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Test – Abarth 500e, the electric car that was believed to be thermal

Abarth offers its first 100% electric model, the 500e, a sporty version of the Fiat model. Aiming to make driving fun with zero emissions and unprecedented thermal exhaust noise for zero emissions. Mission successful?

The scorpion goes electric. Abarth, a specialist in adapting Fiat models into sports versions, is also a brand of the Stellantis group and is therefore committed to the great transition towards zero emissions.

Abarth's first 100% electric model, the 500.
Abarth’s first 100% electric model, the 500. © SR

Unsurprisingly, its first 100% electric model is thus a supercharged adaptation of the Fiat 500e, especially in this acid green that almost comes close to the yellow of our tester.

The scorpion struck by lightning in the first electric Abarth
The scorpion struck by lightning in the first electric Abarth © SR

Beyond its aesthetics, we find the small city car format of the 500e, 3.7 meters long. Enough to make it a true urban pump, agile and practical on a day-to-day basis, like its thermal cousins.

Inside, the bucket seats, the dashboard trim and the Alcantara on the steering wheel reinforce this sporty atmosphere.

Interior of the Abarth 500e.
Interior of the Abarth 500e. © Abarth

In terms of performance, this Abarth 500e has a 113 kW engine, or 155 horsepower (118 for the Fiat model). It does 0 to 100 km/h in 7 seconds, 3 tenths more than the last thermal on the market, the 695.

The brand also insists on the benefits of its first electric, at the level of its thermal cousin. With even more incisive behavior considered, despite the weight of the battery. In total, the weight is 1,350 kg for the Abarth 500e, against 1,110 kg for the 695.

A 42 kWh battery, the highest capacity offered in the Fiat 500e, which offers a range of 250 km. On the load side, it can collect 85 kW in fast terminal in direct current and 11 kW in alternating current.

The Abarth 500e announces a 0 to 100 km/h in 7 seconds.
The Abarth 500e announces a 0 to 100 km/h in 7 seconds. © SR

An electric… with a thermal sound

But it is an option, to say the least original, that caught our attention… or rather our ear. This first electric indeed produces a sound… of thermal. It can be heard inside, but is also transmitted through an under-vehicle speaker outside. Curious about models that are usually very quiet or that prefer to bet on a very futuristic noise, like BMW or Porche for example.

An artificial sound recreated by the Italian brand specifically for this model. An appreciable fantasy for some, or the symbol of a strange time for others, probably less convinced by the forced transition to electric power in Europe.

Abarth has specially worked on the sound of the 2.0 exhaust, which reproduces the sound of a thermal model.
Abarth has specially worked on the sound of the 2.0 exhaust, which reproduces the sound of a thermal model. © Abarth

This noise can (thankfully) be turned off in the menus, to find a city car, always catchy for sure, but very quiet.

An option called “escape 2.0” still charges 1,500 euros, but it could convince Abarth fans to be tempted by this first electric, although the brand is also taking advantage of this novelty to win new customers.

“Abarth for us is above all a historical heritage. The brand was born in 1949, it is a community of 160,000 people, it is sound, performance and fun. Today we do all that with this new number 500”, stresses Laurent Diot, marketing and director of Abarth communication.

On the price side, this Abarth 500e starts at 36,900 euros, or 3,000 euros more than the equivalent in Fiat with the same 42 kWh battery. The convertible version starts for its part at 42,300 euros.

For our test model, in a high-end Tourism finish, you must have a minimum price of 40,900 euros, 44,300 euros in a convertible. All these versions are therefore eligible for the €5,000 green bonus.

Author: Julien Bonnet
Source: BFM TV

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