Abarth 500 for the sea

It’s not April so this isn’t some joke by Abarth – the Abarth Offshore actually exists and 500 people can own one customised to their wishes. Unveiled in Monaco on the 75^th anniversary of the brand, part of the Stellantis Group, the Offshore combines boating pleasures with the comfort of driving on the road.

The natural curved lines and the absence of straight lines, offer a dynamic movement and a unique character to the design. Its bodywork features a bold, metallic-green finish which becomes iridescent in the sunlight and dark hazelnut detailing and stitching. The front and rear lights create a play of lights as well as unique night lighting.

The entire craft features sporty lines, and the rigid HardTop, which wraps around the passenger compartment, protects the driver with a versatile hood system — a trademark of Abarth’s cabrio models.

The colours of the bodywork are also echoed on the pair of Besenzoni sports seats, which come with an ergonomic, quilted leather backrest, a matching pair of 4-point belts and a Wave Shock dampened steel support base.

To provide more space on board, the swim platform includes a recessed steel ladder, while a comfortable double sundeck aft is there to comfort guests after a pleasant swim. High-quality materials can be found throughout the boat, from the Synteak synthetic teak with customizations to the handrail that follows the sharp lines from stern to bow.

Equipment includes a Garmin stereo system with RGB LEDs, 4 Fusion speakers and a subwoofer that uses the dashboard as a sounding board. It can be further customized with fishing or sports fittings, as well as a stainless steel hand-shower.

Inspired by the Scorpion’s sporty heritage, the Offshore is powered by an inboard hydrojet outboard engine with a pair of Riva racing exhausts. The 230 bhp engine can speed across the water at up to 58 knots (about 107 km/h) and generates the aggressive sound which is a distinctive feature of Abarth hot-hatches.