Abarth 695 Rivale: The Car Born In Water

If the Italian manufacturer Abarth stands out for something, it is because of its dedication to the world of competition. The brand does not seek elegance and luxury, but the pleasure of driving. However, Abarth has made an exception with its 695 Rivale.

This small utility vehicle has achieved a magnificent fusion between the aggressive and sporty philosophy of its designs and a remarkable level of elegance. Of course, without reaching the level of the 124 Spider.

This has been achieved thanks to the collaboration with the Riva company, a famous nautical manufacturer with lavish boat and yacht designs. Engineers from both companies have gone to work at the Centro Stilo in Turin to develop this special edition. This is limited to 1,390 units, 695 for each type of bodywork.

This is not the first collaboration between automaker FCA and shipbuilder Riva. In 2016 they launched a version of the Fiat 500. Of course, this did not share design with a Riva yacht to the extent that the 695 Rivale does.

The Abarth 695 Rivale is a limited edition available with a closed body and a convertible version. The exterior has a recognizable bi-color appearance, in  Blu Sera Riva and Shark Gray . Both colors are separated by an aquamarine line.

The fusion between car and yacht

The aim of the 695 Rivale is to embrace the charm and sophistication of Riva designs from the aggressive and sporty characteristics of Abarth cars. With bumpers similar to those of the Abarth 595 Competizione, the 695 Rivale adds chrome accents that give a more distinguished exterior finish. These resemble the vehicle to the Riva 56 Rivale yacht model.

The cabin looks even more striking, brimming with luxury and elegance. The upper section of the steering wheel and the dashboard visor have blue upholstery. In addition, the seats, with the same upholstery, incorporate chrome details at the height of the nape of the passengers.

With all this, the most remarkable detail is the wood finish of the dashboard, which brings the interior design closer to that of a luxurious yacht. The rest of the pieces are in matt black, in a good combination with the previous colors.

In addition to the chrome details already present on the Riva yacht, the 695 Rivale has a grille over the tailgate. It is also in chrome color, which imitates those that the 56 Rivale has to port and starboard. All this level of elegance makes the 695 Rivale look like a small Aston Martin, perhaps reminiscent of the DB11 or the Rapide S.

The pedals are made of metal with the attractive detail of the Abarth scorpion engraved on them. M eanwhile, the knob of the shift lever can be chosen in a finished mahogany or carbon fiber. The multimedia system incorporates Uconnect technology with a 7-inch HD screen. For its part, Apple Car Play and Android Auto connectivity allow any smartphone to be adapted .

The mechanics of the 695 Rivale

The scorpion brand has not been cut off in the development of its new model, and has shown one of its best projects. The engine is the 1.4 Turbo of the Abarth 595 Competizione, with a maximum power of 180 hp and a torque of 250 Nm. This power manages the front torque. This makes the little four-wheeler go from 0 to 100 km / h in 6.7 seconds. Top speed reaches the high value of 225 km / h.

In addition, it incorporates the Akrapovic exhaust pipe, 17-inch wheels, Brembo brakes and Koni suspensions. The lightness of the Abarth models stands out in this limited edition, which only weighs 1,045 kg.

For its pate, the gear change can be chosen between manual or robotic sequential. This is operated by buttons on the center console and starting from paddles on the steering wheel. Both settings have 5 speeds.

One special edition over another

On the exclusivity of the 695 Rivale, Abarth celebrates 175 years collaborating with Riva with the 695 Rivale 175 Anniversary. This exclusive edition is limited to 350 units, divided equally between coupes and cabrios.

For starters, the 175 Anniversary features 17-inch wheels similar to those of the 695 Rivale, but with a specific design. The two-tone details, the blue and black upholstery and the carbon fiber dashboard are the same as the 695 Rivale. The great exclusivity of this model is shown in an engraved commemorative plaque attached to the handbrake.

Prices for the Abarth 695 Rivale vary between 28,000 and 30,000 euros depending on whether the coupe or cabrio version is chosen, respectively. The 175 Anniversary variant costs 31,695 euros in its coupe version and 33,695 in the convertible version. The small number of models makes their access extremely difficult, although the second-hand market remains to be watched.