YOU KNOW THE OLD MOTORING journalist cliché about great cars feeling right in the first 200 metres? Well, the Abarth 695 ain't that. The driving position seems too high, your feet land strangely on the pedals, and the steering wheel only adjusts for rake when what you crave is more reach. Far from feeling right, it feels wrong before you've turned a wheel.
That's the bad news.
The good news is the Abarth is such a boisterous character that those negative first impressions are soon blown away, with a generous blast of turbo boost and a flatulent parp from the exhaust. Personality counts for a lot in small, sporty cars and the 695 has it in spades. In fact, it's a riot.
I have to confess I was less than familiar with the Abarth model line-up. I've seen plenty of Competizione versions, and lusted after the rare-as-rocking-horse-muck Biposto for years, but the 695C Turismo is a new one on me.
The '695' means it has 178bhp and 184lb ft, delivered with surprising gusto by Fiat's stalwart 1.4-litre turbocharged in-line four-cylinder. The 'C' bit refers to the roll-back roof, which prompts inevitable 'hairdresser' jibes from my colleagues (and, in a somewhat meta twist of irony, my own hairdresser) but promises some fresh-air fun once spring arrives. As for the Turismo bit, it means the vibe is a bit more grown-up and not quite as obviously racy as the Competizione.
The interior is an Econo-plush mix of cheap plastics for the dash and door panels, with quilted leather upholstery and a few square inches of Alcantara. There's even some carbon fiber on the steering wheel. The infotainment (with CarPlay) is neat and easy to navigate, while the Beats hi-fi has some surprising heft and a pleasing tone. My old bones mourn the lack of heated seats, but given the 695 has its roots in a simple city car, it has a decent array of mod cons.
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THE PERFORMANCE CAR LANDSCAPE WOULD HAVE looked very different over the last five decades without BMW. Its M division, founded in 1972, has produced some of the best driver’s cars ever to hit the road, and in the process has provided a stream of benchmark models for its rivals to chase. In recent years, stricter emissions regulations, downsizing and electrification have seen some of those rival cars falter, yet by and large BMW’s M machines have remained strong. In fact, some rank among the greatest the department has made think of the eCoty-winning M2 CS and M5 CS while others are the only options worth recommending in their respective segments. Price tags have risen with performance, however, putting those latest offerings out of reach for many, but the marque’s popularity means there are numerous earlier M models available on the second-hand market for far more attainable figures. Here are four of our favourites.
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