The 152bhp Abarth 500e is the firm’s first electric hot hatch, and UK customers can purchase one of 1,949 Scorpionissima editions for £38,695
The rorty Abarth 500 hot hatch was a resounding hit when it arrived in 2008, so it was only a matter of time before a quicker, sharper Abarth version of the all-electric Fiat 500 broke cover. Meet the Abarth 500e: the 152bhp electric hot hatch which is now available to pre-order in Scorpionissima launch edition spec.
Pre-orders have opened for the Scorpionissima across Europe, and just 1,949 will be produced as a nod to the year the Abarth brand was born. More than 1,500 of these are already spoken for, with the launch edition costing £38,695 and first deliveries expected in June.
The 500e squares up against other retro-styled electric hot hatches like the upcoming Alpine R5 and the MINI Electric, the latter of which undercuts the Scorpionissima by £3,645 in range-topping Resolute trim. Cheaper – and potentially more powerful – versions of the Abarth will follow the launch edition, however.
As the first fully-electric Abarth in history, the new model builds on the regular 500 EV’s recipe with performance tweaks 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 less power than its combustion-engined stablemates with the 695 pumping out 177bhp and 250Nm of torque, resulting in a 0-62mph time of 6.7 seconds. 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 18-inch alloy wheels. There’s also large ‘Abarth’ lettering on the front and on the boot lid as well as Abarth decals on the side. 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.
Sporty revisions aren’t just kept to the exterior, because inside you’ll find a three-spoke sports steering wheel, sports seats, leather upholstery with Alcantara trim and bright stitching. There’s also a panoramic roof, an upgraded sound system, a seven-inch digital instrument cluster, 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.
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.
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Keyword: New Abarth 500e electric hot hatch: prices announced