Abarth’s ‘fuoriserie’ concept represented the ultimate level of personalisation combined with the exclusivity of a car built and dedicated to each customer, satisfying their wishes and aspirations. Through direct communication with Abarth, fuoriserie’s customers were able to develop their car, forging a solid bond with a brand that continued, even after the car had been paid for, through a customer service always available and attentive to all needs.
Personalisation and exclusivity started with performance (only Abarth ‘fuoriserie’ cars had a 180 HP engine and the exclusive 695 brand) and continued with numbers (limited editions with very few models), as well as a focus on innovation, technology and trends, which also applied to the choice of materials.
The Abarth ‘fuoriserie’ vehicles also offered other distinctive features and technical specifications: to begin with, the 1.4 Turbo T-Jet 16v engine was upgraded to 180 hp and combined with the electrically operated Abarth Competizione manual gearbox with steering wheel controls, improving engine performance with reduced changeover times, ensuring a unique driving experience at the wheel along with superior driving comfort.
To improve performance and, in particular, acceleration, the car was fitted with high-performance 17″ alloy tyres. The driving and braking system was also reinforced to cope with the extra power: detachable 305 mm Brembo brake discs with four-piston fixed calipers and special Köni shock absorbers with FSD technology that guaranteed performance in total safety. The dual-mode variable backpressure exhaust was designed to improve engine performance and deliver inspiring sound at over 3,000 rpm.
The Fuoriserie cars are equipped with xenon headlights with low beam and high beam functions to improve light emission and excellent efficiency in all weather conditions. These devices provide three times the light intensity and life of standard halogen headlamps.
The interiors were customised with specific materials and finish levels, carried out with the participation of Italian and international partners who shared with the brand values such as craftsmanship and high quality: carbon finishes, dedicated customisation plates and cutting-edge technology, as demonstrated by the JBL sound system (created by Harman especially for Abarth) with 9 speakers and an 8-channel amplifier for 400 watts of total power.
Exclusivity and attention to detail were guaranteed through artisan assembly and finishing processes: for example, each livery is hand painted and polished, without the need for stickers.
For those who wanted a “made-to-measure” car, Abarth developed two specific collections belonging to the “fuoriserie” program and applicable to both saloon and convertible models: “New Heritage” and “New Wave”. The first collection, inspired by the cars of the past, victories and races, while the second focused on trends and innovations with an emphasis on materials and new technologies, a tribute to contemporary Abarth fans and their “custom attitude”.
Specifically, “New Wave” was inspired by the cars that have written the history of the brand, reinterpreting their motifs with new materials and new finishes. From the Fiat 750 Record and the 124 Sanremo to the X19 prototype: they were the record cars, the world champions of Abarth rallies, driven by the best drivers who reinterpreted themselves in a modern way with a range of materials and finishes ranging from carbon fibre to sports fabrics, from leather to Alcantara, through brilliant liveries to mates.
The “New Wave” collection was developed by observing and listening to the trends emerging from the Abarth amateur community. Sportiness interpreted with a contemporary twist, not necessarily linked to the world of racing, enhanced by the use of materials from research in the field of automotive and all the more technical sports.
Regardless of the collection and decoration chosen, customers had additional customization options to create their own personal fuoriserie. The exclusivity and uniqueness was reinforced by the documentation delivered with the vehicle and a plaque on the inside of the vehicle showing the serial number and owner’s name.
The stand at the Geneva Motor Show featured two models for each collection: Abarth 695 ‘Record’ and Abarth 695 ‘Scorpione’ for the New Heritage collection, while Abarth 695 ‘Hype’ and Abarth 695 ‘Black Diamond’ represented the New Wave collection.
All customisations on display were available on the Abarth 500 and Abarth 500c with the brand 695.
Abarth 695 “Record”
This personalisation was inspired by the cars that have written the history of the Abarth races, including the Abarth 750 Record Bertone. This car, created in 1956 after years of aerodynamic research, broke no less than 10 world records at the Monza circuit, including the ’72 hour’ record, when it covered 10,125.26 kilometres.
Externally, this 695 features a Matte Competizione Grey body. This was complemented by a roof with the distinctive Abarth chessboard, typical of the motoring world, recreated by a special manual polishing process. The 695 matt black design wheels and red Brembo brake calipers underlined the car’s sporty character.
The attention to detail and sportiness of the interiors was reflected in the selection of ‘Abarth Corsa by Sabelt’ in black leather with Alcantara inserts and upper stitching, both in red with a glossy carbon shell and padded base. The same material also reappeared in other details inside the cabin, such as the dashboard and control panel and the protection plate. The red finish was also found on the grille and headrest. The pedals and footrests were made of aluminium to enhance the racing soul of this car. The ‘fuoriserie’ brand further personalised the car in the seats, steering wheel and pedals.
