The 2023 Abarth 500e has been revealed as the first electric car from Fiat’s performance sub-brand ahead of its Australian launch in late 2023. Using a 114kW/235Nm electric motor driving the front wheels, the Abarth 500e is capable of a 7.0-second 0-100km/h sprint time and it’s also claimed to be one second quicker than the current petrol-powered Abarth 695 around Alfa Romeo’s handling circuit in Italy. The Abarth 500e will join the regular Fiat 500 in Australia next year.
According to Abarth, “There is only one reason to make an electric Abarth: the search for the highest performance. This goal has been pursued by Abarth for over 73 years of sharp, fuelled, and competitive experience. Abarth has been always synonymous with performance, competition, thrill, and an attitude that has been electrifying people since 1949” it said.
“Today the Scorpion renews the challenge with a revolutionary model that takes performance to unprecedented levels, in line with the essence of Carlo Abarth’s life and his mantra: “Go faster than yesterday. Win more.”
Adding on to the base of the Fiat 500e – itself launching locally in the first half of 2023 – the 2023 Abarth 500e uses a 114kW/235Nm electric motor on the front axle, which is fed by a 42kWh battery. Abarth doesn’t quote a range for the 500e – the regular 500 using the same battery can travel up to 320km on the WLTP cycle – but it can be charged using 85kW DC fast charging from zero to 80 per cent in just 35 minutes. Like the regular 500e, the Abarth 500e is available in hatch or cabriolet bodystyles.
The Abarth 500e’s claimed 0-100km/h sprint time is 7.0 seconds – 0.3 seconds more than the current model, but achieved using 18kW/15Nm less outputs. According to Abarth, it’s quicker at city speeds than the current 695 – for example, it’s a full second quicker from 40 to 60km/h at just 1.5 seconds.
Other performance upgrades over the regular 500 include wider front and rear tracks, larger disc brakes all around, sports suspension and three selectable driving modes: ‘Turismo’ (which lowers outputs to 100kW/220Nm), ‘Scorpion Street’ (maximum power but still with the one-pedal driving on) and ‘Scorpion Track’ (for maximum attack track driving).
The 2023 Abarth 500e’s styling is more aggressive than the regular 500, with a bodykit with a body-coloured honeycomb grille, 18-inch alloy wheels, a sportier rear bumper and Abarth badging. Inside the Abarth 500e are new features such as a performance monitor on the centre 10.25-inch screen, steel pedals, Abarth graphics for the screens and Abarth sill covers.
Abarth will also launch a Scorpionissima limited edition of the 500e that’s shown in the launch pictures. It has the bright ‘Acid Green’ (or ‘Poison Blue’) paintwork, Abarth side graphics, a fixed glass roof on the hatchback, rear privacy glass and suede interior finishings with contrast stitching.
Available features on the 2023 Abarth 500e include automatic all-LED lighting, auto wipers, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless phone charging, a 360-degree camera, keyless entry and start, manual cruise control, single-zone climate control, a JBL sound system and heated front seats.
Safety kit includes six airbags, auto emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane keep assist, driver attention monitoring, blind-spot monitoring, intelligent adaptive speed assist, auto high beam and traffic sign recognition.
The 2023 Abarth 500e will launch in Australia in late 2023, with local pricing to be confirmed before then. Stay tuned to DiscoverAuto for the latest automotive news and reviews.
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