The fastest street-legal Abarth model ever made, the 695 Biposto, has been named the official car of the 16th edition of the Gumball3000 Rally, with Abarth being the event’s official automotive partner.

For the occasion, the Abarth 695 Biposto has received a special livery featuring the number “1”, the event’s badge and the logos of Abarth’s partners. The Fiat 500-based hot-hatch will accompany participants on stages of the 5,500-km (3,417-mile) route. The Gumball 3000 has started from Ocean Drive, Miami, with the 120 supercars embarking on a seven-day journey through the United States and Europe.

Five cars in Abarth’s current American range are to star in the stage from Miami to New York until the Abarth 695 Biposto debut on Sunday, June 8, in Edinburgh, Scotland. The Abarth fleet scheduled to run the 2,700 and more kilometers (1,678 miles) of the rally’s European section will also include five models of the latest model year and two 595 50th Anniversary cars, representing the entire Abarth range.

Essentially a road-going version of the Abarth 695 Assetto Corse racecar, the 695 Biposto is powered by a 1.4-liter turbocharged petrol engine producing 190hp. It only has two seats, as the rear bench and other comfort and luxury features have been removed for weight-saving purposes. As a result, the car only weighs 997 kg (2,198 lbs), allowing for a weight-to-power ratio of only 5.2 kg/hp. The 695 Biposto sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.9 seconds and reaches a top speed of 230 km/h (143 mph).

By Dan Mihalascu

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