Abarth is marking its first appearance at luxury watch fair, Salon QP, with a display of the limited edition 695 Rivale – a collaboration with yacht builder Riva – and the two-seater 124 spider.

Riva’s successes in the twenties and thirties and Abarth’s in the fifties and sixties were the foundations upon which these Italian brands were built and the Abarth 695 Rivale, making its debut appearance in the UK, combines the essence of both in terms of style, performance and craftsmanship.

Exclusive styling features and premium materials pay tribute to the new open ’56 Rivale’ luxury yacht, with the trademark Riva two-tone Sera Blue and Shark Grey colour scheme separated by an Aquamarine double-stripe, said to represent ‘a thin line of sea on the horizon’. 

Blue leather interior and optional mahogany finish to the dashboard, steering wheel and gear lever, satin chrome finish to the door handles and tailgate, and optional handwritten name plate fixed with the same screws used on a Riva yacht, complete the unique collaboration and complement the instrument panel and Uconnect 7-inch HD touch screen infotainment system – Apple CarPlay and Android Auto ready – featuring navigation and touch or voice controlled operation.

The Akrapović exhaust system with carbon tailpipes, Brembo brakes with black callipers and grey 17-inch Supersport wheels underline the car’s performance capabilities: the 180hp MultiAir engine delivers a top speed of 139mph and acceleration from 0-62mph in 6.7 seconds.

Alongside the 695 Rivale is the Abarth 124 spider. Powered by 1.4-litre 170hp engine, the two-seater roadster has a top speed of 142mph and features racing suspension for precise and agile handling as well as a Record Monza exhaust to deliver a sporty sound.

Developed with the Abarth Racing team, the optional matt black bonnet is a reference to the classic Abarth 124 Rally, which sported a matt finish to prevent the driver being dazzled by the sun. Available in two pastel and three metallic hues, each colour’s name pays homage to an historic Abarth rally win – for example the San Marino 1972 Black.

Priced from £22,860 on-the-road, we understand that the initial run of the 695 Rivale has already sold out, but the Abarth 124 Spider is available now from Abarth’s network of UK dealers, with prices starting from £31,920.

Abarth is the official Automobile Partner of Salon QP, which is being held from 2–4 November at the Saatchi Gallery, London and features a collection of exclusive timepieces from around 70 of the world’s leading watchmakers.