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The Abarth 500e is a sooner, louder Fiat 500e that is available in brighter colors. It’s due in Australia three or 4 months later than the tiny Fiat EV. Anticipate it to reach round November or December. As with the Fiat, solely the hatchback physique fashion will likely be imported.
There’s nothing else prefer it within the market proper now. The BMW i3s was likewise a faster model of a city-focused EV, nevertheless it’s not produced. And whereas mainstream European manufacturers like Renault and VW are planning efficiency variations of their coming small EVs, they’re years away from manufacturing.
Worth
Australian pricing for the Abarth 500e hasn’t been introduced. The automotive’s positioning in Europe recommend it shouldn’t be an excessive amount of greater than the $52,500, plus on-road prices, that will likely be requested for the Fiat 500e.
The Fiat will likely be offered right here solely in top-grade La Prima type. Abarth execs say there will likely be some value overlap in Europe between the underside finish of their 500e vary and the higher reaches of Fiat’s line-up.
This means the Abarth 500e in less expensive Turismo trim could possibly be near that of a Fiat 500e La Prima. If this seems to be the case, it’ll add to the Abarth’s attraction.
However the Abarth 500e will likely be supplied initially solely in totally loaded Scorpionissima type. In Italy this prices $7000 greater than the equal Fiat 500e La Prima. However ought to the Turismo for Australia roughly duplicate Scorpionissima gear ranges it might imply a value across the $60,000 mark.
Scorpionissima is unattainable to translate precisely. ‘Most scorpion-ish’ will get shut. Abarth is simply producing 1949 of those worldwide. The quantity is not any accident; it’s the 12 months Abarth was based.
Australia’s Scorpionissima allocation is 219. As soon as these are gone the doubtless extra reasonably priced Turismo will take over.
Abarth is Fiat’s efficiency sub-brand, and the adjustments they’ve made to the 500e are in depth.
The Abarth has a extra highly effective and sooner spinning electrical motor, for a begin. It drives the entrance wheels by way of a unique gear ratio that improves acceleration.
The liquid-cooled 400-volt lithium-ion battery pack is identical 42kWh (gross) capability within the Fiat, however is upgraded to produce the upper present required by the extra highly effective motor.
Disc brakes are fitted on the rear axle. The Fiat has drum rear brakes. The Abarth additionally will get totally different shock absorbers and electrical energy steering software program. Stickier tyres with a decrease profile on 18-inch wheels are additionally fitted.
Inside
There are extra upgrades inside. The Abarth 500e will get sports activities entrance seats, partly coated in Alcantara, and an Alcantara-and-leather-wrapped steering wheel. Extra Alcantara is used to trim the cabin.
There are many visible reminders, together with scorpion logos within the centre of the steering wheel and on the entrance seats.
The suite of infotainment, driver-assist and security tech is fairly spectacular, together with auto emergency braking, cruise management, lane-keeping help and rear-view digicam. There’s a premium six-speaker sound system from JBL, plus nice-to-haves like automated wiper, high-beam and rear-view mirror dimming tech.
Wi-fi Apple Carplay and Android Auto are included and there are Kind A and Kind C USB ports, plus an inductive telephone charging tray.
Inside area, it goes nearly with out saying, is identical as within the Fiat 500e. Which implies there’s not a variety of it, particularly within the very cramped rear seat.
Efficiency and effectivity
Abarth claims its 500e takes precisely 7.0 seconds to speed up from 0-100km/h, making it two seconds swifter than the Fiat 500e.
Behind the wheel it feels wanting to please. There’s a powerful surge from standstill, and it winds up shortly to illegal-in-Australia speeds. Prime velocity is proscribed to 155km/h, simply 5 km/h increased than the Fiat 500e.
On moist roads the 114kW and 235Nm motor of the Abarth will simply spin the entrance wheels, at the very least till the automotive’s relatively slow-acting traction-control system intervenes.
