Check Out The Abarth 695 70th Anniversario's Mad Rear Spoiler

As we discussed not so long ago, the Abarth versions of the Fiat 500 are too old and expensive for their own good. But somehow, there’s something quite exotic and alluring about the likes of the 595 and 695. And after all these years after in production, it seems Abarth has just made the coolest one yet.

It’s the Abarth 695 70th Anniversario, and it’s limited to 1949 units - a nod to the year Abarth was founded. But we don’t care about any of that.

No - we’re more interested in what’s going on at the rear. Abarth calls it the ‘Spoiler ad Assetto Variabile’, and it’s intended to be a “tribute to the founder’s performance focus, which went beyond the quest for pure power, top speed and acceleration, focusing on the search and development of innovative technical solutions,” the Fiat offshoot says.

It’s a manually adjustable spoiler with 12 positions that range from zero to 60 degrees. In its most aggressive setting, the flap can increase downforce by 42kg at 124mph. The Abarth-branded aero piece also benefits from looking brilliantly silly. We’re fans, as you can probably tell.

Five finishes for the 695 70th Anniversario are available, but frankly, if you don’t spec the Monza 1958 green livery seen in these images, you’re doing it wrong. It’s a homage to a 500 Abarth that clocked six records at Monza, in case you’re wondering.

Lift the Abarth scorpion-stickered bonnet, and you’ll find a 1.4-litre turbocharged inline-four. It develops 178bhp, giving a 0-62mph time of 6.77 seconds and a top speed of 139mph, assuming the spoiler is set to zero degrees.

Power is sent to the front wheels via a five-speed manual gearbox and a mechanical limited-slip differential. When you want to slow down, 305mm discs and four-pot calipers up front - working with 240mm rotors at the back - are ready and waiting to scrub off some speed.

It’ll go on sale later this month, priced quite confidently at £29,695. Would you?