The 2023 Abarth 500e Is A Pint-Sized EV Hot Hatch

The Abarth 500 makes a return on the EV-only Fiat 500e nameplate.

The old Fiat 500 Abarth has been known as a bundle of fiery, Italian, pop-and-crackle joy, but it wasn’t clear if it would show up when the Fiat 500 went fully electric for its current generation. Well, now it’s back. Recently shown off in Turin, the charming pint-sized hot hatch has returned, in all-electric form.

Outside, the tiny hatchback has been given big 18-inch wheels, aggressive side skirts, and bumpers. Scorpion badges dot the car’s exterior, and a big Abarth script logo sits proudly on the front bumper.

Underneath, the Fiat 500e Abarth is powered by a 155-horsepower motor, with 162 ft/lbs of torque. This is a sizable upgrade over the standard 500e’s 118-horsepower unit, allowing the car to zip from 0-60 in around 7 seconds. Like the old Abarth, Fiat does have plans for even faster, higher-power output versions of the Abarth 500e, too. The same 42-kWh battery powers the Abarth 500e as found in the standard 500e. The range hasn’t been announced yet, but it likely will be slightly lower given the bigger wheels and higher power output.

If you’re worried that the electric Abarth won’t have the characteristic pop-and-crackle exhaust, fret not, because Fiat’s added simulated engine noise to the Abarth 500e. Standard on the launch edition (optional on other trims), the simulated engine noise is supposed to heighten the vehicle’s sense of speed.

There’s no word if the Abarth 500e will make its way to North America, but the standard Fiat 500e has been confirmed to make its way here in 2024.

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