Abarth 695 Rivale 2019 presented

Content

Abarth 695 Rivale price
Do the performance improvements that come with the Rivale make the limited edition more appealing? Tell us what you think in the comments below.

The 695 Rivale is more than just another limited edition.

Abarth, Fiat's own tuning division, has unveiled an ultra-limited series of 695 hatchbacks and convertibles as a result of a collaboration between itself and luxury yacht manufacturer Riva.

Only 35 special editions will be delivered to Australia, all painted in a two-tone 'Riva Blue' and 'Tributo Ferrari Grey' paint job said to represent Lake Iseo in northern Italy where Riva was founded.

This is the return of the "695" variant to Australia for the first time since 2016, and the manual transmission variants have the mechanical limited slip differential last used in the much more hardcore 695 Biposto.

The 695 Rivale is based on the $31,990 Competizione worth $595, but includes unique 17-inch alloy wheels, xenon headlights, mahogany dashboard and door inserts, blue leather seats, and a matching blue roof for convertible versions. It also has a variety of chrome and satin finishes and a numbered badge plate.

Abarth 695 Rivals 2019 presented The interior is dominated by unique blue leather trim and mahogany inserts.

It maintains the same 132kW/250Nm output as the Competizione's 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, but includes an Akrapovic dual-mode exhaust system and Koni frequency-selective dampers front and rear.

Starting at $44,990 for a manual sunroof, the Rivale is $13,000 more expensive than the car it's based on.

This isn't the first time a Fiat 500 hatchback has been given an overhaul by Riva Yachts, and a special edition Fiat 500 "Riva" was released back in 2015, though not for Australia.