Romeo Ferraris’ Cinquone is a sporty Fiat hatchback injected with the blood of Maranello, wrapped up in the quirky ethos of an Alfa.
As far as Italian cars go, this little speedster is like a delicious automotive casserole, one that (hopefully) doesn’t lose the flavor in translation.
The Fiat 500 Abarth-based Cinquone is offered in three performance levels: base, S, and Corsa. No matter which model you choose, though, you’ll get a dramatically vented hood, aggressive new bumpers, a center-mounted exhaust, and custom 18-inch alloys.
Buyers can also equip a carbon fiber package that includes a variety of woven accents and a 132-pound lighter curb weight, but there’s no way around the fact that the Cinquone looks a little awkward. Lovably awkward, yes, but awkward nonetheless.
But so what? It may not be the sexiest Italian in the world, but the Romeo has got it where it counts.
The entry-level pocket rocket weighs just 2,138 lbs with the carbon fiber package (an extreme ‘Leggero’ weight reduction kit is also available), and equips a 1.4-liter ‘T-jet’ engine with 160 horsepower. Connected to a five-speed manual, the hatchback will hit 60 mph in 7.4 seconds, but things only get better from there.
The Cinquone S adds an upgraded turbo, new injectors, and a free-flowing exhaust for a peppy output of 210 hp. This allows for a 0 to 60 mph sprint of 5.7 seconds.
For those seeking a more potent thrill, the range-topping Corsa model frees 248 hp from the tiny 1.4-liter, pushing the hot hatch to 60 mph in just 5.5 seconds.
The Romeo Ferraris are fully customizable, with a variety of colors, livery, and interior trim options available. There’s also a remote control valve to quiet down the exhaust, but we don’t see that being a big seller with Cinquone customers.
All this customization (and Italian pride) won’t come cheap. The base model starts at $59,528 at current rates, while the 248-hp Corsa will run you $86,272.
The Cinquone is now available to order in the U.S.
