Fiat->ke30 and Yamaha->ke301 normally have little common other than the fact that they’re considered giants in their respective fields. One is an Italian automaker that owns Ferrari->ke252 while the other is a Japanese motorcycle company that’s considered one of the best in the world. But the two companies actually have a long history of working together, especially when it comes to MotoGP->ke5142. In fact, Fiat-owned Abarth->ke2904 and Yamaha have a current two-year deal in place that makes Abarth an official sponsor of the Movistar Yamaha MotoGP team, as well as its official car supplier for the 2015 and 2016 MotoGP seasons. Thanks to the partnership between these two brands, special edition models like the Abarth 595 Yamaha Factory Racing Edition can find a spot at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show.

The Abarth 595 Yamaha Factory Racing Edition is the latest in a series of special edition Abarths that have been made for Yamaha. On September 11, 2015, Movistar Yamaha was given three Abarth 695 biposto Yamaha Factory Racing Edition vehicles during a ceremony at Abarth’s headquarters in Turin, Italy. The 695 isn’t expected to go on sale to the public, but the 595 Yamaha Factory Racing Edition is expected to hit dealerships in small quantities.

l hope that Abarth sends the 595 Yamaha Factory Racing Edition to dealerships sooner than later. For now, though, the special edition 595 is at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show as a visual reminder that Abarth and Yamaha have a solid relationship that's built on the pursuit of motor racing->ke447 success.

Continue reading to learn more about the Abarth 595 Yamaha Factory Racing Edition.

Exterior

A quick glance at the Abarth 595 Factory Racing Edition doesn’t show any noticeable exterior enhancements made to the lovable hatchback. In fact, the only upgrades made to the car are the privacy windows, the 17-inch matte-black alloy rims, and the Yamaha Factory Racing badge that can be found below the 595 insignia on the tailgate section of the car. The special edition Abarth will also come in six body colors, including the white livery that’s on display at the Frankfurt Motor Show->ke235.

Interior

Leather seats have replaced the stock versions and together with a flat-bottom leather steering wheel and aluminum pedals, they comprise the upgrades made to the cabin of the car. The on-display car at the Frankfurt Motor Show also has an automatic climate control system and parking sensors.

Drivetrain

At the heart of the Abarth 595 Yamaha Factory Racing Edition is a modified version of the car’s feisty 1.4-liter T-Jet engine that now produces 160 horsepower, 20 horsepower more than the standard Abarth 595 in Europe. A Record Monza exhaust was also installed to give the car a throatier engine sound. Abarth didn’t release performance details of the car, but if you base it on the standard, 160-horsepower Abarth 595 that's sold in the U.S., the 595 Yamaha Factory Racing Edition should be able to sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 6.9 seconds to go with a top speed of about 130 mph.

Safety

To accommodate the uprated engine, Abarth added its own Koni suspension kit on the the special edition 595 to improve its handling and drivability. The kit includes new shock absorbers and lowered springs from Eibach.

Prices

Mum’s the word on the pricing and U.S. availability of the Abarth 595 Yamaha Racing Edition. What I do know is that the Abarth 500 is priced from $22,495 in the U.S. so if ever the 595 Yamaha Factory Racing Edition does find its way here, it could cost somewhere around $24,000. That said, I’m not confident that the special edition model will be sold here since MotoGP isn’t as big in this part of the world as it is over in Europe.

Competition

2014 Mini Cooper

The Mini Cooper and the Fiat Abarth 500 share a lot of things in common other than their retro-inspired looks. Their popularity is probably one of the biggest reasons why compact hatchbacks->ke304 have had a renaissance in recent years.

Having said that, choosing between the Cooper and the Abarth 500 boils down to what a customer prefers. Unlike the Abarth, the Cooper has a choice of two engines: a 1.5-liter inline-three cylinder that produces 136 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque or a 2.0-liter four-cylinder unit that produces 192 horsepower and 206 pound-feet of torque. These output numbers sit between the 160-horsepower output of the Abarth 500.

The base Cooper retails for $19,950, which is slightly cheaper than the Abarth 500’s $22,495 price tag. Then there’s the Cooper S, which costs $23,600.

You can read our full review here.

Conclusion

I’m a big fan of MotoGP so I enjoy the times when an automaker, mainstream or niche, gets involved in the sport. The Abarth-Yamaha partnership is proof that two separate industries can co-exist in the name of motor racing. So what if the Abarth 595 Yamaha Factory Racing Edition is basically a standard 595 Turismo with a Yamaha Racing badge slapped on it? In this case, it’s the name and what it represents that matters. I wouldn’t mind paying a little premium for it if the car becomes available here.