New Abarth 595 Pista gets a performance bump

Engine tweaks and updated styling for Abarth 595 Pista.

Words Dave Humphreys Published 16 September 2019

It's one of the smallest hot hatches on sale, but it's also one of the most fun to drive, and now the arrival of this latest Abarth 595 Pista adds more performance to the mix. A power output of 165hp comes thanks to a new turbocharger unit from Garrett. The oversized turbocharger features a geometric compression ratio that is now smaller, down from 9.8:1 to 9:1. This change enables better temperature inside the combustion chamber at equal pressure and lowering the point at which peak torque arrives. That 230Nm is now available at 2,250rpm.

Retuned suspension for improved handling

Other tweaks to the setup of the Abarth 559 Pista include the fitment of Koni rear suspension with FSD technology. That Frequency Selective Damping is similar to what already features in the Opel Corsa GSi, and improves the comfort and ride quality without adversely affecting stability and handling.

Away from the chassis and handling, the 595 Pista also gets a new matt grey livery, green detailing and new sports seats inside. It features the 7-inch U-connect HD infotainment system that is compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. A flat-bottomed steering wheel carries a 12 o'clock marker at the top, and the Sport button can adjust the engine's mapping to maximise performance. Ensuring that the Abarth 595 Pista stops as well as it goes, it is equipped with ventilated 284mm discs on the front and 240mm discs at the rear.

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