Fiat 500: 695 Tributo Ferrari

This is awesome!!!

Ferrari and Fiat's performance division Abarth have partnered together for a surprise Frankfurt Motor Show unveiling — a limited edition Fiat 500 they'll call the 695 Tributo Ferrari. So, um, when did Ferrari become Fiat's new tuning shop?

The car aims to bring new meaning to the term hot hatch. For starters, the 695 will come in the traditional Ferrari color of Scuderia Red and performance gets boosted with a 1.4-liter turbocharged petrol/gasoline engine dialed up to 180 HP mated to an F1-style 6-speed transmission with paddle-shift function. Suspension tuning will compliment the increase in power and a set of red Brembo brakes will sit behind the 17-inch alloy wheels made special for the occasion, referencing classic Ferrari design.

A bigger issue is what this means for the Ferrari brand to be putting their name on a Fiat 500. Is this a watering down of the Italian Stallion brand or is this, like a Ferrari-branded Segway, just a marketing gimmick. Or, worse yet, is this a marketing gimmick that'll unintentionally water down the brand?

http://jalopnik.com/5354484/695-tributo-ferrari-builds-a-fiat-500

Or is it a fabulous marketing ploy that will increase Fiat sales and make Ferrari more of a household name for millions who thought the only thing they'd own with the Ferrari name was a T-shirt?

I LOVE IT!

DO WANT!!!!!

Nah, I think I'd rather have a real 695SS like this one: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fiat_Abarth_695_SS.jpg

I read that on jalopnik this morning. It looks like fun!

Ferrari has dabbled in smaller cheaper cars over the years. The 206/246 Dino's were their most famous example. Old man ferrari also made the ASA 1000 a four cylinder sports car that was ferrari in everything but name. It even had the flat plane crank.

It's exhaust note had been likened to a cow flatuating into a bucket

I cannot comprehend a cow farting into a bucket.

The Ferrari brand cannot be watered down any further. After all, they sell a Ferrari bib and rattle set.

At least this is a car. A cool little car for sure. I like it.

Didn't Alfa use a Ferrari engine in one of their sedans in the 80's?

cwh wrote: I cannot comprehend a cow farting into a bucket.

I'm guessing I'd like that sound if it's coming out of that car.

Is this coming to our shores? That is one kickass little car. I don't think it's watering down the brand--it's not a Ferrari--it's a Fiat with Ferrari's blessing. It's unmistakably a Fiat.

This is exactly the excitement Chrysler needs to regain.

Keith wrote: Didn't Alfa use a Ferrari engine in one of their sedans in the 80's?

I think you are thinking of the lancia thema 8.32, its basicly a saab 9000 with a ferarri v8 (and fwd).

That's it, the 8.32.

Travis_K wrote:

Keith wrote: Didn't Alfa use a Ferrari engine in one of their sedans in the 80's?

I think you are thinking of the lancia thema 8.32, its basicly a saab 9000 with a ferarri v8 (and fwd).

I have never heard of this car you speak of.

I shall have to google it.

I wonder if anyone's ever attempted a Saab 9000 8.32...

Back OT, I agree with Keith. I see a lot of guys wearing Ferrari-branded stuff as a fashion statement, yet didn't know they even existed prior to the F40's release. At least it's a car, and a damn good one at that. I cannot wait for the Abarth to make it to the States.

mad_machine wrote: Ferrari has dabbled in smaller cheaper cars over the years. The 206/246 Dino's were their most famous example. Old man ferrari also made the ASA 1000 a four cylinder sports car that was ferrari in everything but name. It even had the flat plane crank. It's exhaust note had been likened to a cow flatuating into a bucket

its a v8, but i can see where that opinion comes from.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUEP49nZXB4&feature=related

There's also the Fiat 130 sedan, which I believe used the Dino V6.

VERY cool Fiat! I really like those 500s...

Strizzo wrote:

mad_machine wrote: Ferrari has dabbled in smaller cheaper cars over the years. The 206/246 Dino's were their most famous example. Old man ferrari also made the ASA 1000 a four cylinder sports car that was ferrari in everything but name. It even had the flat plane crank. It's exhaust note had been likened to a cow flatuating into a bucket

its a v8, but i can see where that opinion comes from. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUEP49nZXB4&feature=related

So the Synergy V8 2400 = ASA 100 four cylinder?

Lancia Stratos carried the Dino V6. Thema 8.32 had the 328's V8 but with a conventional, 90 degree crank instead of the flat plane item in the 328.

The 695 Tributo looks like a great little special edition, I love the color.