Skip advert
Advertisement

Coming in hot! First look inside new Abarth 600e smokin’ hot electric SUV

The 600e will be Abarth’s most powerful car ever, and benefit from traditional hot hatch technology

March 31 2024 marks the 75th anniversary of Abarth, and to celebrate the occasion the performance car maker has shared some new images of its most powerful model ever, the all-electric Abarth 600e, before it’s revealed in full this summer. 

Compared to the Fiat 600e it’s based on, Abarth’s souped-up version features racing-inspired seats, a sportier steering wheel with leather and Alcantara inserts, lots of neon green stitching and the brand’s signature Scorpion emblem. 

Abarth has also added its own graphics to the information system to provide drivers with performance stats and use the 10-inch central touchscreen to switch the car’s ‘Abarth Sound Generator’ on or off. We first saw this feature in the Abarth 500e hot hatch, which uses two speakers – one inside the car, the other outside – to try and mimic the burble of the company’s petrol-powered models.

The exterior styling changes are no less subtle, with the Abarth 600e getting a blocky front bumper, an equally chunky rear bumper with a very pronounced diffuser, large roof spoiler and decals along the sides. The 20-inch rims were needed to accommodate a new brake system, and have been wrapped in a set of high-performance tyres jointly developed by Formula E’s supplier Hankook.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The dramatic ‘Hypnotic Purple’ paint not only contrasts the lime green Abarth logos on the car, but is the launch colour of the Abarth 600e. The specific model you see here is the exclusive Scorpionissima launch edition, just 1,949 examples of which will be produced.

The Abarth 600e sits on a new platform called ‘Perfo-eCMP’, based on Stellantis’s well-known CMP/e-CMP architecture that underpins Fiat’s 600e, plus the Jeep Avenger, Vauxhall Mokka and Peugeot 2008.

Producing exactly 237bhp, this small electric SUV is Abarth’s most powerful car yet, though performance figures remain a tightly guarded secret for the moment, as do any range figures. 

The Abarth 600e is probably using a single electric motor driving the front wheels like Fiat’s version, but will benefit from a mechanical limited-slip differential. These are often used by front-wheel drive hot hatches to help minimise torque steer, with Abarth claiming it “guarantees excellent driving stability, improved handling, and traction” in the 600e.

Tell us what you think of Abarth's creation in the comments...

Skip advert
Advertisement
News reporter

As our news reporter, Ellis is responsible for covering everything new and exciting in the motoring world, from quirky quadricycles to luxury MPVs. He was previously the content editor for DrivingElectric and won the Newspress Automotive Journalist Rising Star award in 2022.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Abarth will carry on making fast Fiats, just not the new Fiat 500 hybrid
Abarth 600e - front tracking

Abarth will carry on making fast Fiats, just not the new Fiat 500 hybrid

It’s “still too early” to know if Abarth will make a go-faster version of the new Fiat Grande Panda
News
6 Nov 2024
New electric cars coming soon: the fresh EVs of 2024 and beyond
Future electric cars - header image

New electric cars coming soon: the fresh EVs of 2024 and beyond

The EV explosion has brought a huge range of choice to the market already but it’s only going to get bigger in the coming months
Best cars & vans
4 Jul 2024
Abarth Classiche 1300 OT is the brand’s mid-engined 75th birthday present to itself
Abarth Classiche 1300 OT render - front

Abarth Classiche 1300 OT is the brand’s mid-engined 75th birthday present to itself

This limited edition Abarth 1300 OT sports car has Alfa Romeo underpinnings
News
15 Apr 2024

Most Popular

Hot Land Rover Defender Octa in high demand with close to 3,000 orders at £150,000 each
Land Rover Defender Octa - front action

Hot Land Rover Defender Octa in high demand with close to 3,000 orders at £150,000 each

Buyers aren’t being deterred by the hefty asking price for the most powerful Defender yet, with 2,900 already signing up worldwide
News
12 Nov 2024
Car Deal of the Day: 641bhp Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is a bargain at this price
Hyundai Ioniq 5 N - front action

Car Deal of the Day: 641bhp Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is a bargain at this price

The 2024 Auto Express Performance Car of the Year is now our Deal of the Day for 7 November
News
7 Nov 2024
Car Deal of the Day: no-nonsense MG ZS EV for £226 per month
MG ZS EV - front tracking

Car Deal of the Day: no-nonsense MG ZS EV for £226 per month

Our Deal of the Day for 10 November comes from Carwow’s new leasing arm, Carwow Leasey
News
10 Nov 2024