Fastest ever 500

It doesn’t have gullwing doors, but this little Fiat still packs plenty of drama. Meet the 500 Abarth esseesse – the most powerful 500 ever!

With a power output of 158bhp, the esseesse (pronounced “essay essay”) has 23bhp more than the standard 500 Abarth. It certainly looks the part, as it gets a lowered ride height, 17-inch alloys
and twin exhaust pipes integrated into the rear splitter. The esseesse kit is an upgrade for the Abarth 500 that’s due here in January, and can only be fitted by specialist dealers.

In addition to the unique wheels and lowered springs, the overhaul adds bigger, cross-drilled brakes. Under the bonnet, the only change is the fitting of a performance air filter, while Abarth engineers tune the standard 1.4-litre turbo to get the extra horsepower and deliver 230Nm of torque.

These changes allow the new car to cover 0-62mph in 7.4 seconds and hit a 131mph top speed. Yet it returns 43mpg and emits 155g/km of CO2.

There’s no official word on prices, but expect to pay around £3,000 for the kit. Including the donor car, that brings the total a MINI Cooper S-matching £16,000.