Before we talk about this ultimate Abarth ever made, let's have a quick perspective about this tiny monster. "Born on the track, to live the road." The 695 Biposto from Fiat's Abarth performance brand draws inspiration from the track-focused 500 Abarth Assetto Corse, therefore giving its knack of being "the smallest supercar" from the Abarth 500 lineage.
As the most potent 500 Abarth ever made, the 695 Biposto weighs around 997kg (courtesy of its lightweight materials as well as extensive use of carbon fiber equipment), powered by a turbocharged 1.4L petrol engine producing 186HP of power, can get through 0-100kph in 5.9 seconds, and has a weight-to-power ratio of 5.2kg/hp. For the first time in a road-legal car, the 695 Biposto arms with a dog-ring gearbox with light flywheel and copper racing clutch.
The 695 Biposto also offers with a Track Kit, made for racing purposes only, complete with a digital data logger, Sabelt racing seat belts, Sabelt carbon shell racing seats, and a personalized racing helmet.
As a hot hatch equivalent of the Porsche 911 GT3 RS, the 695 Biposto is a non-nonsense track weapon that shows that even when focused on its handling capabilities, this hot hatchback loves to toy around even the biggest of sportscars when it gets round the corner. For such size, you may never know what tricks this car can play on its unsuspecting victims and this sneaky stinger likes to shake things up like a stealth kill on its unsuspecting predators from behind. Driving in the real world, the 695 wasn't made for this job due to lack of aircon and radio but for track use, especially when it comes with the Track Kit, the 695 is an enjoyable car that you drive as much as you want until you're not in a mood for a lightweight hot hatchback that values its handling more than anything else, especially its power. Not bad for a car that was proclaimed as the "smallest supercar" in the world.
Okay, if Abarth calls the 695 the smallest supercar in the world, let's put their theory to the test because I'm driving this car round the Brands Hatch GP Circuit and see if the 695 lives up to Abarth's promise by comparing it against the hot hatch powerhouses from Germany. I've picked the VW Golf R and the Mercedes A45 AMG as the basis for this challenge and see if the 695's handling capabilities trump against both of the power-hungry hatches.
Without further ado, let the experiment begin!
And now the results:
1:54.413 - Golf R
1:52.344 - A45
1:58.039 - 695
Well, so much for the smallest supercar. Although being a track-capable vermin, it still wasn't good enough to outsmart the most powerful ones but if I disregard the lap times and if I consider handling as a strong focal point, I have high doubts that the 695 Biposto is a clear winner. Those four-wheel drive Germans were great to drive but with all that struggle I felt when I get them round the corner, there is no way that the 695 Biposto is a good old-fashioned masterpiece and I acknowledge the Italians for bringing such a fine specimen like this.
As I had much fun driving the 695 Biposto, I wanna find out what's next in store for this car as well as the Abarth lineage.
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