Fiat has committed the iconic 500 city car to a pure-electric future – and now it’s time for the company’s performance brand Abarth to deliver its take on the model, with the Abarth 500e. The new car is due on sale in the UK by summer 2023 with prices expected to be above £35,000.
The first all-electric Abarth in history takes the regular 500 EV’s recipe and adds several key features to give it a more sporting flavour. Chief among these is a boost to the front-mounted electric motor, which delivers 152bhp (up from the 117bhp of the Fiat version) and 235Nm of torque, to bring a 0-62mph time of seven seconds.
The new model has considerably less power than its combustion-engined stablemates, although Abarth engineers are quick to point out that it laps test tracks in faster times because of its increased width, longer wheelbase and instant EV torque. The 500e also features a novel sound generator and amplifier – programmed from an initial sample of the petrol 695’s exhaust note – to help deliver a more intense aural experience.
Abarth 500e design details
Exterior styling tweaks on the Abarth include a more aggressive front bumper, side skirts and a rear diffuser, along with sportier alloy wheels. The convertible version gets an integrated spoiler in its fabric roof, while the hatchback, seen here, features rear privacy glass. Every Abarth 500e also has a revised version of the brand’s ‘scorpion’ logo.
Inside, there’s a three-spoke sports steering wheel, sports seats, leather upholstery with Alcantara trim, a seven-inch digital instrument cluster, and a standard 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment set-up that features ‘performance pages’ designed to show owners more detailed driving data.
Abarth claims that the 500’s latest platform – which is currently not shared with any of the sister Stellantis brands – gives the model a wider track, longer wheelbase and better weight distribution than the old combustion-powered 500s. The brand says that these gains and punchier acceleration figures help the 500e to lap its Balocco test track a second faster than its ICE predecessor.
The Abarth 500e will have a selection of three driving modes. Turismo is meant for everyday driving, with reduced power and torque (132bhp and 230Nm) aimed at delivering a smoother experience.
Scorpion Street, meanwhile, unleashes the powertrain’s full potential as well as maximising brake-energy recuperation for urban environments with frequent stops. Scorpion Track dials back the brake regen to focus purely on performance. Abarth says that single-pedal driving is possible in Turismo and Scorpion Street settings.
Battery and charging
The Abarth 500e uses the same battery as its Fiat sibling, at 42kWh; but range drops from 199 to 155 miles due to the increased motor output. However, the company has confirmed that its version will get the same maximum charging rate of 85kW DC. This will be able to deliver around 30 miles of range in five minutes, and take the car from near-empty to 80 per cent of capacity in a little over 30 minutes.
The Abarth 500e is being launched with a fully laden Scorpionissima version, which will be available for a pre-ordering session through enthusiasts’ clubs. The rest of us will be able to order the car from next spring, and it should land in UK dealers by early summer 2023. There’s no word yet on pricing, but expect the hot hatch to start at a figure north of £35,000.
Future plans for Abarth
Speaking at the reveal, Fiat-Abarth chief Olivier Francois said his team was already trying to think of ways to ramp up the 500e’s performance and noise. “Everyone is already working to make this car even faster, even sportier, even louder,” he said.
Francois ruled out the idea of Abarth building standalone models or any vehicles based on manufacturers from elsewhere in the parent Stellantis group. But he said that while Abarth will always have fewer models than Fiat, there remains scope for range expansion. “All Fiat models can potentially have an Abarth,” he said, “but it will not make sense for all of them. I’m not going to build an Abarth version of the [seven-seat MPV] Doblo, for example. But in Europe, Abarth always had a lot of success when tied to the 500. The 500 is like that and other models around the 500 galaxy could be like that.”
That’s a likely reference to a forthcoming larger version of the existing all-electric 500 – potentially a zero-emissions take on the 500X baby SUV, as highlighted by Auto Express earlier this year. Francois stated that he “could easily have made an Abarth version” of the existing petrol 500X, and that one had been drawn up.
Click here for our list of the best small electric cars on sale…
