Abarth 500C

Priced at £16,856 OTR, the Abarth 500C manual is around £1,000 cheaper than the automatic version. The car features Dualdrive electrically assisted power steering with 'Sport Mode' while stopping is courtesy of front (ventilated) and rear disc brakes.

Along with an electric hood with glass rear window, and third brake light incorporated into the spoiler, the car receives, as standard, a host of other equipment. This includes seven airbags, xenon headlights, TTC (torque transfer control), parking sensors, Blue&Me hands-free telecommunications system, leather steering wheel and alloy wheels. A full range of options includes automatic climate control, leather sports interior, bi-colour paint, red brake callipers and coloured Abarth side stripes and mirrors.

Proof that the 500C is a true Abarth comes in the form of its 135 bhp 1.4 16v Turbo T-Jet engine, which provides the convertible with a top speed of 128 mph and a 0-62 mph time of 7.9 seconds. But the unit returns 43.5 mpg fuel economy on the combined cycle and has a CO2 figure of 155 g/km.