Fiat Abarth 595 ‘Competizione’ – A Little Hatch With A Big Character!

The Fiat Abarth 595 Competizione is a little hatch with loads of character – and a good deal of performance to back it up! The quirky, retro styling has received a bit of a facelift in 2016 but the personality of this enchanting little car remains unchanged.

Producing 184 lb ft of torque at 3000rpm and 178bhp, this ‘pocket rocket’ achieves 0-62mph 6.7sec and with its mechanical limited-slip differential, sturdy chassis and uprated Koni FSD dampers all round, the Abarth delivers a drive with the same fun factor as a go-kart. The four-piston Brembo brakes with drilled and vented discs ensure the ability to slow the horses never fails. The engine pops and bangs as revs decrease only adding to the overall joy of driving it, making the smile on your face broader even as you’re slowing down!

Add on the Performance Pack and the Abarth receives 17-inch Supersport lightweight matte black alloy wheels and carbon fibre backed Sabelt seats. The dashboard and steering wheel get a touch of Alcantara, along with Competizione branding along the parcel shelf.

The owner of this Abarth is passionate about this little hatch, for the smile driving it puts on his face, for the theatre provided by the noise emitted from the Dual Mode Record Monza exhaust system with quad pipes and for the elegant touches on the interior. On this model, the owner opted for a sunroof, a Beats audio system and a 7″ infotainment and sat-nav system. As he puts it, these are “all useful, as it is in the main, my daily driver”. As soon as the dealership notified him it had arrived, he instructed them to leave it untouched and arranged a low-loader to collect it and deliver it directly to UF’s Brands Hatch Detailing Studio for a New Car Protection Treatment.

This is the second car I’ve treated to New Car Protection which, once you have discovered the benefits is hard not to repeat, as it helps keep the car in great condition, easy to maintain and looking new. The service also corrects any minor defects that may have been picked up during the cars travels from its country of origin. – George D, Fiat 595 owner

So it arrived, complete with all its factory fitted protective films and foam still in place.

The way the car was delivered was ideal – just as it left the factory. It meant we could take all the precautionary measures to ensure the paintwork remained pristine and reduced the likelihood of machine polishing before the protective sealant was applied. We often see brand new cars arriving with the paintwork already swirled and scratched from poor preparation techniques before the customer collects it, so it’s great to get one that’s completely untouched! – Matt Back, UF Detailing Studio

Initially, the protective ‘packaging’ was removed, including the coverings on the interior equipment.

Then, to remove any adhesive residue left behind, Gtechniq W7 Tar & Glue Remover was sprayed over the car and allowed to dwell for a few minutes. This breaks down the sticky residues and allows them to be rinsed away, rather than rubbing the residue with a mitt which could damage the clearcoat.

The next step was to apply Gtechniq W6 Iron and General Fallout Remover to the bodywork and wheels.

New cars are susceptible to iron contamination. It can occur if the car is transported by rail which often involves storage in railway sidings. The iron originates from the trains brakes: the hot iron particles become airborne and bond to the first surface they land on. If left, they react with moisture and air and start to rust, which causes them to swell resulting in the potential for permanent pitting in the clearcoat. – Matt Back, UF Detailing Studio

W6 contains an active ingredient that causes the iron particles to shrink, breaking the bond with the underlying substrate. They can then easily be rinsed away with a jet of water – much safer for the paintwork than attempting to remove them with a wash mitt.

The wheels were cleaned using a UF Wheel Bucket and Wheel Woolies, to ensure the rims were clean, front and back before being rinsed with a Kranzle pressure washer.

After rinsing, the Abarth was then treated with Ultimate Snow Foam. The thick foam clings to the panels and lifts larger particles of dirt and grit away from the surface of the paintwork, encapsulating them in the foam and allowing them to be rinsed away, without a wash mitt coming into contact with the paintwork. A second application of Ultimate Snow Foam was made and used as a lubricant for a clay mitt. This mitt removes harmful contamination to leave the surface completely smooth. The foam was then rinsed away and the car was given a full wash using the Two Bucket Method, an Ulti-Mitt Double Sided Merino Wash Mitt and Gtechniq G-Wash. For the final rinse, an Aqua Gleam De-Ionising Water Filter was attached to the hose to give a pure water rinse. The Abarth was dried using ultra-soft microfibre drying towels and brought into the studio where the paintwork was inspected under high-intensity lighting.

The intense lights mimic sunshine and we’ve all seen how revealing bright sunshine can be. However, in this instance the clearcoat was undamaged, so machine polishing wasn’t necessary. – Matt Back, UF Detailing Studio

To optimise the clarity and gloss of the Modena Yellow paintwork, it was first refined by hand using PolishAngel Esclate Lotion. Before the final sealant was applied, each substrate was treated with Nanolex EX Residue Remover to ensure they were completely free from polish residues and oils. Kamikaze Collection ISM Hydrocarbon Coating was then applied with an applicator, allowed to cure for around five minutes before being buffed off with a seamless microfibre. ISM blends optically clear hydrocarbons with ceramic components to deliver a candy-gloss shine and long-lasting protection. As the customer had opted to upgrade to the ‘Ultra’ service, a layer of Kamikaze Collection Infinity Hybrid Wax Hybrid was applied over the top of ISM.

Infinity is a hybrid of both carnauba and SiO2. In order to activate the product, the contents of the jar must be stirred for sixty seconds prior to application. The final result is a coating that gives the wet-look shine of a wax and the amazing hydrophobic properties of a ceramic coating. – Matt Back, UF Detailing Studio

The carbon fibre seat backs were also protected using Infinity wax to add a layer of gloss protection. Then, the exterior plastics were protected using Gtechniq C4 Permanent Trim Restorer. This nano-sealant forms a tough chemical bond with plastics to provide hydrophobic protection and resistance to UV fade that will not rinse away during the weekly wash or dissolve when it rains. In fact, the bond is so strong, C4 protects plastics for up to twenty-four months.

The leather sections of the interior were protected using Gtechniq L1 AB Leather Guard. This forms a protective, hydrophobic barrier that protects against accidental stains as well as providing protection from UV rays. In addition, L1 AB leaves the surfaces with an anti-bacterial function which helps prevent the build-up of stale odours.

The carpet and hood lining were protected using Gtechniq I1 AB Smart Fabric, providing a liquid repelling function to help prevent stains. Again, I1 AB has anti-bacterial properties to help prevent unwanted smells.

Next, the exhaust tips were polished with Gtechniq M1 All Metal Polish, bringing the metal to a bright, warm lustre.

The exhaust tips, alloy wheels and brake callipers were coated with Gtechniq C5 Alloy Wheel Armour.

Alloy wheels tend to be expensive components and they’re also at the forefront of the action – so they pick up a lot of dirt, grime and all sorts of chemical contamination. Exhaust tips become sooted over time. C5 is a nano-sealant that forms a tough bond to provide a hydrophobic and oleophobic barrier that doesn’t wash off. Treated surfaces are protected against harsh chemicals, dirt and water are repelled, so surfaces are easier to keep clean. – Matt Back, UF Detailing Studio

The glass was sealed with Gtechniq G1 ClearVision Smart Glass, to repel rainwater, making driving easier during bad weather conditions. Because of the hydrophobic nature of treated glass, snow and ice are less able to stick to the surface making early starts easier on frosty mornings.

To complete the New Car Protection treatment, Gtechniq T2 Tyre Dressing was applied to the tyres to give a natural satin sheen.

UF Detailing Studio – Award Winning Detailing. Call 0333 800 8004 to discuss your requirements.