What better way to double the price of a vehicle than by attaching a very prestigious badge to it? Admittedly we are talking very small volumes here but now the Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari (a Fiat 500 with some very fancy trimmings) has gained a Maserati brother.
Limited to just 499 vehicles and said to represent the bond between Abarth and Maserati, the Abarth 695 Tributo Maserati is based on the 500C cabrio and features exclusive style details and special technical features developed by Abarth engineers in collaboration with Maserati.
So it's not just a fancy style job. To start with, the 1.4-litre turbopetrol engine has been boosted to 134kW (the standard Abarth 500 makes 99kW) and mated to the automated-manual Abarth Competizione gearbox with steering wheel controls.
The little 'Maser' sits on 17-inch alloy wheels featuring a special “Neptun” design from Maserati.
The braking system has also been strengthened to cope with the extra power, compliments of Brembo 305mm brake discs with fixed four-piston calipers.
Of course, you're not going to hear the hum of a V8 when flooring the loud pedal, but to make the most of the four-pot's acoustics, engineers have thrown in a 'Record Monza' variable back-pressure dual-mode exhaust, designed to improve engine performance and deliver an inspiring sound at 3000rpm and above.
Also furthering the 'bond' with Maserati, the tailpipes have been bent into the hexagonal shape that has always characterised Maseratis.
As for the styling, this Abarth is (naturally) pained in a three-layer Maserati colour - Pontevecchio Bordeaux to be precise.
A lot of Maserati mimicking has also gone on inside, with seats upholstered entirely in sand beige Poltrona Frau leather and special matt-finish carbon lining for the dashboard and gearbox trim. The black leather steering wheel is characterised by leather inserts and a tricolour hub and houses gearbox controls, while the instrument panel has been specifically produced by the Jaeger brand.
Other details enriching the interior are an aluminium pedal unit and sill plate, the carbon fibre kick plate with customised “Abarth 695 Tributo Maserati” graphics and a plate with the car's series number.