Issue: 22:35:03