2023 Abarth 500e: Australian arrival and features confirmed

Fiat Chrysler Australia have revealed the local line-up for the hotly anticipated, all-electric, Abarth 500e.

Pricing and specific timing is yet to be confirmed, but the Abarth 500e is still expected to land in late-2023, following the mainstream Fiat 500e's launch in the mid-year.

The 500e represents an amalgam of Fiat's late-50s 'Bambino' design and style icon, with an electric future.

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What models will be available?

The launch of the Abarth 500e will be marked with a limited run of Abarth 500e Scorpionissima special editions.

The 500e Scorpionissima is globally limited to a production pool of just 1949 cars, with 219 units allocated to the Australian market, and every buyer will receive a digital certificate of authenticity. (Too good for paper, Stellantis..? – Ed.)

Abarth's 500e Scorpionissimas can be distinguished by one of two Acid Green or Poison Blue paint finishes, adorned with unique 'Abarth' decals.

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Following the special edition's spearhead entrance to the local market, the Abarth 500e will then be sold in series production as a single variant: the Abarth 500e Turismo.

Overseas in the UK, the 500e Turismo is the flagship positioned above an entry-level 500e.

Features

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Based on the regular Fiat 500e city car that debuted internationally in 2020, the hotted-up Abarth gains widened track widths, a longer wheelbase, and better balance between the axles to improve handling and driving dynamics compared to the petrol Abarth 695.

Exterior tweaks are headlined by new acid green (pictured) and poison blue exterior colours, a more modern scorpion logo with a lightning strike placed beside the doors, aggressive honeycomb front bumper, contrasting white splitter, sporty lines along the side skirts, rear diffuser inserts, titanium grey mirror caps, and available 18-inch diamond-cut titanium grey alloys.

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The Abarth 500e debuts new technology features, including a 10.25-inch Uconnect infotainment system with exclusive performance pages and Abarth graphics, wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto, a 7-inch digital driver’s display, JBL speaker setup, Qi wireless phone charger, full LED headlights, keyless entry with a new Abarth wearable key, and a 360-degree camera system.

For the first time, there’s active safety assistance systems with autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane keeping assist, blind-spot warning, traffic sign information, and cruise control.

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Colours

Australian Abarth 500es will be available in a range of five colours: Antidote White, Venom Black, Adrenaline Red along with two new pallette additions: Acid Green and Poison Blue.

Abarth 500e powertrain, charging and efficiency

Using a modest 42kWh battery pack and an electric motor producing 113kW and 235Nm, Abarth says the 500e can sprint from 0-100km/h in a claimed seven seconds.

That’s 26kW and 15Nm more power and torque, with a two-second faster time than its equivalent Fiat 500e sibling.

For context, the closest EV competitor is the three-door Mini Electric outputting 135kW/270Nm with a 0-100km/h time in 7.3 seconds, plus the slightly larger Cupra Born – which produces 170kW/310Nm for a 0-100km/h sprint in seven seconds like the Abarth.

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The Italian carmaker says powering from 20 to 40km/h, from 40 to 60km/h, and from 60 to 100km/h are all one second faster than the iconic petrol-powered Abarth 695, thanks to the instant electric torque.

Three drive modes are offered, Turismo, Scorpion Street and Scorpion Track (essentially eco, normal and sport respectively), with front and rear disc brakes and a one-pedal driving regenerative braking setting.

Fiat and Abarth's chief executive officer, Olivier Francois says of the Abarth 500e: “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…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.”

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The Abarth 500e is fitted standard in Australia with a Sound Generator, which pumps a reproduced sound of the roaring Abarth petrol engine into the cabin and to outsiders with the EV pedestrian warning sound system.

As standard, all models will sound a strumming guitar every time the EV is turned on or off, when travelling above 20km/h and through the exterior pedestrian warning speakers.

The electric hot hatch and cabrio are capable of 85kW DC fast charging, able to reach 80 per cent (from an unknown starting point) in only 35 minutes on a compatible public station. But, the brand says it takes less than a claimed five minutes to top-up for the average 40 kilometre daily driving distance.

The Stellantis-owned automaker hasn’t disclosed its driving range figure yet, but the standard Fiat 500e with the same battery capacity manages 320km of claimed WLTP range.

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Availability

The Abarth 500e electric hot hatch has been confirmed for an Australian launch in late 2023.

It follows the standard Fiat 500e city car, which is slated for mid-2023 in Australia.

The Abarth EV will debut in Europe first early next year with a fully-loaded Scorpionissima launch edition model limited to 1949 examples in both hatch and cabrio body styles.

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