Hot Hatch is brands first EV
Abarth has entered the EV game with a hot variant of the Fiat 500e, The new Abarth 500e is equipt with the same 42kWh battery as the car on which it’s based, but offers an increase of 35bhp to send 152bhp to the front wheels in the new hatch.
The extra power helps give the Abarth 500e a 0-62mph time of 7 seconds, 2 seconds faster than Fiat’s 500e, and in comparison only 0.3 seconds slower than the combustion engine 180bhp Abarth 695.
Instead of fierce acceleration Abarth opted for better mid-range power, meaning the hot hatch can reach 12-25mph and 25-35mph in just one second and under 1.5 seconds respectively, compared to the petrol engine 695’s 2.5 second.
The Abarth 500e is likely to get slightly less range from the battery than its Fiat sibling, which in turn manages around 143 miles, this is due too the greater state of tune. However, it does match that car’s 85kW fast-charging speed, meaning it can be charged from empty to 80% in 35 minutes.
The EV hot hatch sits a lot squatter to the road thanks to a wheelbase 24mm longer and track 60mm wider than the Fiat 500e, a higher improvement of turn-in and corner exit speeds is claimed helped by a lower centre of gravity provided by the under-floor battery.
A feature of the new Abarth will be its artificial petrol engine soundtrack, which will have a “distinctive” characteristic. The feature, which is equipped as standard, can be switched off for silent running.
On the inside the car is more of less identical to the Fiat, including a 7inch instrument screen as standard, rear-view camera and 10.25in infotainment touchscreen. Greater spec models get Alcantara sports seats, and a JBL speaker system.
The Abarth 500e – which will be available in either hatchback or cabrio variants, like the 695 – is expected to get marginally less range from the 42kWh battery than its Fiat sibling (143 miles) due to the higher state of tune of its motors – and lack of any range-extending ‘Sherpa’ mode, as fitted to the Fiat 500 Electric. However, it will match that car’s 85kW fast-charging speed, meaning it can be topped up from empty to 80% in 35 minutes.
Pricing is likely to start above £35,000, and will be available in either hatchback or cabrio variants.