Abarth have made a rival for Mercedes’ Project One hypercar. Sort of.
No, it doesn't have 1000hp but LOOK at those exhaust tips!
After a laborious four years, Mercedes-AMG’s Formula 1-powered Project One hypercar is finally set to hit the road later this year.
However, thanks to recent efforts by Abarth, it won’t be the only Formula-engined car when it lands.
Hungry for a slice of Mercedes' market, Abarth recently unveiled their new Abarth F595 hot hatch: "a car derived from Formula 4 technology and a tribute to the 50th anniversary of the Formula Italia single-seater designed by Carlo Abarth."
This is clickbait of the highest order.
Alright, I may have exaggerated slightly.
Essentially, the F595 is the 595 hot hatch we know and love albeit with a 123 kW (165 hp), 230 Nm 1.4-litre Euro 6D-Final-compliant T-Jet engine that is similar to the unit employed by the Tatuus single-seaters used in the Italian and German Formula 4 championships.
There is literally nothing special about that engine.
It's the same engine used in the base 595.
Awkward...
Except it has slightly more power here.
I thought the 595 produced 132 kW (180 hp) and 250 Nm (170 lb-ft)?
No, that’s the more expensive 595 Competizione model. The base 595 makes do with a paltry 108 kW (145 hp) and 206 Nm (152 lb-ft).
Do keep up.
What transmission does the F595 use?
The F595 employs the same transmissions used in the rest of the 595 range. You can have it with either a 5-speed manual gearbox or a 5-speed automated manual transmission.
Is it any quicker than the base 595?
As a matter of fact, it is.
Abarth claims the F595 can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 7.3 seconds when equipped with the manual transmission and 7.4 seconds when paired with the sequential automatic (compared to 7.8 for the manual 595).
Real talk: it’s not exactly a brand new model is it?
*Sigh*
No, it is not.
But LOOK, it has a new Monza Sovrapposto exhaust with vertically stacked tips! Fruity.
You’re not fooling anyone. This reads like a marketing scheme.
Joy killer.
No official word on Australian pricing yet, but considering UK on-the-road pricing starts at £20,305 expect the F595 to hit the shelves somewhere in the AUD$35k region.
Considering the AMG’s AUD$5 million price tag, the F595 looks like an absolute steal...
Join In
Comments (71)
I’d rather have this than the AMG. It’s almost impossible to drive the Merc on the road seeing how F1 engines require excessive cooling. Plus this is an Abarth! 🥰
Woah, woah, woah, steady there cowboy. You're telling me if Mercedes and Abarth offered you either a Project One or a F595 you would take the Abarth? My mind has been blown.
If you were offered a car that has a tendency to not be able to operate properly or the most adorable hot hatch which would you choose? Obviously the hatch
Everyone's saying they'd take the abarth over the AMG because it's a better daily driver, do you guys not already have dailies?
This is a strange place haha
People are stuck dreaming of a Toyota Corolla hatchback 🤣
I'd rather fancy myself to a GR Yaris.
I concur.
But you have to look at it though
I'm old and Italian and I make a lot of noise when I walk just like those 4 exhaust tips but that does not mean I am a rival to Mercedes Benz.
Hahaha! It was a satirical piece, Steve 😂
I'd get the Abarth because 99% I won't be able to drive on the road since its a track car with a racing engine 😂
plus, abarths come with TONS of aftermarket parts...
I have been blown away by the support for the Abarth so far. Also, it's completely road legal. Go wild haha