What's all this about?

If you prefer your hot hatches small and packed with attitude, then you might be keen on Abarth's latest addition. It's called the 595 Pista and while it might not share many parts with the hardcore Ferrari 488 Pista, it is a good deal more affordable thanks to a starting price of £19,135.

So what's new?

There aren't any changes to the sheet metal, but the interior does get new seats and upholstery. They also carry 'Abarth 70' stitched into the seatbacks, marking the company's anniversary. In addition to the slim sports seats, the motorsport feel continues with the fitment of a racing steering wheel complete with a flat bottom and 12 o'clock marker at its top. This version also gets FCA's 7-inch Uconnect HD infotainment system that includes smartphone mirroring through Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

About that engine upgrade...

The power output of the Abarth 595 Pista is rated at 165hp, and the engine now runs an oversized Garrett turbocharger. That new unit has a reduced geometric compression of 9:1, down from 9.8:1 in other versions. So what does that do? It allows for better thermal management within the combustion chamber at equal pressure while also generating a peak torque of 230Nm at lower engine speeds (2,250rpm to be exact). Peak power is a not-too-shabby 165hp.

Any other mechanical changes?

Abarth hasn't only tinkered with the engine performance; it has also upgraded some of the suspension components. At the rear, you'll find a suspension setup that uses Koni's FSD (Frequency Selective Damping) technology. Think of this system as a middle ground between passive and adaptive dampers. Their design is such that they can absorb some of the unwanted bumps without sacrificing the car's sharp handling characteristics. The braking system has also come in for attention, with Abarth running a specific setup that includes ventilated 284mm discs up front and 240mm discs on the rear.