"Some people have a love of boats, I love cars." And for former tennis professional, Russell Eddy, that love of cars saw him bring in the first high-performance 500 Abarth just under a year ago.

Mr. Eddy used to have a Mercedes but he has always wanted an Abarth.

"I love driving it," he said. "And you should see all the Italian waiters around Bermuda light up when they see it. They go ballistic! They love this car.

"One fellow I know from Four Ways Inn went to Italy with his wife and they rented an Abarth. He loved burning down the roads on it they had a blast. The Abarth is a very famous racing car from way back."

Mr. Eddy originally hails from New Zealand – a country which loves cars and racing. "I have always been into cars – Triumphs, MGs – we are crazy about cars down there. However I never did any racing as it was too expensive. I just couldn't afford to."

And ever since he was a young man Mr. Eddy has always coveted an Abarth which is made by Fiat. "I have been a fan of Abarths since I was a young kid. They are a very famous racing car, great on hill climbs and long distance rallies as well as endurance races."

And finally he has got his wish to own one of the Abarths which has remained faithful to the saying coined in the 1960s – 'small but wicked'.

"It has five gears but I only really use three," said Mr. Eddy as he took a drive down North Shore Road. The little white car with it racing chequered roof and unique powerful sound certainly attracted many looks from passersby.

Unfortunately Mr. Eddy cannot really let it go because of Bermuda's 35K speed limit.

"But I would love to," he said with a smile.

"I am aware of how fast it can go – about 140 mph."

Mr. Eddy specified to the factory exactly what he wanted in the car and how it should look. It has beautiful red and black leather seats and although it is small, it can take four adults.

"When you drive this car you always have that feeling that it wants to go. And of course there is that temptation but ..."

After Mr. Eddy told the factory what specs he wanted, he brought it in through Bermuda Traders. "It was shipped from Italy to England and then to here."

And he takes loving car of his baby. "I also have the best mechanic in Bermuda working on it, Anthony Watts, and I know he loves to work on the Abarth."

Before buying the Abarth, Mr. Eddy and his wife Maureen owned a Mercedes – and like the Abarth it was also a stick shift. "I wouldn't own anything other that a stick shift," he said despite having to deal with Bermuda's stop and go traffic.

Besides being a racing car, the Abarth also sports a beautiful sound system and is very comfortable.

"Everything is high quality. I have a lot of pleasure driving this car. As I said, some people have boats but I am not a boat man – I am a car man."

And when he goes on holiday Mr. Eddy loves nothing more than renting a top-of-the-line car and just driving.

"We used to rent a Mercedes when we went on holiday but the next time I want to rent an Abarth and really see what it can do. I would just love to floor it!"

Described as a "small car with exceptional performance", the Abarth is powered by a 1.4 16v Turbo engine which delivers a maximum of 135 bhp at 5000 rpm and peak torque of 206 Nm at 3000 rpm in 'Sport' mode (in 'Normal' mode the max torque is 180 Nm at 2500 rpm).

Inside, the cockpit of the 500 Abarth features special instrumentation, derived from that on the Fiat model, to which is added an analogue pressure gauge to show turbo boost pressure. This also incorporates an LED light that optimises gear changes by lighting up at the appropriate moment.

The main instrument panel, with its sports graphics, is protected from glare by an extended upper cowl, while the three-spoke steering wheel has shaped thumb rests, is 'flattened' at the bottom to increase roominess, and is adjustable.

The aluminium pedals with their rubber trim have a decidedly 'racing' look, like the gearknob (covered with leather with a more anatomical grip for sporty driving).

The same approach is evident in the seats of the 'one-piece' type, incorporating the head-restraint into the squab which are upholstered with a choice of materials: fabrics in different combinations of colours and textures, and two versions of leather (black or red). The headlining and the side trims are black, giving the interior a more technical, sporty look.

The respected Car Magazine in the UK said this about the new 500 Abarth: "Can the Fiat 500 Abarth live up to the hype? Now we've driven it, we have the answer. In the last year, no car launched anywhere has had the same impact on the buying public as the Fiat 500. It seems we just can't get enough of its retro bubbliness, cheery smile and Italian chic.

"But if you feel a little patronised by the unashamed plundering of the Fiat back catalogue, perhaps the new hot version, the 500 Abarth, will change your mind. It's still working to the same template of rehashing past successes, but it's claimed to be bang up to date in performance and driving dynamics. It mixes pukka design with pin-sharp performance.

"Abarth has taken the cute little 500 and injected some venom. The turbocharged 1.4-litre 16 valve T-Jet produces 135bhp, while most of the mechanicals on the car have been uprated: a roll bar at the rear, stiffer springs and dampers, Brembo disc brakes all round (ventilated at the front), ride height lowered by around 15mm and bigger, stickier rubber on either funky 16- or 17-inch rims.