Italian automaker Fiat will reportedly soon confirm an Abarth performance variant of its electric 500, which will be the first new launch of Fiat’s performance marque since the Abarth 124GT debuted back in 2018.
Fiat and Abarth boss Olivier François told British automotive magazine Autocar this week that his company would soon launch Abarth’s first electric vehicle based on the Fiat 500 hot hatch, serving as a first step in Abarth’s transformation into an electric performance subdivision of Fiat.
According to François, he expects Fiat to boast between one and three Abarth models at any one time.
“A year and a half ago, I said it can’t be that hard [to make an Abarth version of the electric 500],” François told Autocar. “Electric cars are so fun to drive already. The good news is that we are actively working on it, and once it’s confirmed, it will be relatively quick.
“The bad news is that it’s more complicated to deliver than I thought. If you want to do a real Abarth, it’s not the same electric powertrain. Once it has the power and torque you want, it’s no longer the same drivetrain, nor the same transmission or brakes… The whole thing has to be adapted.”
Final test drives are already under way, according to François, ahead of official confirmation of the car: “It’s going to be fantastic. The sound is going to be very interesting. There will be a choice to be silent or not.”
As can be expected, François hopes the Abarth fan community will play a significant role in helping shape the development of upcoming models.
“When it comes to marketing, it’s a totally different brand to Fiat,” said François. “These [Abarth fans] would not buy a Fiat, and vice versa. It’s basically one car [the 500] and two totally different targets. We are going to leverage the community, involve them in the development. Social media is ideal for that.”
The Fiat electric 500 currently boasts acceleration of 0-100km/h in 9 seconds with a top speed of 150km/h and a range of 320-kilometres.
Given the performance credentials of Abarth, we can expect to see these figures tweaked a little bit, with acceleration under 7 seconds and a top speed above the 150km/h mark.
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.