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Abarth crams more power into the 2015 595 Competizione for your understeering pleasure

Fiat’s in-house tuner, Abarth, has decided the pint-sized 595 Competizione needs even more power to spin its front wheels.

Abarth has announced some updates for the 2015 model year 595 (a hotter version of the 500 Abarth) available as a hatchback and cabriolet.

Most important among the changes is an extra 20 horsepower from the turbocharged 1.6 liter four-cylinder to raise the total output to 180 horses with the same 184 pound-feet of torque. The added grunt drops the 595 Competizione’s 0 to 60 mph time down to 6.7 seconds and increases the top speed to 140 mph. While performance has improved, the 595 still manages to get 40.5 mpg of mixed cycle driving.

By comparison, the normal Fiat 500 Abarth makes 157 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. 0 to 60 mph takes 6.9 seconds.

Also upgraded for the 2015 model year is the Abarth 595’s brakes, which are now standard Brembo’s front and rear. Rounding out the other bits of hardware are 17-inch alloy wheels, red brake calipers (because red calipers scream “speed”), xenon headlights, and rear parking sensors.

Inside, the 595 Competizione has a leather-wrapped steering wheel, aluminum pedals, Sabelt sport seats, and optional leather sport seats and four-speaker sound system.

Also new for 2015 is the substitution of the 595’s ‘Officina’ Red paint for a ‘Campovolo’ Grey. Prices for the manual hatchback Abarth 595 Competizione start at £19,890 and swing up to £23,190 for the automatic Cabriolet.

If you’re wondering what the USD conversion is, don’t, because the 595 won’t be sold here in the U.S.

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