Fiat to sell Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari for £29,600

Emboldened by the good reception enjoyed by the sporty Abarth versions of its popular 500 model, Fiat is now gearing up to deliver 152 examples of a super-exclusive Ferrari branded variant to the UK market. The Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari will sell for £29,600.

The new car takes the first part of its name from a famous Abarth-tuned version of the original Fiat 500 produced in the 1960s, the Abarth 695. The "Tributo Ferrari" bit refers to its trim and appearance, which are inspired by Ferrari; special paintwork, carbon door mirrors and Corsa Grey wheels all provide a visual link to the products of the most famous sports car maker on earth.

The Tributo Ferrari version is more powerful than the standard Abarth 500; its 1.4 litre turbocharged engine delivers 180 horsepower, providing 0-62 mph acceleration in seven seconds and a top speed of 140 mph, as well as fuel consumption, according to the official combined cycle test, of 43.3 mpg. The Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari also gets the Abarth Competizione automated manual gearbox so far seen only on the open-topped "C" version of the Abarth 500.

Orders can only be placed via Fiat's special network of 17 Abarth dealers.