What's next? The Abarth 695 Tributo Alfa Romeo and then (perish the thought) Abarth 695 Tributo Chrysler (same group).

I REALLY didn't buy my A500 to be a little reminder of something grander. I think it's quite embarrassing really. How do owners feel when their Tributo ______ is seen by a tributee Ferrari, Maserati owner / driver? bet it's a bit of a cringy moment.

Am I wrong here?

I agree.. I think the Abarth brand is strong enough without it having to be tied against Ferrari and maserati..

Abarth is an enthusiasts brand you either get it or you don't! I really don't like the way they have been blaitantly attaching big brand names as a tag along to appeal to Philistines that need to have a Ferrari or Maserati badge on something to feel special!

Rant over ha ha!

Peace out!

I must admit, The Abarth 695 appeals much more to me, becasue it is just an Abarth. There's no denying that the Tributo Ferrari is a fabulous car though - Hozepipe's is simply stunning.

Quote from: Joe on February 23, 2012, 08:35:41 PM

I must admit, The Abarth 695 appeals much more to me, becasue it is just an Abarth. There's no denying that the Tributo Ferrari is a fabulous car though - Hozepipe's is simply stunning.

I very nearly didn't buy the car because of the Tributo Ferrari tag as I felt the 695 'brand' was strong enough in its own right and personally, I associate Ferrari ownership with enthusiasts or cocks (I didn't want to be thought of as either). I was finally persuaded when I saw the AD blue version and was told there would only be 4 RHD's made.... well that and the absence of any viable alternatives

I would have much preferred it to be a plain old Abarth 695.

I did not realise there was a blue one.... Imagine the 4 are long sold out!!

The new limited edition Abarth 695 Maserati Edition will cost £32,000 (OTR) when it goes on sale in the UK at the end of this year, the high performance brand has just announced. A set of stunning Tramontano leather luggage is among the exclusive convertible’s long list of standard equipment.

Just 499 of the 180bhp 1.4-litre turbocharged superminis will be produced. It follows the hugely successful Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari project of three years ago – but this time the collaboration with a sporting legend has resulted in a limited edition epitomising the elegance and comfort of a Gran Turismo with the handling of a car fit to take on the road every day.

The Abarth 695 Maserati Edition (Edizione Maserati) features exclusive style details and special technical features developed by Abarth engineers for Maserati. The 1.4 Turbo T-Jet 16v engine is linked to an electrically-operated manual Abarth Competizione gearbox with steering wheel controls, while performance tyres on 17-inch Maserati-inspired Neptune design alloy wheels also improve acceleration.

The chassis has also been engineered to cope with the extra power. Front brakes feature Brembo monobloc callipers with floating 305mm discs while special Koni shock absorbers guarantee high performance in complete safety. A variable back-pressure ‘dual mode’ exhaust improves engine performance and delivers an inspiring sound above 3,000 rpm.

The car is finished in Pontevecchio Bordeaux – a colour from Maserati which is achieved with special three-layer paintwork to reflect light and accentuate its shine. The same paintwork is added to the door mirrors while the electrically controlled soft top is made of grey fabric.

Inside, the seats are upholstered in sand beige leather, with a 695 logo embossed on the headrests. 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 a special UV-LUX treatment, to give an elegant grey ‘flocking’ effect.

The black leather steering wheel is characterised by beige 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 include the aluminium pedal unit and sill plates, the carbon fibre kick plate with customised Abarth 695 Maserati Edition graphics, and a plate with the car’s series number from 1 to 499.