HIGHLIGHTS
- Abarth and Riva luxury collaboration
- One of 350 made
- Bespoke blue leather trim
- 178bhp turbocharged performance – 0-60 in 6.7 secs
THE APPEAL
A luxury powerboat-themed hardcore hot hatchback is about as niche as a car gets, but in the form of the Abarth 695 Rivale, the bizarre combination works.
A collaboration between Abarth and Riva, the premium speedboat manufacturer, the Rivale was a 2018-only special edition of which only 350 were constructed for the UK – 175 hatchbacks and 175 convertibles. If you were prepared to splash out an extra £2,000 (and not a lot of people were), you could even have the dashboard finished in the same polished wood as the speedboat deck.
Equipped with unique seats, mats and leather details finished in a shade of blue normally reserved for Riva boats, and finished in a smart two-tone blue and grey colour scheme to go with it, the Rivale was one of the more unusual Abarths and is guaranteed to become one of the most collectable in the future, not least because it’s based on the high performance 695 model with 178bhp and ridiculous performance.
This one is car number 257 of the UK allocation – a standard Rivale hatchback that has covered less than 33,500 from new.
THE HISTORY AND PAPERWORK
- UK V5C in name of the vendor
- MOT May 2024
- All original books and handbooks
- Registration number shown in photos is not included in sale
- Service book stamped to 33,068 miles in May 2023 – four services, all Fiat main dealer
- Original dealer number plates – NA18 VUB, which will be reallocated to the car by DVLA
- Recent invoice for major service
- Two keys
THE INTERIOR
- Immaculate overall condition
- Riva blue leather race inspired seats with “695 Rivale” embossed into head restraints
- Matching door card inserts and leather floor mats, protected by overmats
- Lightweight carbon fibre-effect dash
- 10-inch multifunction touchscreen
- Digital climate control – works perfectly
- All dials and controls work as they should
- Stitched-leather instrument binnacle
- Beats by Dr.Dre audio system with speaker upgrade
- Three-spoke leather sports steering wheel
- Pod-mounted rev counter
- Carbon gear knob
- Glass sunroof
- Abarth sports pedals
THE EXTERIOR
- Two-tone blue and grey metallic paint
- Paint in very good order, with no notable chips marks or damage
- One letter ‘I’ missing from nearside badge
- 17-inch 12-spoke alloys
- All original badges and trim
- Abarth styling kit with front splitter and rear boot spoiler
- Rear diffuser
- Front fog lamps
- Great overall condition with huge character
THE MECHANICS
- 1.4-litre 4cyl Fiat T-Jet turbo
- Five-speed manual
- 178bhp 695 model, 0-60 in 6.7 secs
- Recent major service
- Factory option BMC induction kit
- Akrapovic performance exhaust system – sounds incredible!
- Brembo sports brakes
- According to the vendor the Abarth performs without fault and is a lot of fun
SUMMARY
The Abarth 695 is a special little car at the best of times, but this one combines all of the standard car’s attributes with an extra dose of luxury and prestige. It’s a special little car in lovely condition, and is one that combines the usability of being quite modern with rarity, exclusivity and collectability. It’s as much a luxury accessory as it is a car, and an extremely cool one at that.
BEFORE YOU BUY
BEFORE YOU BUY
This sale is subject to the Car & Classic Terms and Conditions. By bidding and/or making an offer, you also agree to the following:
✓ If the seller is registered as a private seller, consumer rights stemming from EU consumer protection law do not apply. Car & Classic’s return policy applies.
✓ A non-refundable deposit will be payable if you are the winning bidder at auction or if your offer is accepted, refer to FAQs and T&Cs for details.
✓ This vehicle is “Sold As Seen”, on an “As Is, Where Is’ basis and without warranty. A full inspection of the vehicle prior to purchase and bidding is highly recommended. Photos and descriptions are for guidance purposes only.
✓ VAT is included in the buyer's deposit. VAT may or may not be included in the final bid or offer price, as specified in the listing.
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