Fiat’s Abarth division has unveiled a new version of the 500 called 595 OT that’s designed specifically to compete in the Italian Touring Car Championship.
Based on the street-legal Abarth 500, the track-bound model is powered by a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine that sends 190 horsepower to the front wheels via a six-speed transmission. Racers who want to turn the sport dial up to 11 can order an optional performance package that brings that brings a racing exhaust system and bigger front brakes.
Visually, the 595 OT is wider than the regular 500, and it sits a little lower thanks to a tweaked suspension. Pictures of the interior haven’t been published yet, but Abarth promises it has stripped the cabin in order to shed weight and added bucket seats as well as a full roll cage.
On sale now in its home country, the Abarth 595 OT will make its competition debut on May 22nd on the storied Monza track in Italy. It will compete in the Turismo di Serie (TCS) category against similarly-modified versions of the Peugeot 308, the Alfa Romeo MiTo, and the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, among other models. Pricing information hasn’t been announced, and it’s too early to tell if the turn-key racer will compete in the other touring car championships across Europe.
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