Abarth 500e electric hot hatch revealed

ABARTH has revealed its Fiat 500-based all-electric 500e hot hatch this week – and the Italian performance brand’s first EV model is confirmed to arrive in Australian showrooms late next year.

The high-performance model will offer a 0-100km/h acceleration time of around seven seconds, meaning it will be slower than the lauded 595 and 695 petrol-powered hatch variants it serves to replace.

Like that duo, the Abarth 500e will be offered in both hatch and cabriolet format with power from a 114kW/235Nm electric motor mounted across the front axle that is fed by a 42kWh battery pack.

Abarth does not quote a driving range for the model but says it may be charged via an 85kW DC fast charger enabling 40km of driving range to be added in five minutes, or an 80 per cent charge in just over half an hour.

To quickly and easily charge the car at home, Abarth will offer a plug-and-play wallbox solution with Bluetooth MyEasyWallbox app that allows owners to set up and monitor the 500’s charging parameters.

And while the ‘green scorpion’ will not have the same aural character as its turbo-petrol derivatives, it will be offered with a sound generator that claims to faithfully reproduce the sound of an internal combustion engine.

The Abarth 500e provides drivers with three driving modes including a relaxed Turismo (or Tour) mode for around town driving; Scorpion Street, for one-pedal driving at full power; and Scorpion Track for “top performance”.

Stylistically, the Abarth 500e is differentiated from regular Fiat 500s by remoulded bumpers front and rear, replete with colour-coded honeycomb inserts up front, 18-inch alloys over larger disc brakes, larger sill covers and stand-out Abarth logos all round.

As pictured, the Scopionissima launch variant is available in vivid Poison Blue or Acid Green paint colours with bolder graphics on each side, its own alloy wheel design, rear privacy glass and a fixed pane glass roof.

Alcantara upholstery with grey accents adorn the cabin of the Abarth 500e, which also hosts a 7.0-inch digital instrument array with Abarth graphics and a 10.25-inch central infotainment centre with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, a JBL sound system, 360-degree camera system, wireless phone charger and a suite of performance-focused information menus.

Other interior highlights include sports pedals and engraved sill panels, keyless entry and start, climate control, an electrochromatic rear-view mirror and manually adjustable and heated front sport seats.

On the safety front, the Abarth 500e is fitted as standard with six airbags, autonomous emergency braking (AEB), blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist and traffic sign recognition.

“Today we are celebrating a milestone in Abarth’s history: we are simultaneously presenting the first electric Abarth in Europe, based on the new 500e, and also launching the brand in Brazil with the introduction of the new Abarth Pulse,” said Fiat and Abarth chief executive officer and global chief marketing officer of Stellantis, Oliver Francois.

“The new Abarth 500e is one of the most exciting launches in the history of the brand: a great new addition to the Abarth line-up. I like to think of it as family, so our fanbase will be involved in every step of our electrification journey.

“You may ask ‘why electric?’ Well, basically, performance made us do it. In fact, every change made in the Abarth is about getting the best driving performance. That’s exactly how our founder, Carlo Abarth, always wanted it.

“So, from that point of view, let’s say that nothing has changed. Better acceleration, better handling, more fun. And then there’s Abarth’s legendary signature – its sound!”

Australian pricing and specification for the Abarth 500e will be confirmed closer to the model’s local launch toward the end of 2023.