4 May 2022: The Abarth 131 Rally, the vehicle which captured the imagination of an entire generation of car enthusiasts, can be seen once again on roads around the world with a new look. On the fortieth anniversary of its last race, the Scorpion brand is paying homage to it with the Abarth 695 Tributo 131 Rally special series. This limited edition will be available in just 695 units globally.
The latest version of this top-of-the-range model is a tribute to Abarth’s racing history. Competitions have always been part of the brand’s DNA and the most innovative solutions - tested on the track to increase performance and reliability - are adopted on normal production cars, ensuring an adrenaline-filled driving experience. Therefore, the new Abarth special edition is an authentic concentration of technology under the banner of the brand's founding values: performance and style.
The Abarth 695 Tributo 131 Rally is equipped with a 1.4 T-jet engine which supplies 180hp and 250Nm of torque at 3,000rpm. Its maximum speed is 140mph and acceleration from 0 to 62mph takes just 6.7 seconds. It also receives Koni FSD shock absorbers on both axles and a dedicated braking system which includes aluminum Brembo calipers, and four pistons on the front and 305mm and 240mm ventilated discs on the rear.
The equipment is completed by the black 17-inch alloy wheels with a diamond-cut finish and the Record Monza Sovrapposto exhaust system—an evolution on the Record Monza system, now with four vertically overlaid terminals. The innovative Spoiler ad Assetto Variabile, which can be adjustable to 12 positions, with an inclination from 0° to 60°, improves cornering stability and provides greater reactivity on mixed roads. For example, at a 60° angle and a speed of 124mph, the aerodynamic load increases up to 42kg.
The Abarth 695 Tributo 131 Rally has a unique and refined look, with specific references to its historical predecessor, such as the new bicolour three-layer Blue Rally glossy livery, which reinterprets its original colour in a contemporary key.
The Abarth 695 Tributo 131 Rally is the first Scorpion vehicle to contain ‘Easter Eggs’—tiny stylistic gems which the designers hide to surprise customers—like the silhouette of the 131 Rally engraved on the lower part of the car door, on the Alcantara dashboard and on the headrests of the new seats.
Specifically dedicated to this special series, the livery is embellished with a roof and uprights in black Scorpion Black. The same blue can be found on the mirror caps and some details in the interiors. Blue Rally and Record Grey monochromatic liveries are also available.
Inside, its performance is characterised by the Sabelt fabric seats with blue inserts and stitching inspired by those of the historic car but reinterpreted in a modern standard.
All of this helps remind us of the legendary history of the Abarth 131 Rally, which debuted in 1976 in Group 4. Its enviable track record includes six years in the World Rally Championship (1976-1981) and victories at 18 International Rallies, three World Constructors’ Champions (1977, 1978 and 1980), two FIA Cup for Rally Drivers titles with Markku Alén and a World Drivers' Champions with Walter Röhrl.
The innovative Augmented Performance campaign
The new Abarth range opens the doors to a world of style and performance and invites all enthusiasts to customise their fun to drive for a totally immersive experience every day. The new campaign dedicated to the launch of the new Abarth 695 Turismo, Abarth 695 Competizione and the special Abarth 131 Tributo Rally series rests precisely on these bases. To present them to the public, the Scorpion brand has created an innovative communication campaign. With a tagline of Augmented Performance, it uses the visual codes and language of the metaverse, giving life to new digital catalogues and a captivating online advert. This is the latest frontier of the digital world, where Abarth enthusiasts will be able to move at full speed between virtual and adrenaline-pumping worlds to customise their ideal car. Just as it happens in real life, where customers can easily customise their favourite Abarth model to experience incredible emotions and a driving pleasure that goes beyond the imaginary.
The Abarth 695 Tributo 131 Rally is priced from £32,325 OTR and will arrive in the UK later this summer.