2023 Abarth 500e: Prices, specs and release date
- New Abarth 500e produces 155PS and is quicker than the petrol-powered Abarth 695
- Prices for the all electric hot hatch are expected to start at £35,000
- Abarth 500e is available to buy now, with deliveries starting June 2023
The new Abarth 500e is a pure electric version of the much-loved Fiat 500-derived hot hatchback, which has gained quite a following in the UK. It is derived from the Fiat 500e EV, but boasts a comprehensive array of changes, resulting in a formidable rival for the MINI Electric.
The new Abarth 500e will be offered in hatchback and cabriolet guises from launch. It is being released in a collectible launch edition first, called the Scorpionissima. Just 1,949 will be sold – the number references the date of Abarth’s formation.
As with the existing petrol-powered Abarth 595 and Abarth 695, the new Abarth 500e range is expected to develop further after its release, with the company promising some exciting performance upgrades for the new EV.
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2023 Abarth 500e prices and release date
The new Abarth 500e will cost around £35,000 for the high-spec Scorpionissima launch edition. More mainstream versions will follow in time, which should edge prices downwards to nearer £30,000. This will put the 500e more in line with the £29,000 starting price of the MINI Electric (which itself will be replaced by a new model in 2024).
The new Abarth 500e is due to reach showrooms in June 2023. Members of the online Abarth community, called ‘Abarthists’, will be first in the queue, with priority access to pre-book the new Abarth 500e Scorpionissima. They can order from now. Reservations will open later in December 2022 for others eager to buy or lease a new Abarth 500e.
2023 Abarth 500e styling, interior and technology
The new Abarth 500e is unmissable, and looks very distinct from the Fiat 500e it is based upon. It has a longer wheelbase and wider track, which give it a more hunkered-down stance. This is accentuated by an extra-sporty front bumper with a smooth, closed-off look and inset air dam finished in crisp white. It also features distinctive Abarth lettering in dark titanium grey.
The 500e carries the new ‘electrified’ Scorpion logo, which sits higher up on the bonnet, rather than on the bumper. There’s a matching Scorpion logo on the rear side panel, with the same lightning bolt zapping through its body.
Other styling features include titanium grey door mirrors, the hatchback versions have dark-tinted rear glass, while Scorpionissima models have unique Abarth side graphics. The latter are offered in either Poison Blue or the brilliantly vivid Acid Green seen here.
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Because the new Abarth 500e has the same digital-first interior as the Fiat 500e, it looks similar at first glance. It has an identical 7.0-inch driver display, plus a central 10.25-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Bespoke-to-Abarth graphics and animations feature, too.
The Abarth 500e also offers unique ‘Performance Pages’ that monitor various aspects of the car, allowing the driver to view a whole host of data. This is part of the Uconnect infotainment system, which now benefits from over-the-air updates.
Also inside, a dark headliner provides a moodier feel, while there are special Poison Blue straps for the front-seat folding mechanism. Meanwhile, the new Abarth 500e Scorpionissima boasts plentiful Alcantara trim, including on the dashboard, while the leather sports seats are partly clad in Alcantara as well.
2023 Abarth 500e engines, performance and fuel economy
The new Abarth 500e has a high-output electric motor. Instead of the 118PS of the Fiat 500e, it serves up an exciting 155PS. The motor has been reengineered so it is more responsive, delivering a more powerful and enthusiastic feel from behind the wheel.
It also means exciting performance for the 500e. It does 0-62mph in 7.0 seconds, which is just 0.3 seconds behind the range-topping 180PS Abarth 695 (and a ‘best in class’ performance, according to its maker). It laps the company’s test track more than a second quicker than the petrol Abarth 695, too – and accelerates from 37-62mph a full second faster. Acceleration from 25-37mph takes just 1.5 seconds; this is an excitingly potent little car.
The new Abarth 500e has a 42kWh battery, the same as the Fiat. In the 500 Electric, it delivers a 199-mile range, and while there are no official figures yet for the new Abarth 500e, we predict it will manage around 185 miles (a little less due to the car’s higher output and chunkier tyres).
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The new Abarth 500e has 85kWh rapid charging tech as standard. This will give it enough charge for 25 miles of driving in less than five minutes of being plugged in, while charging from 0-80 percent takes just 35 minutes. The battery is mounted low down in the chassis, which provides a low centre of gravity, aiding the car’s handling.
There is a choice of three driving modes in the new Abarth 500e. Turismo is the everyday mode, with Scorpion Street releasing more power and maxing the regenerative braking effect for a ‘one-pedal’ drive. Scorpion Track is the most aggressive setting of all. Unlike in the Fiat 500e, there is no ‘Sherpa’ setting to cut power right back and maximise range.
Abarth is also eager to stress the exciting noise made by the new 500e, despite its lack of a conventional engine. A sound generator has been designed to mimic the ‘roar’ of an Abarth petrol engine. Alternatively, those buying or leasing a new Abarth 500e can select a futuristic alternative soundscape, which plays a guitar sound whenever you turn it on, and a different ‘strumming guitar’ sound when you exceed 12mph. The sounds are fully configurable and owners will doubtless have a lot of fun with them.
Will the Abarth 500e get cheaper?
The new Abarth 500e will only come with a 42kWh battery. The more affordable 24kWh battery available on the Fiat 500e wouldn’t offer the level of performance necessary for an Abarth-branded car.
Will going electric make the new Abarth 500e handle better?
Abarth is very enthused by the switch to electric. It says that performance will be more exciting, and the car’s chassis will offer quicker responses, sharper corner entry and better overall balance.
When was Abarth established?
Carlo Abarth established his company in 1949, with the motto: ‘Go faster than yesterday. Win more’. This, says Abarth, is what it continues to deliver with the new 500e.
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