Slap bang in the middle of the Italian summer, Abarth unveiled its newest corner-carving hot hatch – the 695 Esseesse “Collector’s Edition”.
Only 1,390 units of the Esseesse will be produced. 695 in “Scorpion Black” and 695 in “Campovolo Grey”.
Its target audience is collectors seeking “exclusivity, top performance, and a racing soul”, said Abarth.
The Esseesse’s design team drew inspiration from the tuned 1964 Fiat 500 “Cinquino”, of which only 1,000 examples were built, while its name finds roots in the company’s history – signaling back to the 1960s when Abarth became famous for selling tuning kits.
Aerodynamically advanced
The overall goal with this 695 was to improve handling and acceleration over previous models, which led to a reduction in weight, a different balance, and finer attention to aerodynamics.
Compared to the current range-topping Abarth 595 Competizione, the 695 Esseesse saves 10kg through the fitment of a “doubly-hunched” aluminium bonnet and a new Akrapovic exhaust.
This combines with a new variable rear spoiler – adjustable between 0-degrees and 60-degrees – to provide up to 42kg of additional downforce at 200km/h.
Manual as standard
Providing drive in the Esseesse is a 1.4-litre, turbocharged, “T-Jet” engine that generates 134kW and 250Nm at 3,000rpm.
“The transmission is manual, but an Abarth robotized sequential transmission with shift paddles is available on request,” said the company.
Also fitted are Koni FSD shock absorbers on both axles, along with four-piston Brembo brake calipers.
This allows the Esseesse to sprint from 0-100km/h in 6.7 seconds and reach a top speed of 225km/h – with the spoiler adjusted to 0-degrees.
It also finishes the quarter-mile in 15.1 seconds – 0.1 seconds faster than the Competizione – and, according to the company, offers improved performance on bends, greater responsiveness in mixed sections, and better acceleration performance.
“In sum, the new Abarth 695 Esseesse Collector’s Edition is the fastest in the line-up,” said Abarth.
Exclusive features
Covering both the outside and inside of the 695 Esseesse is a range of exclusive design elements inspired by both past and present.
On the outside, this includes white 17-inch wheels with red caps, white mirror caps and side stickers, red brake calipers, and exclusive 695 nomenclature.
The cabin then features an Alcantara dash and multifunction steering wheel, carbon fibre pedals and gear lever, and Sabelt seat belts with contrast stitching.
Its exclusivity is further emphasised by the “one of 695” wording on the headrests, the white rear shells for the seats, and laser-cut “695 Esseesse” wording on the front fascia.
On the connectivity front, buyers can expect a 7-inch infotainment system featuring integrated navigation, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.
“The new Abarth 695 Esseesse thus represents the entry point to a super exclusive world, characterised by a distinctive, even higher-performance style, dedicated to those who seek extraordinary emotions on a daily basis,” said Abarth.
Abarth 695 Esseesse
Keyword: Abarth 695 Esseesse – The ultimate collector’s hot hatch