2023 Abarth 500 EV: electric hot hatch coming on 22 November

Fiat’s performance brand name Abarth is about to expose a Fiat 500 Electric-centered very hot hatchback as its debut EV, and very first all-new design for 6 several years.  

Right after the very first spy photographs of the Mini Electric rival surfaced last week, the Italian agency has no verified it will acquire the wraps off on Tuesday 22 November. 

The camouflaged prototype found not too long ago seemed to be a decreased, broader variant of Fiat’s electrical supermini – also carrying a revised front bumper and a chunky rear spoiler.

The auto will mark the starting of Abarth’s changeover into an electrified go-speedier sub-division of Fiat. Other models will receive the procedure on a situation-by-situation foundation. Manufacturer manager Olivier François advised Autocar earlier this 12 months that he expects to have involving just one and a few Abarth types at any one time. 

François mentioned at the time: “A 12 months and a half ago, I explained it just can’t be that difficult [to make an Abarth version of the electric 500]. Electrical cars are so fun to travel currently. The superior information is that we are actively doing work on it, and at the time it’s verified, it will be somewhat brief.

“The undesirable information is that it is extra complicated to deliver than I believed. If you want to do a genuine Abarth, it’s not the similar electrical powertrain. After it has the electricity and torque you want, it is no longer the same drivetrain, nor the exact transmission or brakes… The whole issue has to be adapted.”

He extra that ultimate check drives had been underneath way ahead of official affirmation of the auto: “It’s likely to be superb. The audio is likely to be quite intriguing. There will be a alternative to be silent or not.”

The Abarth supporter community will play a critical purpose in shaping the advancement of approaching types, stated François: “When it arrives to advertising and marketing, it’s a entirely different brand name to Fiat. These [Abarth fans] would not get a Fiat, and vice versa. It is generally 1 auto [the 500] and two thoroughly diverse targets. We are going to leverage the neighborhood, include them in the improvement. Social media is great for that.”

The electrical Fiat 500 has a -62mph time of 9.0sec, a major pace of 93mph and a selection of 199 miles. The impending Abarth version is most likely to purpose for that dash in below 7.0sec with a leading pace around 100mph, but at the value of some array.