Abarth 500 Esseesse: Cheeky racer spells fun

Fiat's 500 Abarth Esseesse is worth a run or two around an amateur track. Photo / Jacqui Madelin

It's not every day I return to my park to find young men photographing the car's wheels. Seems Fiat's 500 Abarth Esseesse does that to a lad - this one busily hitting "send" and telling me not to go too fast.

But that's the point of this tiny tearaway - it's a hooligan, albeit one that's rewarding down a real-world road. It gets the Abarth's longer nose to fit the bigger, turbocharged, intercooled motor with its 118kW and 230Nm, plus the body kit.

It's got a lowered sports suspension with a torque transfer diff, sports seats and trim. Also, cross-drilled discs and sports calipers tucked inside 17-inch alloy wheels wrapped in high-performance rubber.

It's cheeky, it's quick and it's hardcore. The suspension is designed for track days and high-speed foolery. At its best through the bendy bits and capable of seeing off larger cars through the sort of tight swervery that lets you make the most of the engine.

But it's not at home on real-world roads, where despite remarkably elastic rebound damping for a car like this, the jiggling and joggling will annoy. Enough to buy a softer car? Not if you're after the bang for buck this $42,990 Fiat delivers.

We like The sport button that considerably sharpens engine response - or knocks it back for more frugal daily running. The plentiful grip, sharp steering and raucous soundtrack that inject a racer liveliness to the most mundane drive. This car is made for amateur track days.

We loathe The hard ride required by the car's sharp focus. Those willing to make compromises to ensure everyday comfort must look elsewhere.