As with an ICE-powered automotive, the Abarth’s stronger efficiency will increase vitality consumption and reduces driving vary. In comparison with the Fiat 500e, with principally the identical battery pack, the Abarth loses round 50km of vary.
Charging
Just like the Fiat, the Abarth is a decently fast charger. Not having an enormous battery pack helps right here.
As with the Fiat there’s a CCS charging port which handles each AC and DC. There’s an 11kW on-board AC charger, and the Abarth can take as much as 85kW from a DC quick charger.
This implies a 10-80 p.c recharge will take solely 25 minutes when plugged right into a 150kW DC quick charger, or round 10 minutes longer if hooked as much as one of many extra frequent 50kW DC chargers.
An 11kW wallbox will ship a whole 0-100% recharge in 4 hours, whereas a less expensive 7.4kW wallbox will take six hours.
Journey and dealing with
It’s a hoot. With its off-the-line snap, tight turning circle and tiny dimensions the Abarth 500e is the type of EV to make metropolis driving nearly fulfilling.
Win traffic-light drag races! Do a u-ey the place others need to do a three-pointer! Match into parking areas too tight for nearly each different automotive on the highway!
However confining the Abarth to metropolis limits can be a waste of its skills. It’s a superb little corner-carver, particularly on a highway with tight corners and hairpins. The steering is sweet, and so is the extent of grip.
The suspension is nicely arrange, too. The Abarth isn’t that a lot stiffer than the Fiat, so it handles bumps and lumps surprisingly nicely for such a small automotive.
The 500e vastly higher to drive than Abarth’s model of the ICE-powered 500. It’s a nasty little bucker, as a back-to-back run round Stellantis’s proving floor within the north of Italy demonstrated.
Abarth does considerably over-sell its 500e’s hot-hatch credentials. The EV is definitely slightly slower 0-100km/h than the turbo-four-powered 595 that’s at present offered in Australia. However there’s little question about which is the higher automotive general.
The Abarth has three driving modes; Turismo, Scorpion Road and Scorpion Monitor. Each Turismo and Road characteristic pretty heavy regenerative braking, and it will possibly’t be adjusted or disabled.
These modes are just for diehard followers of one-pedal driving. Turismo additionally reduces most energy to 100kW, which defeats the aim of selecting the Abarth over the Fiat. This all provides as much as make Scorpion Monitor the perfect driving mode for on a regular basis highway driving.
Speaking level
Beneath the Abarth’s tail is a water-proof speaker. The noise it makes imitates one of many firm’s famed fours, and it’s fairly loud.
Whereas the 200mm woofer might sound a good suggestion to consumers reluctant to surrender the racket of internal-combustion, it’s not.
Like nearly each different EV on sale at present, the Abarth has a single-speed transmission, so it by no means adjustments gear.
The noise from the sound generator rises and falls accord with highway velocity, and at a continuing velocity that’s not too excessive – say 60km/h or so – it sounds just like the automotive is in too low a gear.
It’s a grating annoyance, and might solely be switched off when the automotive is stationary.
Security
The Abarth has a four-star security ranking from ANCAP, based mostly on 2021 testing by EuroNCAP, which additionally awarded the automotive a four-star ranking.
Verdict
Not figuring out the worth of the Abarth 500e makes it tough to supply a definitive verdict.
However no matter it prices, this small package deal of EV pleasure from Italy is bound to make those that purchase it smile huge and smile often.
It’s not precisely a sizzling hatch within the old school sense, however it’s an electrical entertainer that’s not like the rest.
Abarth 500e specs
Value: $60,000 (est.)
Fundamentals: EV, 4 seats, 2 doorways, small hatchback, FWD
Vary: 253 to 265km (WLTP)
Battery capability: 37kWh
Battery guarantee: 8 years/160,000km
Vitality consumption: 17.1 to 18.1kWh/100km
Motors: 1 entrance, 114kW/235Nm
AC charging: 11kW, Kind 2 plug
DC charging: 85kW, CCS plug
0-100km/h: 7.0 seconds
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