This article includes speculative illustrations for the Abarth variant of the electric Fiat 500 created by Thanos Pappas for CarScoops that are neither related to nor endorsed by Abarth.
Since the reveal of the electric Fiat 500 in 2020, Abarth fans were eager to see what the Scorpion brand will do with it as a replacement for the aging 595/695 range. Two years later, Oliver François, Fiat and Abarth CEO, admitted that development is well underway and the production model will arrive quickly after the official confirmation, likely in the second half of 2023.
Abarth’s first-ever EV was hinted at during the European launch of the Fiat 500 in October 2020. Back then, François told journalists that he would love to see a performance version of the electric city car, praising its fun-to-drive characteristics and saying it was a great starting point for Abarth engineers. One and a half year later he revisits the issue speaking to Autocar.
Abarth’s boss now confirms that they are “actively working” on the performance version of the 500, although he admits that it is “more complicated to deliver” than he initially thought. He claims that while electric cars are fun to drive, “if you want to do a real Abarth, it’s not the same electric powertrain”, explaining that once the EV reaches the targeted power and torque figures, the drivetrain, transmission, and brakes also have to be adapted, which obviously translates to a longer R&D period.
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Despite the hurdles, François is still optimistic about the timing of the launch, saying that the production model will follow quickly after the official confirmation. According to Autocar, the model will debut in 2023. Stellantis’ roadmap didn’t include any BEV and PHEV launches for Abarth at least until the first half of 2023, but the company has confirmed it will go electric-only in 2024.
This means that the current ICE-powered range will be dropped by then, and the EV successor will be already on sale. François said that the Abarth range will consist of between one and three vehicles at any one time which means that besides the 500 in hatch and cabrio flavors, it could include more models taken from Fiat’s EV range.
Besides the visual tweaks including a sporty bodykit and larger-diameter wheels, the Abarth version will bring an increased power output – likely more than the current ICE-powered range – combined with a stiffer suspension and larger brakes for better handling. However, the improved performance will likely come at the expense of the driving range.
The new Fiat 500 comes fitted with a single electric motor producing 116 hp (87 kW / 118 PS) and 220 Nm (162 lb-ft) of torque, sending power to the front wheels. The city car accelerates from 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 9 seconds, top speed is limited to 150 km/h (93 mph) and range is up to 320 km (199 miles) with the larger 42 kWh battery.
Commenting on the Abarth EV, François said: “It’s going to be fantastic. The sound is going to be very interesting. There will be a choice to be silent or not”. He also added that Abarth fans will play an important role in the development of future models, with the brand reaching out to them through social media.
