Abarth releases limited 695 Rivale Special Edition
BY TUNG NGUYEN | 30th Oct 2018
ABARTH will launch just 35 examples of its latest 695 Rivale Special Edition in early 2019 to pay homage to the Riva yacht brand, and it will be priced from $44,990 before on-road costs for the hatchback and $48,990 for the convertible.
Available in either manual or a no-cost automatic guises, the Rivale Special Edition is $13,000 and $11,000 pricier respectively than the three-pedal and self-shifting 595 Competizone upon which it is based.
However, buyers are treated to a Riva Blue and Tributo Ferrari Grey two-tone paint scheme, which pays homage to the birthplace of the Riva brand at Lake Iseo, Italy.
Other tweaks include satin chrome exterior highlights, 17-inch Super Sport Grey wheels, Xenon headlights, wood dashboard cover, blue leather seats, numbered badging and custom instrument start-up graphics, as well as Rivale badging on the bootlid and rear fenders.
Entertainment and information duties are handled by a 7.0-inch UConnect system with satellite navigation, digital radio, voice control and Bluetooth connectivity.
Powered by the same turbocharged 1.4-litre inline four-cylinder petrol engine as the 595 Competizone, the 696 Rivale Special Edition punches out 132kW of power and 230Nm of torque, while manual versions also gain a mechanical limited-slip differential.
As with 595 Competizone variants, the 695 Rivale Special Edition will also benefit from front and rear Koni shock absorbers, four-piston Brembo brakes, Alcantara steering wheel and Record Monza sports exhaust.
Abarth Australia head Fulvio Antonelli said the brand is excited to offer the cosmetically enhanced Rivale Special Edition to local customers.
“We’re delighted to bring this exclusive design to the Australian market,” he said. “The Riva lifestyle complements that of an Abarth owner with exceptional refinement and power, coupled with unique Italian artisan design, and a passionate heritage.”
Combined sales of Fiat’s 500 and its Abarth 595 sibling have reached 589 units so far this year, just three units off the pace of the same period last year.
2018 Abarth 695 Rivale Special Edition pricing*
| 695 Rivale Special Edition hatch | $44,990 |
| 695 Rivale Special Edition hatch (a) | $44,990 |
| 695 Rivale Special Edition convertible | $48,990 |
| 695 Rivale Special Edition convertible (a) | $48,990 |
*Excludes on-road costs