Abarth 695 “Scorpione”
The bicolour image that characterised the Abarth 695 “Scorpione” was based on the historic Autobianchi A112 Abarth, a sports-looking car for private drivers, and the 124 Abarth, a racing car with a successful past: victories in the 1970 international manufacturers’ championship and the 1975 world rally championship (it was Fiat’s best car for six seasons, from 1972 to 1975).
The 695 exhibited in Geneva featured a shiny black livery with a matt bonnet pierced by a strip produced with a polishing treatment. The same band was also applied to the ceiling by a special craftsmanship process. The livery, shown in this case in a cabrio model, was also available in saloon models.
The exterior mirrors and the finish of the pillars were made of glossy carbon, which showed great attention to the quality of the material in all its details. The 695 magnesium-coloured designer wheels and the red Brembo brake calipers added an extra extra to the vehicle.
The interiors also reflected the exclusivity, personalisation and craftsmanship that characterised the ‘Abarth fuoriserie’ programme.
The black Sabelt leather seats with the perforated grey Alcantara centre were embroidered with the 695 logos and fuoriserie’ in red. Red, a colour that evokes the world of motoring, reappeared in every internal detail: the seat wheel with the Abarth Scorpion logo, the package tray cut out of embroidered leather, the handbrake lever with its double stitching seams and the leather inserts on the steering wheel. Matte carbon elements were also evident on the dashboard, seatboard, sill and shift panel, while aluminium pedals and baseboards gave the interiors an even more sporty look.
Abarth 695 “Hype”
This car was inspired by the latest trends in terms of colours and details and was particularly aimed at young drivers who wanted to stand out without having to give up their performance. On the outside, there was a two-tone livery with the lower part in Matte Record Grey and the upper part in Matte Green. A yellow lining divided and united the two souls of the car, reflecting the colour of the tweezers and hubcaps. The ‘esseesse’ design rims were made of matt titanium painted with a special finish reminiscent of metal. The same treatment was reserved for the upper grille of the bumper, the extractor and all the chromed parts of the car. The exterior personalisation continued with an Abarth tattooed scorpion on the roof achieved with a ‘ton sur ton’ manual polishing technique.
Attention to trends, colours and personalisation was also evident in the interiors with ‘Abarth Corsa by Sabelt’ in black leather with military green inserts embroidered with the ‘695’ logos and ‘fuoriserie’ in yellow with shiny carbon shell and padded base. The same material also reappeared in other details inside the cabin: dashboard, dashboard and protection plate. The yellow upper seam was also evident on the steering wheel, with black ears and visor.
Abarth 695 “Black Diamond”
For customers looking for style and quality as well as performance, Abarth was proud to present its personalisation ‘Black Diamond’ at the Geneva Motor Show, with a nod to its female audience.
The exterior featured a two-tone livery in Record grey and Scorpione black, both matt, and a chrome lining that moved horizontally to highlight the car’s glamour, along with chrome mirror fairings and 695 design rims in magnesium.
Red Brembo brake calipers and hubcaps reinforced the car’s sporty spirit. Another reference to Abarth’s spirit was a checkered flag on the roof in grey achieved with a glossy matt paint effect.
The style of this car was also reflected in the interior with seats fully upholstered in sand beige leather, with containment strips with single-layer padding, sporty yet elegant and comfortable at the same time, and with elegant details such as the hot-printed “fuoriserie” inscription on the headrest. The grille was also made of leather with the logo embroidered in silver. The dashboard and gear plate were distinguished by a special matt carbon finish, as well as the pedals, threshold and skirting boards. The black leather steering wheel was enhanced by beige leather inserts and a tricolour visor.
(from Abarth Press Release) Abarth "fuoriserie" programme
Image Credits - Abarth
POWER - CONTROL - PERFOMANCE |
|
|---|---|
| - | - 4 cylinders in line - 1.368 cm3 - 16v Turbo T-Jet. |
| - Garrett 1446 Turbocharger | - 180 HP (132 kw) @ 5.500 rpm |
| - 129.39 HP per litre | - 6.9 seconds. |
| - | - FWD - "Abarth Competizione" 5-speed electro-operated mechanical gearbox with steering wheel controls |
| - | - 140 mph |
| - 2013 | - |
| - Discos Brembo - 28 x 305 mm delanteros - 11 x 240 mm traseros. | - Dualdrive electric servo drive with sports mode. Sport / overboost button (this function modifies the Dualdrive electric steering assistance and increases the torque). |
| - 205/40 R17 tyres on specially designed ET35 aluminium alloy wheels | - Ignition: Coil in socket |
| - | |
