Abarth 595 Esseesse 2019 first drive

The 595 Esseessee is essentially a lightly modified version of the existing 595 Competizione that has been wheeled out as part of Abarth’s 70th birthday celebrations.

It marks the return of the Esseesse badge, which was previously the preserve of the Italian brand’s hottest models until it disappeared a few years ago when the Abarth 500 morphed into the 595.

So what’s new? Well, the most obvious change externally is the adoption of the neat 17in multi-spoke alloy wheels that are an Esseesse trademark, while elsewhere it gets the same recently reprofiled bumpers as the standard 595. Inside, there’s a pair of bespoke figure-hugging Sabelt high-backed seats with a carbonfibre shell and some natty red stitching, while carbonfibre trim also covers the pedals and the dashboard. It contrasts a little jarringly with the otherwise cheap-and-cheerful plastics, but most of what you see and touch feels of decent quality. Elsewhere there’s a TFT instrument pack and a turbo boost gauge sitting in a pod just to the left of the steering wheel. It’s not exactly tasteful, but it’s completely in keeping with the 595's fun-loving character.

Under the stubby bonnet is the familiar 178bhp turbocharged 1.4-litre engine, but here it breathes in through a BMC filter and exhales from a switchable carbonfibre-tipped Akrapovič twin exit exhaust. There’s no more power than the old Competizione, but the Esseesse gets that model's Brembo callipers for its 305mm front discs, plus a limited-slip differential. The suspension is largely carried over, including Koni’s frequency selective dampers. All very promising.

It's good in a bad sort of way. Essentially, the 595 is based on the same platform as the previous-generation Fiat Panda, which is getting on for 16 years old now. As a result, it's shot through with numerous compromises that hobble any claim on the title of ‘ultimate hot hatch’. The Ford Fiesta ST is leagues ahead in terms of performance, outright ability and driver involvement, while even a car such as the slower Volkswagen Up GTI has the Esseesse covered in most dynamic areas. Yet despite this, it’s hard not to get at least a little bit swept up in the 595’s fizzy and frenetic character.

With Sport mode selected to open the valves in the exhaust (and sharpen the otherwise leaden throttle), the 1.4-litre rasps into life before settling down to a gurgling idle. Blip of the throttle and the burble is overlaid with faint turbo whistle, just like on the Abarth 124 Spider. It’s such an endearing sound that you’re almost willing to overlook the slightly old-school Italian long-arm and short-leg driving position, plus the high-set seat and pedals offset to the right. Still, those Sabelt buckets support in all the right places and the chunky steering wheel feels good in your hands.