Abarth's 695 Biposto Record is the 500 that costs more than a Golf R

It’s been a good week for those in the market for something small, Italian, and two-seat-flavoured.

Yesterday we saw the Fiat 124 – Italy’s MX-5-based answer to the MX-5 – and today comes the Abarth 695 Biposto Record, a Fiat 500 with heady aspirations.

It sounds, on paper, pleasingly fruity. The Biposto Record employs Abarth’s favourite 1.4-litre ‘Turbo T-Jet’ four-cylinder, making 187bhp.

Weighing in at a mere 997kg – thanks to the removal of the rear seats, carbon buckets up front, and a host of other weight-reduction measures – the Biposto Record will get from 0-62mph in 5.9 seconds, and on to a top speed of 142mph.

For something with the footprint of, um, an actual shoe, that’s mighty respectable pace.

However. Such respectable pace comes at a cost. And that cost is £36,610. That is, you’ll notice, a lot of money for a hopped-up Fiat 500.

Specifically it’s £7,670 more than the new 345bhp, four-wheel drive Focus RS. It’s £5,480 more than the absurdly competent VW Golf R. And it’s £1,535 more than the 326bhp, rear-drive BMW M235i.

Abarth would like to make clear that you’re paying, in part, for exclusivity: just 133 Biposto Records shall be built, all finished in that unique ‘Modena Yellow’ paintjob.

Is such exclusivity worth, in cash terms, very nearly two MX-5s? Or three Suzuki Jimnys? Or indeed six Dacia Sanderos? Insert your own #ThingsCheaperThanTheBipostoRecord below…