Abarth 595 ‘Scorpioneoro’ lands in Australia

After being announced back in January, the Abarth 595 Scorpioneoro arrived in Australia in August, bringing special exterior and interior trim, as a well as improved specification and a specific engine tune.

While it’s based on the Fiat 500, inspiration for the Abarth 595 Scorpioneoro actually comes from an Autobianchi, specifically the Autobianchi A112 ‘Gold Ring’ from 1979, better known as the ‘Targa Oro’.

That model was limited to just 150 units and the Abarth tribute will be limited, too, with only 2,000 examples to be built, 30 of which have been allocated to Australia.

“Abarth collectors will relish the opportunity to get their hands on this attractive special edition Abarth 595 Scorpioneoro, an authentic representation of the brand’s racing heritage,” said Tom Noble, Director Marketing Communications for Abarth.

“A spirited driver's car with its manual transmission and punchy engine, we now have a visual guise that truly reflects the character of Abarth, complete with numbered golden heritage scorpion badging making it an authentic collectible for enthusiasts.”

All 30 Abarth 595 Scorpioneoros allocated for Australia will be finished in ‘Scorpione Black’ with gold detailing that includes a waistline stripe, badging, Abarth door decal, Scorpion bonnet decal and 17-inch Formula alloy wheels.

Other exterior features include a matte and gloss black chequered flag roof, tinted rear and side windows and a Tar Gold Grey matte finish for the door handles, mirror caps and front and rear bumpers.

Inside, the Scorpioneoro touch is found in features like embroidered headrests on the ‘scorpionflage’ leather sports front seats. There’s also matte black detailing throughout the cabin, exclusive floor mats and a gold plaque on the transmission tunnel identifying this car’s limited-edition status.

Colours and detailing aside, the Abarth 595 Scorpioneoro blends mechanical elements of the current 595 and 595 Competizione. Power comes from the ‘T-jet’ 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol four-cylinder engine common to both 595 variants, driving the front wheels through a five-speed manual transmission, although a ‘Dualogic’ auto transmission is a $2,150 option.

Performance figures of 121kW and 230Nm from the 1.4 turbo place the Scorpioneoro between the regular 595 (107kW/206Nm) and the 595 Competizione (132kW/250Nm), while listed 0-100km/h acceleration time is 7.3 seconds, also in between the two existing 595 variants.

A sports exhaust with dual chrome tips is standard, while suspension is made up of MacPherson struts up front and torsion bars at the rear. There’s ‘Dualdrive’ electric power assist steering with sport mode, 305mm ventilated disc brakes up front and solid 240mm sold discs at the rear.

Convenience and comfort features include a 7.0-inch Uconnect touchscreen infotainment system with DAB+ digital radio, automatic climate control and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, while the Scorpioneoro also adds a seven-speaker Beats audio system that’s normally an extra-cost option.

The leather-wrapped steering wheel with chrome detailing and 12 o’clock marker comes from the regular 595, while the aluminium gear shift knob is lifted from the 595 Competizione.

The Abarth 595 Scorpioneoro lists for $31,450 (+ ORCs). See your Abarth dealer for more information and to confirm availability.