Abarth 695 Maserati: yours for £32k 22 | 05 | 2012

OK, IT MAY LOOK like a Fiat 500, but this is actually the new Abarth 695 Maserati Edition: and it'll set you back a cool £32,000 when it goes on sale in Scotland at the end of the year.

Only 499 models of the 180bhp 1.4-litre turbocharged supermini will be built. It follows the Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari project from three years ago.

Deep breath time: according to Fiat, the Abarth 695 Maserati will duck below the 7.0secs barrier for the 0-62mph sprint, and will accelerate on to a maximum of 140mph.

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The Abarth 695 Maserati Edition — or Edizione Maserati if you prefer the Italian pronunciation — features a number of style details and special technical features developed by Abarth engineers specifically for Maserati.

Electrically-operated manual Abarth Competizione gearbox, 17in performance tyres, Maserati-inspired alloy wheels, front brakes with Brembo monobloc callipers and floating 305mm discs and Koni shock absorbers are all standard.

Inside the cabin, the seats are upholstered in sand beige leather, the dashboard and gearbox trim are in a special matt-finish carbon lining and customers will also get set of Tramontano leather luggage.

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Jim McGill