2018 Abarth 595 esseesse

The stunning Abarth 595 esseesse is back, breathing new life into a name deeply rooted in the brand's history, when tuning kits designed to boost the performance of mass production cars made Karl Abarth's fortune as the inventor.

1964 saw the debut of the first Abarth 595 esseesse, tuned with the aid of a Solex 34 PBIC carburettor and a special intake manifold, cast in a single piece of light alloy with the valve cover, boosting its power to 32hp. On the outside, the car was recognisable by the rubber ties securing the bonnet instead of the usual lock and the enamelled Abarth logo. Inside, the 'mean little Scorpion' displayed distinctive badges, with the 'SS' monogram in capital letters on the bonnet and boot, and 'esseesse' in full on the dashboard. It was an immediate success with Italian sports car enthusiasts.

This success was repeated in 2009 by the 'esseesse' tuning kit for the Abarth 500, which appeared in 2008. The tuning increased the engine's power to 160hp and modified the suspension setup, with Eibach lowering springs, alongside a higher-powered braking system and other racing-inspired content.

Today, 10 years later, the iconic 'esseesse' returns to the top of the Abarth range, and is equipped with the brand's most powerful 180hp engine. In the best Abarth tradition, this 595 is made truly special by standard equipment that provides an exciting driving experience, always accompanied by the unmistakable deep roar of the Abarth by Akrapovic exhaust system, which combines outstanding performance with an exciting sound.

The new Abarth 595 esseesse also features a high-performance Brembo front braking system, with perforated, ventilated front brake discs and oversize red brake calipers. The braking system is able to realign the brake pads with the disc's braking surface, for rapid heat dispersal and improved response when braking. The new Abarth 595 esseesse is identified by 17-inch Supersport alloy wheels with a new Racing White finish, Abarth side stripes, mirror caps and matching front and rear DAM.

Also standard is an air filter 'by BMC', providing better intake air flow capacity with obvious benefits for engine combustion quality, power output and performance. The new Abarth 595 esseesse's equipment is completed by Koni FSD (Frequency Selective Damping) rear suspension. The 595 includes navigation with the 7-inch Úconnect HD touchscreen system, including Abarth Telemetry, Apple CarPlay support and Android AutoTM compatibility* as standard.

*Android Auto, Google Play and Google Maps are trademarks of Google LLC.

Apple CarPlay is a registered trademark of Apple Inc.

The Abarth 595 esseesse's racing personality is clearly expressed by 'Sabelt 70' sports seats with carbon rear shell, and the carbon pedals. What's more, a whole new range of Sabelt seats is now available on the 595, marking Abarth's 70th birthday with the number 70 embroidered on the cover. These seats are even further improved in their shapes, inserts and padding, for an even more intense driving experience.

This new Abarth features the 'esseesse' badge which, together with the '70th anniversary' logo, makes this sports car truly unique and exclusive. Full ÚK specification will be released in the coming weeks.

Source - Abarth