If you wanted a small EV but don’t wish to go the Sino-super-mini route with 12-inch wheels, the Abarth 500e might just be the perfect car for you. And in case you don’t want to forego the internal combustion engine (ICE) sounds, the Abarth 500e even comes with the signature Abarth “roar” to fulfill your petrolhead needs (watch the embedded video at the end).
What it is, is the brand’s first EV which is based on the latest version of the Fiat 500e. As such it still has the same 42-kWh battery pack that provides up to 320 km of range (WLTP). Driving the car is a single electric motor that makes 155 hp (metric) and 235 Nm. The motor powers the front wheels only and launches the Abarth 500e from 0 to 100 km/h in 7 seconds flat.
To charge the 42-kWh battery, the Abarth 500e can handle 11-kW AC charging and 85-kW DC Fast Charging (DCFC). With 11-kW AC charging, the Abarth 500e charges from 0 to 100% in 4 hours and 15 minutes. With 85-kW DCFC, it charges from 0 to 80% in just 35 minutes.
Claimed to be “more Abarth than EVer” (no, that’s not a typo), the Abarth 500e is said to be more responsive than the Abarth 695. Abarth says the 500e has “50% faster acceleration from 12 to 25mph than its petrol-powered counterpart”. And on open roads, the 500e performs overtaking manoeuvres faster than its petrol version, reaching a speed of 62mph (starting from 37mph) when its petrol counterpart is still driving at 56mph, with a difference of approximately 1 second.
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Driving modes in the Abarth 500e include “Turismo”, “Scorpion Street”, and “Scorpion Track”. “Turismo” limits the maximum power to 100 kW (from 1113 kW0 and the torque to 220 Nm (from 235 Nm) and allows for smoother acceleration and lower power.
“Scorpion Street” offers top performance while regenerative braking. Both “Turismo” and “Scorpion Street” allow for one-pedal driving. Lastly, “Scorpion Track” is the mode you switch to if you’re “looking for top performance”.
The car you in the pictures is the “Scorpionissima” launch edition with only 1,949 units produced. The number has been chosen to pay homage to the brand’s birth year. The Abarth 500e introduces a new ‘Acid Green’ and ‘Poison Blue’ colour scheme and the limited edition “Scorpionissima” is decorated with Abarth side graphics.
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Also equipped on the “Scorpionissima” 500e are 18-inch Diamond-Cut Titanium Grey alloy wheels, a fixed glass roof, and rear privacy glass. It also comes with advanced sporty steel pedals and a kick plate with an engraved logo.
Inside, the Abarth 500e gets new sporty seats with an embossed scorpion in Alcantara. The New Abarth 500e Scorpionissima also comes with a closed central tunnel, heated front seats and windshield, a height-adjustable driver seat, and 50/50 split-folding rear seats.
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As for entertainment, the Abarth 500e provides a 10.25-inch touchscreen head unit with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone connectivity. A 7-inch fully digital instrument cluster sits in front of the steering wheel, providing information on speed, range, current driving mode, and battery status.
Safety features of the Abarth 500e include Traffic Sign Information, Autonomous Emergency Brake with pedestrian and cyclist recognition, Intelligent Speed Assistant, Lane Keeping Assist, Drowsy Driver Detection, Attention assist, Cruise control, and Blind Spot warning. It also comes with 6 airbags.
RELATED: All-new Fiat 500 EV scored near-perfect marks in Green NCAP tests, rated full five-stars!
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