There will be no place to hide if you pick up the keys to the latest Abarth 595 – the super-hot spin-off from the dynamic yet compact Fiat 500.

Press the Sport button on the 595 Competizione and Trofeo versions of the freshly revised Abarth 595 range and it opens a valve in the exhaust allowing the driver to select between a more composed and tranquil engine sound or a tougher, sportier – and more traditionally Abarth – roar.

Abarth 595 is available in a choice of hatchback or convertible guises and there are four versions to choose from called 595, 595 Trofeo, 595 Turismo and 595 Competizione. They are all powered by a punchy Euro 6D-TEMP compliant 1.4 litre petrol engine with power levels ranging from 145hp to 180hp. The engine is paired to a five-speed gearbox but they can be optionally fitted with an Abarth robotised sequential gearbox with shift paddles.

The Abarth 595 stands out from the crowd thanks to a front end with a large air scoop, pronounced diffusor on the rear bumper, 16-inch alloy wheels along with a performance feel to the dashboard.

The 595 is Abarth’s entry-level model costing from £15,980 and it has a flat-bottom steering wheel with a satin chrome centre stripe. A Sport button alters the maximum torque output, the power steering and accelerator pedal settings. The braking system is specific to Abarth, with disc brakes all round.

The 595 Trofeo is the special series filled with a raft of performance-oriented equipment, including Abarth Telemetry to monitor performance at all times and Koni rear suspension with Frequency Selective Damping (FSD) technology to optimise the driving experience and ensure greater road-holding, handling and stability.

The Abarth 595 range then moves up through the Tourismo version to the range-topping 595 Competizione costing £24,630, which comes fitted with the new Active Record Monza exhaust as standard. It can also be equipped with an optional mechanical self-locking differential to improve the traction in fast driving conditions.

The Abarth 595 Competizione, boasting 180hp, accelerates from 0-62mph in 6.7 seconds and uses a Brembo braking system with four-piston aluminium monobloc fixed calipers.