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Okay, honest warning: for those who’re somebody who approaches a new-car buy with oodles of frequent sense, rationality and a eager eye for worth for cash, then this explicit web page of the web may not be for you.
Nonetheless with me? Good, as a result of whereas the Abarth 500e may make zero sense by any of the standard car-buying metrics, it’s additionally certainly one of my favorite EVs I’ve pushed this yr.
So shelve the pinnacle, faucet into the center, and let’s get began, lets?
2024 Abarth 500e worth and gear
The Abarth 500e will take a $58,900-sized chunk out of your financial institution stability, earlier than on-road prices. However if you’d like the limited-edition Scorpionissima variant, you’re taking a look at $60,500.
The distinction between the Scorpionissima and the Turismo is totally all the way down to design, with Abarth decals down the perimeters, and a certificates of authenticity confirming yours is certainly one of 1949 automobiles offered around the globe.
In a world of more and more inexpensive electrical automobiles, that’s bonkers cash for a automotive this small. Chinese language manufacturers are actually sub-$40k drive-away, and the mega-popular Tesla Mannequin Y, which is much more automotive, is presently solely $63,900.
However neither the Chinese language manufacturers nor Elon’s bloated SUV will paint the moment smile in your face the pint-sized Abarth 500e does, what with its retina-burning paintwork, 18-inch diamond-cut alloys and excellent proportions.
You additionally get LED lighting, a hard and fast glass roof, one-touch entrance doorways and an entire heap go-fast add-ons when in comparison with the Fiat 500e, like a bespoke entrance and rear design therapy, a entrance splitter and rear disc brakes.
Within the cabin, there are sports activities seats, a leather-and-Alcantara steering wheel, aluminium pedals, local weather management and a giant 10.25-inch central touchscreen with wi-fi system charging and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A second 7.0-inch driver show delivers all of your driving knowledge.
The Abarth 500e is fitted with six airbags, and it will get lively security package like AEB, Lane Preserve Help, Visitors Signal Recognition, Blind Spot Warning, auto excessive beam and a driver-attention monitor.
The possession proposition is frankly sub-par, although. The automotive is roofed for simply three years or 150,000km, however there’s capped-price servicing, at $300 per go to, required each 12 months or 15,000km, which lasts 10 years. The battery is roofed for eight years or 160,000km.
2024 Abarth 500e: What we predict
It’s no secret that the car-buying lots journey in herds, one following the opposite till a brand new development has taken over our roads. We noticed it occur with SUVs, then with Toyota RAV4s, and now it’s occurring once more with Tesla.
None of that could be a slight in opposition to the Mannequin Y. It’s, in each measurable manner, an infinitely higher purchase than one thing just like the Abarth. It’s larger, smarter, extra sensible and higher worth. And the listing goes on.
However is it so incorrect to want that, for each 99 Mannequin Ys you see on the street, you can see only one lurid-yellow Abarth roaring its manner by way of the gang?
And I do imply roaring, with this pint-sized efficiency EV fitted with what the model calls its Abarth Sound Generator, which implies the “engine” fires into life, and it your throttle inputs are matched by “rev” sounds, all of which — in true Abarth style — is louder outdoors the automobile than it’s in it.
It sounds gimmicky, I do know. However I prefer it, and it additionally provides a little bit of ICE familiarity to the EV drive expertise.
There’s a single front-mounted electrical motor offering the go right here, with a complete 113.7kW and 235Nm on provide fed by way of the single-speed gearbox, which is sufficient to push the 500e from 0-100km/h in 7.0 seconds.
And whereas that doesn’t sound like an enormous quantity of grunt, it’s sufficient to make the little Abarth really feel a lot perky, with clean, fixed acceleration that’s feels ample while you press on the accelerator.
Simply in just like the Fiat 500e, I reckon the entire electrification factor has improved the Abarth expertise, ironing out the harshness of the ICE fashions and leaving a clean and thrilling little electrical sizzling hatch as a replacement. The steering is sweet and direct, too, and whereas the suspension errs on the agency aspect, it solely provides to the theatre of all of it.
I wouldn’t wish to drive it Canberra, however across the metropolis it’s the sort of automotive that makes each journey memorable.
There’s one apparent draw back, although, and that’s that it’s fitted with a 42kWh battery that produces simply 253km in driving vary. That’s best-case state of affairs, by the way in which. Of the three drive modes, solely Turismo offers you the max vary, which it achieves by dulling the facility outputs. Use Scorpion Road or Scorpion Monitor and the vary will plummet.
The Abarth 500e is about up for 85kW DC quick charging, which ought to take you from flat to 80 p.c charged in round 35 minutes.
2024 Abarth 500e: Verdict
It makes nearly no sense, however why ought to it? We don’t choose ice-cream for being much less nutritious than a limp lettuce leaf, can we? The Abarth 500e isn’t for everybody, but it surely’s enjoyable, irrespective of your journey, and the roads are a extra fascinating place for it being right here.
3.3/5
2024 Abarth 500e specs:
Worth: $58,900 plus on-roads
Fundamentals: EV, 4 seats, 2 doorways, FWD
Vary: 253kms (WLTP)
Battery capability: 42kWh
Battery guarantee: 8 years/160,000km
Motors: 1 entrance everlasting magnet synchronous, 113.7kW and 235Nm
AC charging: 11kW
DC charging: 85kW
0-100km/h: 7.0 seconds
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