Motorsport meets designer shipyard
Last year Fiat had already announced the cooperation with the Riva shipyard and thus maintained the long-standing tradition with the smallest and Italian style icons. After the fashion labels DIESEL and GUCCI, this time the Italians found a connection with the boat builder from Sarnico in Lombardai / Italy. A year later, the symbiosis of both sporty lines follows with the 695 Abarth Rivale and the yacht 175 'Rivale, launched for the 56th anniversary. Both Carlo Abart and Carlo Riva stand for their motto: "an ordinary into something extraordinary". The Abarth company, which was founded in 1949 and has had many successes as a tuner for Fiat since 1971, refines the Cinquecento together with Riva in order to serve the fans of motorsport. For Carlo Riva this embodies the certain “Dolce Vita” of Italy. The little Italian athlete will initially be offered to loyal customers in a limited edition of 175 pieces each (closed and as a convertible) with real mahogany on the dashboard, two-tone leather (black / blue) in the interior, two-tone chassis and many small details from boat building. He finds support in the advertising clip with its counterpart on water. The first deliveries are expected in Germany in the coming autumn. Depending on the demand, the marketing of a "normal" line that is already in the starting blocks will be considered.
Fiat 695 rival - Bolide with elegance
The RIVA shipyard is located on Largo d'Iseo, around 90 kilometers from the gates of Milan. Fiat presents its cooperation between its tuned bestseller, the Fiat 695 Rivale, and the traditional boat builder to selected media representatives from Europe. Both the entrance to the car presentation hall and the water stage are still closed. This all happens on the company premises of the shipyard, which is known for its mahogany-made racing boats. As mentioned last year, the task for the engineers of the car tuner and the shipyard's designer was not easy. The mahogany wood known from shipbuilding should also adorn the dashboard of the small 695 bolide with the same elegance and sportiness.
Scorpio with the license to inspire
What exactly is hidden under the hood and in the interior of the Scorpion from Italy? The shipyard's new yacht served as an inspiration, at least for the chassis. The "56 'Riva" yacht wears a special silver and blue with the mind green shade that can be found in the 695. The special combination of the black / blue leather seats and the mahogany wood was also borrowed from the latest Riva yacht. The Abarth engineers were solely responsible for putting together the technology under the hood of the Rennsemmel. The result is “only” impressive at the moment, but at least it sounds like motorsport. The 695 Rivale will be powered by a 1.4 liter T-Jet petrol engine with 180 horsepower. That makes a weight of 5,9 kilograms per horsepower, which brings the little Italian from 6,7 to 0 km / h in 100 seconds. The rival is equipped as standard with an "Active Dual Mode" Akrapovič exhaust, Brembo brakes and Koni shock absorbers. Optionally available are rear parking sensors, xenon headlights and the DAM (mechanical limited slip) differential developed by Abarth. The final prices are from a list price of around € 28.000 for the closed version and € 30.000 for the convertible. The specific sales start of both body variants including the special edition 175 Anniversary is scheduled for this year.
And finally ... With the combination of the rival from the Abarth stable and the designers of the traditional boatyard Fiat puts once again on emotion and driving pleasure. This must not be forgotten in this day and age with all the scandals surrounding the carmaker of this world.
Text and image: Stefan Beckmann and manufacturer (FCA Germany AG), cover picture: manufacturer (FCA Germany AG)