Anyone who's driven a Fiat 500 Abarth will know what it's like to ‘smile like a kid'. In its fossil-fuelled guise, the Abarth offers up to 180hp in its ‘695' format. The Abarth 500e Scorpionissima offers more power than any of the models it supersedes. Launched at Salon Privé in Acid Green, the Scorpionissima's colour is hard to miss and you definitely know it's an Abarth when you look at its ‘face'. There's a definite element of cheek built into its chunky good looks. So what has it got to offer EV drivers?
For a start, this tiny car has a relatively powerful 113kW motor with a 42kWh battery and is able to deliver 235Nm of torque instantly. The result is an EV that's at least a second quicker than the old 695 in every useful situation: from 12 to 25mph, from 25 to 37mph and from 37 to 60mph – the Scorpionissima is ahead. That will make overtaking easier than it has ever been with any Abarth 500 in the past.
From the lights, it will hit 60mph in less than 7 seconds, on its way to a (capped) top speed of 96mph. That's two seconds quicker than a standard 500e.
In terms of charging, it can pull up to 85kW DC – giving you 80% in 35 minutes. It has 11kW AC capability, to deliver a full battery from zero in 4 hours. In the very likely situation where you only have a 7kW charger available, then you can fill up in around 6 hours. We haven't seen a certified WLPT range yet, but we'd expect it to be around 160 miles combined and maybe touching 200 miles for a city-driving only cycle in perfect conditions. So it's a ‘fun in the city', rather than inter-city, kind of car.
McPherson suspension with telescopic shocks will make for a sporty ride, as befits the car's history. The new Abarth 500e Scorpionissima also has Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), including:-
- Autonomous Emergency Brake
- Lane Keeping Assist
- Drowsy Driver Detection
- Traffic Sign Information
- Urban Blind Spot
- Cruise Control
- e-Call Assist
Did we mention that, at the touch of a button, this car will ‘pretend to be petrol' and accompany your driving with the loud roar of a traditional sports car engine? The side effect of this will be to make you smile inside. But it also has a practical application in that it will warn pedestrians of your (otherwise) silent approach.
Taking its logo from the Scorpio star sign of its founder, Carlo Abarth, the Abarth company was formed in 1949 with the sole intention of creating sporty cars that are really fun to drive. In 1971, it was bought by Italian giant Fiat, and became the group's racing department, under the direction of engine designer Aurelio Lampredi. It was merged with the Squadra Corse racing department for Lancia in 1977 and two world championships quickly followed.
Over the next two decades, the Abarth name was used more as a marketing tool than as something to denote truly innovating engineering solutions. That changed in 2007, when Abarth was re-established as an independent unit – inside the old Mirafiori engineering plant. The new group managed to win the FIA R-GT Cup four years in a row (2017 to 2020) and is now focused on creating a big impression in the electric vehicle space.
We anticipate a UK price of around £36,000 (£5,500 more than the standard 500e we reviewed early in 2021) but there is a random factor built into that price. Since this is the first of a new EV generation, the team at Abarth have decided to only make 1,949 Scorpionissima cars – and that limited edition appeal could well push prices up.
If you want to get to grips with one of these, enjoying the Alcantara trim and JBL premium audio system – then you should make your inquiries sooner rather than later. We expect them to sell out shortly after the order books open next month. You can see the Abarth 500e Scorpionissima at Salon Privé until Saturday afternoon.
