Launched at the Geneva Motor Show 2014 in March, the Abarth 695 Biposto really is a true pocket-rocket for the road. With bold and aggressive styling as well as a fierce powertrain, the 695 Biposto is selling like gangbusters.
The order books for the Abarth 695 Biposto opened back in June and already, Abarth has confirmed it has received significantly more orders than production capacity for 2014 and when you look at the spec sheet, it is hardly surprising why the car has proven so popular.
Under the hood, the Abarth 696 Biposto features a tiny 1.4-liter turbocharged engine. However, Abarth have managed to extract an extraordinary 187 hp from it. When combined with a kerb weight of just 997 kg, the 695 Biposto has a power to weight ratio of 1 hp per 5.2 kg. While this engine is indeed impressive, it is nothing compared to the transmission found in the 695 Biposto.
For the first time in a car in this segment, Abarth have fitted a quick shift dog-ring sequential gearbox. Many racing cars and series around the world implement these transmissions as they enable for clutchless upshifting yet are much more involving than paddle shifters.
In terms of weight savings, the Abarth 695 Biposto doesn’t feature any rear seats and instead a couple of stiff strut bars. Up front, you’ll find carbon fibre seats with minimal padding as well as a lightweight dashboard incorporating carbon fibre. Additionally, there is no climate control or electric windows while new carbon fibre areas on the exterior along with lightweight 18-inch Oz alloy wheels help finish the weight savings.
