Abarth — a Hot Fiat, and Servicing It Is Better Value Than It Seems
The 595 and 695 are built on the Fiat 500 base, and that is the key advantage in ownership: the body, many components and consumables are shared with the ordinary 500, and so are available and inexpensive. The sportiness comes from the turbo engine, the tune, the brakes and the exhaust, but the foundation stays simple and familiar.
For the owner this means an Abarth does not have to be serviced at a "sporting" price — if the garage knows both the Fiat base and the features of the hot version. We know both.
The T-Jet Turbo Engine and Spirited Driving — What We Watch
The petrol 1.4 T-Jet with turbocharging likes spirited driving, but that also speeds up the wear of a number of components. What we watch first:
- the turbo and the boost system — the tightness of the hoses, the condition of the intercooler, no loss of boost; - the engine oil — for a turbo engine its quality and timely change are critical; - the cooling system — under lively driving the load on it is higher; - the brakes — pads, discs and the brake fluid, which overheats under active braking; - the exhaust system (often a sports one) — its tightness and condition.
On versions with a robotised gearbox we additionally check its operation. Before an active season a preventive check of these components is worthwhile.
The Electric Abarth — 500e and 600e
Abarth has also moved to electric drive: the 500e is an electric hot hatch based on the Fiat 500e, and the 600e is a more powerful model on a Stellantis-group platform, related to the electric Peugeot and Alfa. This is technology with a traction battery, power electronics and a charging system in a sporting tune. As a garage with hybrid and electric expertise, we confidently diagnose the high-voltage section and handle brakes, suspension and bodywork. The scope of work on the traction battery is determined after diagnostics. If you have an electric Abarth, that falls squarely within our field.
