2022 Abarth 595 Scorpioneoro
Is Abarth’s latest special edition, the black-and-gold Scorpioneoro, a gold medal winner?
Gold Star / Story & images by Chris Rees - Latest special edition on test
For those of us who remember, the black-and-gold colour scheme sported by the latest ‘special series’ Abarth, the 595 Scorpioneoro, is a dead ringer for the John Player Special livery – you know, the one that adorned various Lotus models in the 1970s.
As ever, Italy has its own take on such things and this Abarth 595 pays homage not to classic British fag packets but to a 1979 Autobianchi A112 Abarth special edition called the Targa Oro (pic above right). Like its ’79 forebear, the 2021 car also features black paint, gold detailing and uprated equipment.
‘Scorpioneoro’ looks a hell of a mouthful written down but it simply means ‘Golden Scorpion’. Like the 1970s Abarth, its main body is painted black (not just any black, either, but Scorpione Black), on which gold lines are added. Also gold are the 17-inch alloys, with natty little gold-on-red scorpion wheel centre caps – shades of Impreza WRX maybe? The matt black chessboard roof is complemented by dark grey handles, mirror caps and air dams front and rear. If you want a gold scorpion on the bonnet, that’s an optional extra (not fitted to ‘our’ car).
It’s a shame that the gold colour scheme doesn’t make it inside the car, apart from car floormat decals and a gold plaque on the centre tunnel attesting to the model’s exclusivity. Otherwise, it’s a temple to black, with black leather-and-fabric seats embroidered with ‘Scorpioneoro’ lettering (the seats are the best thing about this edition, I reckon). The dashboard is all-black too.
Standard gear includes a leather steering wheel, tinted windows and black brake callipers. Customers also get a special Breil watch thrown in, although for some reason this wasn’t provided in our press car. Roy Lanchester would already have knocked one star off his review…
This special edition is more about show than go, to be honest, as it’s based on the regular 165hp Abarth 595. While it’s not exactly a slowcoach (0-62mph in 7.3 seconds), I do miss the 180hp Competizione’s crackling exhaust note. In Sport mode, it’s surprisingly quiet for an Abarth. To compensate, I suppose you have the Beats audio system. This edition also lacks a mechanical limited-slip diff, although the Koni FSD rear suspension is a boon in corners. Limited to 2000 examples globally, you’ll need to hot-foot it to your dealer now if you want one. It’s priced at £22,345.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS 2022 Abarth 595 Scorpioneoro
- ENGINE: 1368cc 4-cyl turbo
- MAX POWER: 165hp at 5500rpm
- MAX TORQUE: 230Nm (170lb ft) at 2250rpm
- TRANSMISSION: 5-speed manual
- MAX SPEED: 135mph
- 0-62MPH: 7.3sec
- PRICE: £22,345