Tiny tearaway Abarth gets electric sting

Abarth enters the electrified era with its most responsive and exciting Abarth 500 ever, the Abarth 500e.

It may be one of Australia’s tiniest electric cars but the Abarth 500e micro hatch packs a potent sting in its tiny tail.

Due in the first quarter of next year and based on the MY23 Fiat 500e, the Abarth 500e will be offered in hatchback body style in two limited edition variants, the Turismo priced at $58,900 (MRLP) and the Scorpionissima priced at $60,500 (MRLP).

Featuring a front-mounted electric motor delivering 113.7kW/235Nm, the tiny tearaway’s outputs  are enough to push the 500e from 0–100km/h in a rapid 7.0 seconds.

That’s a significantly sharper than the standard Fiat 500e which uses its lower 87kW/220Nm outputs to cover the 0-–100km/h dash in a more leisurely 9.0 seconds, but it’s still a few tenths shy of the 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol Abarth 695 Competizione, with punches out a feisty 132kW/250Nm to nail a sprint time of 6.7 seconds.

Easily identified by the inclusion of two distinct new exterior colours – Acid Green and Poison Blue – the exterior styling also features unique ‘Abarth’ decals on the side profile and bespoke 18-inch diamond-cut titanium grey alloy wheels.

Inside, there’s a premium Alcantara interior, body-hugging sports seats with integrated headrest and body-coloured double stitching to provide visual continuity from the seats to the door panels.

Equipped with a 42kWh battery coupled with the electric motor, the Abarth 500e promises even more dynamic handling than its renowned petrol-powered counterparts, thanks to its improved weight distribution, better torque and a wider wheelbase.

With a battery range up to 252km and equipped with a CCS COMBO Type 2 socket that enables both domestic and public AC charging, the Abarth 500e can be charged at a maximum rate of 85kW DC from 0–80% in about 35 minutes.

While most EVs make a virtue of their silence, the Abarth 500e goes the other way by incorporating a sound generator that reproduces the signature roar of an Abarth petrol engine equipped with Record Monza exhaust.

Let us do the work finding your next car