Abarth 500e Ties Itself With Hollywood

by Matthew Guy

Published: July 3rd, 2023

Collabs between car companies and the movie industry are nearly as old as the automobile itself; witness the innumerable tie-ups which have zipped their way across the silver screen. This year, Fiat is drumming up interest in its new Abarth 500e by attaching itself to the Mission: Impossible franchise.

Filmgoers who choose to spend a few bucks to see Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning, Part One will see a chase sequence in which Tom Cruise belts around the streets of Rome in a vintage ‘60s-era 500 Abarth. Seizing on this opportunity, the Italian brand plans to show off its upcoming all-electric Abarth 500e in conjunction with the movie. In other words, you know the so-called ‘hero color’ for this thing will be a shade of yellow very similar to the one that’ll show up on cinema screens in a couple of weeks.

As for the car itself, Fiat says it features a 113.7-kW (150ish horsepower) electric motor and a 42-kWh lithium-ion battery underneath its instantly recognizable shape. It marks the first time Abarth has gone electric since the last electron-powered 500 was badged as a workaday Fiat. Buff books and other outlets across the pond have been reporting this car has a trio of driving modes, some of which unlock more power than others. Anyone pining for an Abarth soundtrack can apparently switch on a sound generator to produce an artificial racket.

Whether the model will reach American shores in an effort to bolster the thin lineup in Fiat showrooms on this side of the pond is unclear. However, it wouldn’t make a lot of sense for the company to go through all this effort and shack up with a movie that’ll do big numbers in America if they have no intention to sell it here. But stranger things have happened.

Those of you with long memories will remember the late Sergio Marchionne, when asked by a Reuters reporter about the old 500e hatchback, famously said: “I hope you don’t buy it, because every time I sell one it costs me $14,000.” The man was nothing if not honest.

We wonder what he'd say about this one.

[Images: Fiat]

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Matthew Guy

Matthew buys, sells, fixes, & races cars. As a human index of auto & auction knowledge, he is fond of making money and offering loud opinions.

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3 of 24 comments

28-Cars-Later on Jul 05, 2023

"Sergio Marchionne, when asked by a Reuters reporter about the old 500e hatchback, famously said: “I hope you don’t buy it, because every time I sell one it costs me $14,000.” The man was nothing if not honest."

The late, great Sergio on this 500e: Please don't buy it, because every time I sell one it costs me $24,000.

2 Reply
- MRF 95 T-Bird on Jul 05, 2023
  
  I see a number of the old 500e for sale on eBay and elsewhere for around $10-14k. Call it the Sergio premium, or tribute, if you can live with its 87 mile range they’re a great city car plus it’s as zippy as an Abarth.
  
  1
- Little_Trucks_Review_at_myspace_dot_com on Jul 06, 2023
  
  You need a rear swaybar and wheels. Stock it plows like a killdozer with it's little stock pizza cutter front rims. After that it's as tossable as any Abarth I've driven but with better weight balance. It fits 15 inch rims so plenty of good tires available
  
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Marques on Nov 06, 2023

I have a Rosso 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth(5-speed manual)that still brings a grin to my face-11 years and 65 K miles later. The car has relatively reliable scheduled maintenance aside.

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