| Week at the Wheel | Fiat 500 Abarth esseesse |

Inside & Out:

The standard Fiat 500 trades on its pretty face that harks back to the original version, while the hotter Abarth model is anything but. Lashing of body kit include wide arches, a neat rear spoiler and bigger, more aggressive bumpers at either end. It sits suitably low and the go faster stripes with the word 'Abarth' emblazoned along the flanks leave passers by in no doubt as to what it is. Drilled brake discs and 17-inch alloy wheels differentiate the esseesse from the standard Abarth 500, too.

There's actually a real significance to the lengthier, chunkier front end. Fiat's boffins needed more space to accommodate the 1.4-litre engine plus its turbocharger and a sufficient cooling system, so the styling is about function as well as flair.

The cabin has also been dolled up with extra black areas, a flat-bottomed steering wheel, alloy pedals, hip-hugging bucket seats and a turbo gauge poking out of the top of the dash - among other things. The build quality isn't quite there, though - the door cards, plastic sections across the dashboard and those that surround the handbrake are far from the best around and don't feel well attached to the rest of the car.

Engine & Transmission:

A standard Abarth 500 offers 133bhp and 152lb.ft of torque, but the esseesse version ups that to 157bhp and 170lb.ft, courtesy of a new air filter and an engine remap. As is typical of a turbocharged petrol engine, the Fiat's unit needs a little encouragement to really get into its stride. After around 3,000rpm it comes into its own and turns the 500 into a very swift and responsive driver's car. There's also a great, uneven parp from the tailpipes, which even sound good when they're warbling away at idle.

A five-speed manual gearbox - rather than a more fashionable six- or seven-speed item for a modern hot hatch - allows the 500 esseesse to reach 62mph in second gear, so it's possible to leave the stick alone and drive on the throttle more than usual. The shift itself is short enough for a hot hatch, but feels a little soft in comparison to that of harder-edged rivals.

Ride & Handling:

This is both the Fiat's best asset and its worst. The handling is sharp and composed; on smooth roads there's an enormous amount of grip and it's possible to push the 500 harder than rival hatches like the MINI Cooper S. It really is very sticky indeed.

Revised springs and dampers are responsible for the tidy driving experience, but they're also responsible for the cripplingly hard ride. If you're surrounded by perfectly smooth roads then the Abarth 500 esseesse is a hoot. If not, then it quickly becomes so uncomfortable that you slow down to lessen the impact of the bumps. During a thrash on a typical bit of pizza-faced English B-road, the Fiat left the ground several times, where other hot hatches, though bumpy, remain reasonably pliant. This is a shame, because it really spoils what is otherwise a fun car.

Equipment, Economy & Value for Money:

The standard 500 Abarth starts at £14,155, while the esseesse commands a premium of £2,500. At close to £17,000, it's starting to look expensive for a hot hatch at this end of the market. However, there's a lot of equipment to justify the extra cash, including air conditioning, an mp3 stereo and a 'mock' limited slip differential worked through the electronics.

Emissions of 155g/km are quoted along with combined fuel economy of 43.4mpg - though you're unlikely to match that figure when driving the Abarth esseesse to its full potential.

Overall:

The Fiat's zesty engine and excellent grip make it a compelling sub-£20,000 hot hatchback. Aggressive styling and some serious sporty heritage from the Abarth camp only add to the appeal. If only the ride weren't so uncomfortable. It's tragic because, aside from the so-so build quality, the lack of comfort really spoils the 500. If you can turn a blind eye to that though, the Abarth esseesse is very tidy hot hatch indeed.