The Abarth 600e Brings Electrified Performance in a Compact Shape
We’ve seen a few Abarth-branded vehicles here in the States, but the Italian performance shop has a long line of vehicles that never graced our shires. The latest might be the 600e, or Scorpionissima, an all-electric hatchback with ties to the vintage Fiat 600 from decades ago.
The 600e is a production car, though a limited one, with numbers capped at 1,949 units. Its Hypnotic Purple paint job and Formula E-derived tires give it the look and grip of a legit performance car, and Abarth said it will be its most powerful vehicle yet. Underneath, the car features an electric powertrain making 240 horsepower, which should be more than enough to make it feel extremely lively.
Fiat's parent company, Stellantis, has been relatively slow in bringing new EVs to the U.S. market, but things are starting to heat up. Jeep has an electrified Wagoneer coming later this year, and the Recon SUV is expected soon. Alfa Romeo and Dodge have twin plug-in hybrid models with the Tonale and Hornet, and Dodge will unveil its electric muscle car in about a month.
The Italian government has pressured Stellantis to localize more production within the country, but competing priorities with U.S. tax credits and other supply chain challenges may make that difficult. It’s unclear, perhaps unlikely if we’ll see the 600e, but the market needs smaller, more affordable EVs to sustain itself.
[Image: Abarth/Stellantis]
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Chris grew up in, under, and around cars, but took the long way around to becoming an automotive writer. After a career in technology consulting and a trip through business school, Chris began writing about the automotive industry as a way to reconnect with his passion and get behind the wheel of a new car every week. He focuses on taking complex industry stories and making them digestible by any reader. Just don’t expect him to stay away from high-mileage Porsches.
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I'd like to see more affordable, sub $35K EVs but if the 500e starts at $33k I expect this would cost Mustang GT money.
"...with ties to the vintage Fiat 600"
"but the market needs smaller, more affordable EVs to sustain itself"
They should have went with an EV Maverick or Ranger before a F150.
People buying an F150 aren't too concerned about saving money on fuel or saving Antarctic penguins.
And this cute piece of crap will probably priced TWICE what it should, and STILL lose FIAT Money, kust like the 500 e.
What an utter loser.