Abarth 595 esseesse Driving Video

The amazing Abarth 595 esseesse is back, breathing new life into a name deeply rooted in the brand's history, looking right back to its origins, when the Sixties tuning kits made Karl Abarth's fortune as the inventor of the kits designed to boost the performance of mass production cars.

1964 saw the debut of the first Abarth 595 esseesse, tuned with the aid of a Solex 34 PBIC carburettor and a special intake manifold, cast in a single piece of light alloy with the valve cover, boosting its power to 32 HP. On the outside, the car was recognisable by the rubber ties securing the bonnet instead of the usual lock, replaced by the enamelled Abarth logo. Inside, the "mean little Scorpion" displayed distinctive badges, with the "SS" monogram in capital letters on the bonnet and boot, and "esseesse" in full, in lowercase letters, on the dashboard. And it was an immediate success with Italian sports car enthusiasts.

A success repeated in 2009 by the original "esseesse" tuning kit for the new Abarth 500, which appeared in 2008. The tuning increased the engine's power to 160 HP and modified the suspension setup, with Eibach lowering springs, alongside a higher-powered braking system and other clearly racing-inspired contents. What's more, to guarantee compliance with the most demanding control and safety standards, the "esseesse" tuning kit was only installed by the official network of Abarth tuners, who still received it in the famous wooden crate, just like the famous Sixties original.