With 247 hp on tap, the Spettacolo is more powerful than any production offering by Abarth
- Italian tuner Giannini Automobili returns with a new project based on the Abarth 595.
- The hot hatch gains a wide bodykit and carbon fiber wheel covers.
- The 1.4-liter engine has been tuned to produce 247 hp, allowing for a top speed of 280 km/h (174 mph).
The Fiat 500-based Abarth 595/695 is almost ready to bow out of production, but a new project from an independent Italian company wants to breathe new life into the hot hatch. Enter the Giannini Spettacolo, decked out with extravagant visual and mechanical tweaks, all packed into a modest 200-unit production run. But brace yourself for the sticker shock: it commands a jaw-dropping €133,000 ($144,360).
That’s a boatload of cash for what’s essentially a city car, no matter how wild the modifications. We’re talking top-tier sports car territory or even dipping into the realm of used supercars.
Giannini Automobili, an Italian tuner dating back to 1917, earned its stripes by tweaking and racing Fiats until the mid-80s. Now, the brand is making a comeback through a joint venture between Impero, based in Rome, and Groupo Maestri in Turin. Impero holds the rights to the Giannini name, while Groupo Maestri handles design and production of the Spettacolo, taking place at the former Pininfarina plant in Turin.
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Visually, the Spettacolo looks like no other Abarth thanks to the bespoke body panels giving it a more aggressive stance. Up front, the redesigned nose features a new grille, enlarged intakes, and a prominent splitter. The aluminum hood boasts F1-inspired vents and integrated headlight covers, adding to its distinctive appearance.
The profile has been beefed-up with wider fenders, extended side skirts, and a set of 18-inch wheel covers made from carbon fiber. Furthermore, the doors open upwards, showing that this is no regular Fiat 500. At the rear, standout features include side inlets reminiscent of the Renault 5 Turbo, complemented by a sizable spoiler and a custom rear bumper housing dual exhaust pipes mounted above the diffuser.
Giannini Automobili
The official website for the Giannini Spettacolo has a configurator, allowing prospective buyers to customize the exterior. In addition to various colors, there’s an array of optional stickers available, lending the hot hatch a racing aesthetic. Inside, the rear seat bench is replaced by a pair of lightweight carbon monocoque seats.
More Power, Less Weight
The development of the Giannini Spettacolo took 150 days from start to finish. The man responsible is Paolo Mancini who is the co-founder of FV Frangivento Automobili. The first example was unveiled earlier this month at a private event in Rome, based on a 2012 Abarth 595.
Under the hood lies the familiar turbocharged 1.4-liter T-Jet four-cylinder engine that has been tuned to produce 247 hp (184 kW / 250 PS) and 360 Nm of torque. These numbers surpass any production offering by Abarth, including the upcoming fully electric Abarth 600e and all of the roadgoing versions of the 595/695 series.
More: Is Anyone Going To Spend $17,000 On A Liberty Walk Kit For Their Abarth 595?
Power is transmitted to the front wheels through an automated manual gearbox, although a proper manual option is available. With the vehicle’s weight reduced to 985 kg (2,172 pounds), the power-to-weight ratio is further enhanced. Consequently, the 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) sprint is accomplished in a brisk 5 seconds flat, with the top speed reaching an impressive 280 km/h (174 mph).
Giannini Automobili has already started accepting orders for the 200 units of the Spettacolo. Due to its hand-built nature, the waiting period for each unit is five months. It remains to be seen if enough buyers will be willing to part ways with at least €133k ($144k) for this limited-production pocket rocket. The company also announced its return to racing, and will participate at the 2024 Time Attack Italia Championship.
