Fiat 500 Abarth 695 Tributo Maserati: Yet Another Limited-Edition Cinquecento [Geneva Auto Show]

Fiat's Abarth performance subsidiary is no stranger to injecting some big-money mojo into the Fiat 500—it's already gifted the world the 500 695 Tributo Ferrari and 695 Competizione. For the Geneva auto show, the scorpion division is rolling out yet another special-edition 500: the Abarth 695 Tributo Maserati. Modeled after the Gran Turismo style and execution of Maserati's road cars, this Tributo is more sedate than its Ferrari and Competizione forebears and emphasizes elegance over road-burning capabilities. For starters, this one is based on an Abarthified 500C "convertible" as opposed to the other two being coupes. Aside from its roof arrangement, the baby Maser poser inherits much of its parts from the previous 695s, including a five-speed single-clutch automatic transmission; a 180-hp, 1.4-liter turbo four; a dual-mode exhaust system; and Brembo brakes. However, it keeps its back seat and goes without a roll cage or carbon-fiber front seats. Think of it as a quicker, more enthusiast-friendly Fiat 500 Gucci edition. The Tributo Maserati wears a classy Pontevecchio Bordeaux red paint job, a grey cloth top, unique 17-inch wheels, and Maserati-inspired hexagonal exhaust outlets. Seats and door panels are trimmed in beige Poltrona Frau leather, carbon fiber covers the dash and center console; there are Jaeger gauges in the instrument cluster, and "695" graphics nearly everywhere. Abarth will build 499 examples of the Tributo Maserati, making it just as rare a specimen as the Tributo Ferrari and 695 Competizione. Don't count on any of them making it to our shores; Fiat is having a difficult enough time trying to move normal 500s in the U.S., so we doubt their dealers are pining for the challenge of selling a more-expensive model. from Car and Driver Blog http://blog.caranddriver.com

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