Abarth 595 Hércules, could it steal the spotlight from the one and only Toyota Yaris GR?

The folks at Abarth have just let their hair down and unveiled one of the most impressive sporty compacts we have seen in quite some time. It is called Abarth 595 Hércules and it is a wild, radical Abarth in every respect. There is no detail they have not improved: interior, exterior, power… It is an absolute delight! So much so that it is being compared with the very same Toyota Yaris GR. Do you have a clear winner?

Italian cars have that essence that inspires elegance and enjoyment, but sometimes the ones from Abarth, as is the case here, have wanted to go a step further and turn the Abarth 595 Hércules into one of the fastest beasts on the road. The model is boosted by Pogea Racing and its lines feature a widebody kit that is absolutely outrageous.

Abarth 595 Hércules, a sporty compact that makes an impression

If the design strikes you as brutal, wait until you learn more about its heart. This beast features a 1.4l T-Jet engine that delivers 220 CV and 350 Nm of peak torque, thanks to a revised electronics package and its new exhaust system signed by Monsterexhaust. This thoroughbred can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.2 seconds and reaches a top speed of 232 km/h. It also features elements such as adjustable suspension, which allows it to deliver sensations from another world.

If we placed it next to the Toyota Yaris GR, the first thing that would stand out is the Hércules’ look, since it lacks such eye-catching elements, even though the GR Yaris is a ‘homologated special’ derived from rallying. Its power is greater than the Abarth’s, producing 261 CV and 360 Nm, which could put this new god of Olympus, or some of the most famous sports cars on the market, against the ropes.

It is true that the Toyota GR Yaris may hold some edge over the Abarth 595 Hércules, but this is where everything surrounding the Italian brand comes into play, compared with everything surrounding the Japanese one. Tastes differ, and colors too, but perhaps not everything is about power. The sensations the Italians convey are hard to match. And you, could you choose between the two? We have very, very divided hearts. Will you help us?