AbarthAbarth & C. S.p.A. Division of Stellantis

 

 

Abarth has long achieved cult status among motorheads. The combination of a small car and relatively high performance is considered a recipe for success anyway. The Italian sister brand to Fiat has mastered the art of getting the most out of a four-cylinder engine over the past few decades. 

Now Abarth is taking the next logical step and bringing the already hugely popular Fiat 500e as an all-electric performance model. Fiat's sporty sub-brand Abarth has already presented its version of the all-electric 500.  

The developers advertise the small electric sports car as "responsive and exciting in city traffic, but also agile and pleasant when driving out of town". Thanks to optimized weight distribution, better torque and a wider wheelbase, the electric architecture performs better than the petrol engine in a direct comparison.

The Fiat 500e not only looks great, but with its electric drive, it is also the ideal speedster for the city centre. It also comes with a sound generator function and is said to deliver "more Abarth than ever".

 

 

The Design

AbarthAbarth & C. S.p.A. Division of Stellantis

 

 

Visually, new design elements give the Abarth 500e a distinct look, including the new, modernized and electrified Skorpion signature logo. There are also several elements on the body: the front bumper, the lines of the side skirts, the white front spoiler insert, the white rear diffuser insert, special alloy wheels and mirror caps in "Titanium Grey". 

There is also full LED front lighting with Abarth signature, disc brakes front and rear, Abarth lettering front and rear, and electrified Skorpion signature logo on the flanks. The convertible version also has a black soft top with an integrated spoiler. It is also equipped with tinted windows.

The designers have really succeeded in bridging the gap between a sporty, aggressive look and the cute Fiat look. The brand name is emblazoned in large anthracite-colored letters on the front and replaces the classic filigree 500 letterings.

The Abarth 500e will initially appear in the Scorpionissima special edition, limited to 1949 units – a subtle nod to the year the brand was founded. The two bright communication colors "Acid Green" and "Poison Blue" are reserved exclusively for the launch edition and will then no longer be available. 

In typical Fiat fashion, the Abarth is available as both a sedan and a convertible and, according to Stellantis managers, is already enjoying great popularity in the European pre-order process.

 

 

The Interior

InteriorAbarth & C. S.p.A. Division of Stellantis

 

 

The interior offers comfortable sports seats, two-tone topstitching, a sporty steering wheel with bright green 12 o'clock marking and lots of Alcantara. Interior details also include dark trim on the pillars and headliner, and the Poison Blue handle used to fold down the front seats.

Unfortunately, the sporty aesthetic ends at the door panels, which are still made of the cheapest hard plastic and are only upgraded with a leather-covered armrest. Since the 500 has never shone with the highest quality materials and the classic Abarth customer does not expect a luxury interior either, one can easily overlook the high plastic content.

 

 

The Power

InteriorAbarth & C. S.p.A. Division of Stellantis

 

 

Die-hard Abarth fans will initially be disappointed in view of the technical data: the electric motor delivers 113 kW and has a maximum torque of 235 Nm. This accelerates the Abarth to 60 mph in a brisk 7.0 seconds, but the run is already over at 96 mph. 

It's a shame when you consider that an Abarth 595 easily clears the 125 mph hurdle and you can reasonably keep up with significantly more powerful vehicles in the left lane. Abarth justifies the decision with the fact that the range would decrease significantly at these speed dimensions, but promises to submit more powerful models with potentially higher top speeds in the not-too-distant future.

The rest of the spec sheet reads extremely familiar. A 42 kWh battery is installed in the Abarth 500e, which is already known from the larger version of the Fiat 500e, and the charging speed of a maximum of 85 kW remains the same, which means that 80 percent can be recharged in around 35 minutes. 

Abarth puts the standard range at 155 miles, around 45 miles less than the Fiat 500e. Depending on how sporty you drive the Abarth, the "real" range can of course also be less.

 

 

The Tech

TechAbarth & C. S.p.A. Division of Stellantis

 

 

The fact that manufacturers invest a lot of time and money to give their electric models a characteristic sound is not a new phenomenon - but that an exact combustion engine sound is imitated in an electric car is. 

You got that right, Abarth 500e comes with an "artificial engine". The familiar thumping sound of a naturally aspirated eight-cylinder engine can boom out of the large round speaker mounted on the underside of the vehicle, anytime you like.

As expected, the reactions by the Abarth community were mixed, but whatever one thinks of the sound generator, the deep rumble of the fake engine definitely sets the Abarth apart from the competition. Of course, the sound can be switched off completely in all three driving modes, so that you can also enjoy the ride in the electric dwarf completely silently.

 

Conclusion

AbarthAbarth & C. S.p.A. Division of Stellantis

 

 

The Abarth 500e is still being offered alongside its combustion engine siblings, the 595 and 695, but like the other brands in the Stellantis Group, Abarth is aiming for a purely electric future. 

Although the 500e will probably not take the hearts of long-established Abarthers by storm - the prospect of future, much more powerful and faster engines remains. Perhaps they will then be able to persuade the committed Abarth community to buy the battery-electric version. 

Everyone who owns an iconic vehicle like the Abarth 500e should protect their investment because with limited numbers this car can be a classic one day. For all your protection equipment needs, we recommend Coverking. They are the best in the business and always know what they are doing. The company digitally scans each vehicle available on the market with the latest technology. 

The ability to scan allows them to create the best custom-fitting equipment possible as soon as a new model is released. So, you can be sure that they will be the first to carry protective equipment for the Fiat Abarth 500e as soon as it comes out. 

Coverking is also the official protective equipment partner of most automotive manufacturers. Check out their catalog and find out what they can do for you and your vehicle. 

 

 

 

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Tankut Basar

Tankut Basar is an ARA (American Rally Assoc.) Racing Driver and an FIA Bronze Category License Holder. His passion for driving began with karting like most racers. He started racing internationally at the age of 22. Tankut loves everything car-related and will keep enjoying the drive until the end. 

 

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