Abarth 600e (2024 - )

Anyone with the slightest doubt that electric hot hatches don’t really make the grade needs to get down to a Fiat showroom and test drive the Abarth 600e, quite rightly billed as the most powerful Abarth road car ever.

The Abarth 600e has been developed in collaboration with Stellantis Motorsport and is available in two trims. The entry-level model is simply called the 600e and delivers 240hp while the high performance car is the Scorpionissima with a whopping 280hp. The latter is limited to just 1,949 units which is a nod to the year Abarth made its debut, although once those models have sold out there is likely to be a similarly high-powered replacement.

The five-door hatch boasts sporty good looks, plenty of on-board tech and the Scorpionissima version also gains a sound generator that gives a roar to match the performance. Unlike its smaller sibling, the Abarth 500e, the sound can be turned on or off while on the move. The basic 600e doesn’t get any sound generator which is a bit of a shame as this is a car that should be heard as well as seen.

We tested the high-performance Scorpionissima version on Stellantis’ Balocco-based track in Italy, but took the lesser-powered 600e on the road and, as that’s where most owners will spend their time behind the wheel, that’s the car we concentrated on for the majority of our review.

The muscular and powerfully designed Abarth 600e is a head-turner in both 600e guise or the more dynamic Scorpionissima. Taking its inspiration from its heritage it has an interpretation of the blocky front end that featured on the 850 TC and was known as the Cassettone. There is a shark-nose effect at the front to help deliver a menacing silhouette and the rear spoiler is a tribute to Carlo Abarth himself.

The sporty good looks are completed with distinctive light signatures, 20-inch diamond-alloy wheels and the electrified Scorpion badge that debuted on the Abarth 500e. 

Even the colour names make reference to the sting of a scorpion with Antidote White, Shock Orange, Venom Black and Acid Green. The Scorpionissima will be available in just Hypnotic Purple and Acid Green.

Moving inside, there is bright yellow detailing throughout the cabin with six-way manually adjustable seats (these are powered and sportier on the Scorpionissima) and a racing-inspired steering wheel. There is a 10.25-inch infotainment set-up offering access to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity and a DAB radio. A seven-inch digital cluster shows the vital driving data such as speed and driving range, while the Scorpionissima gains sat nav, wireless charging, voice recognition and a few other features. But it does cost £5k more.

On the downside, there is an abundance of hard plastic surfaces inside the Abarth 600e which will likely prove prone to scratching over time.

Both Abarth 600e models feature a 54kWh battery, but the standard 600e delivers 240hp and 345Nm of torque, while the Scorpionissima boasts 280hp and 345Nm of torque. Our entry level car certainly had ample power to accelerate from a slow-moving slip road onto a motorway and it was nicely balanced in and out of tight bends.

With a 0-62mph sprint time of 6.2 seconds and maximum speed of 124mph, the performance figures will be ample for most day-to-day drivers, but if added oomph is a ‘must’ then the Scorpionissima model shaves three seconds off the 0-62mph dash.

Both cars have a driving range between charges of 207 miles, but this will drop quite rapidly if the car is driven to its full potential. High-performance tyres were fitted to the test models and that also has a slight impact on the battery range.

The driver can select from three drive modes called Turismo, Scorpion Street and Scorpion Track. The last mode features an aggressive accelerator calibration, sport+ steering and alternative ESP tunings. This is the mode for fun-packed track day adventures.

There is a B drive mode that will capture more energy under braking and this is useful in busier stop-and-go town centre driving.

Out on the open road the car seems exceptionally well balanced and the steering is nicely weighted. There is some road noise and this is more noticeable in the basic 600e model as it does not have any sound generator at all. 

Some track time in the higher-powered Scorpionissima (along with its roaring sound) was a perfect show of performance strength with the car firing through long sweeping bends with the utmost confidence, perfect grip and complete control. 

Stellantis has had a run on hot hatch models recently with the Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce bearing striking similarities to this Abarth 600e. And like its stablemate, the Abarth comes with the JTEKT Torsen mechanical slip differential. This is fitted on both models and increases traction when faced with twists and turns buy providing added torque to the outside wheel.

The Abarth 600e is a five-door hatchback that is deceptively spacious inside. It measures 4,187mm in length, is 1,981mm across (including extended mirrors), 1,502mm tall and has a wheelbase of 2,559mm.

Up front, there is ample space for adults of the taller variety to sit comfortably without brushing elbows and the leg and head room impresses too. In the back, there is space for two more adults provided the seats are not pushed back too far, or a trio of youngsters. Knee room may prove an issue though as the front seatbacks are really hard (especially on the Scorpionissima with its sportier arrangement) so taller passengers will comes away with a few bruises if the car is driven enthusiastically. 

The boot is a decent size for this type of car with a 360-litre capacity that can be increased to 1,231 litres with the 60:40 split-folding rear seats lowered.

In addition, there are a number of handy storage compartments scattered throughout the cabin, including a practically-sized glovebox, a covered centre console box, two front cup holders, door bins and USB ports to stay connected on the move.

The Abarth 600e’s 54kWh battery can be boosted from 0 to 80 per cent in 27 minutes via an 100kW fast charger or a 100 per cent charge can be achieved in 5 hours, 45 minutes if using an 11kW wallbox.

The Abarth 600e line-up costs £36,975 for the entry level car and £41,975 for the higher-powered Scorpionissima version.

As the Abarth 600e is fully electrified it produces zero carbon emissions and, as a result, owners currently benefit from a number of Government-led incentives. These include free road tax, the freedom to drive through Ultra Low Emission Zones and Congestion Charge areas without any fines, and there is no premium car tax penalty for buying a vehicle costing in excess of £40k, a bracket the Scorpionissima falls into. 

However, the bad news is these incentives are being reduced or withdrawn completely from next year.

For anyone thinking about the Abarth 600e as a business car, it comes with an excellent Benefit in Kind tax rating of just two per cent. And you have to admit it would look (and possibly sound) rather magnificent in any executive’s car park.

The insurance rating for the Abarth 600e is yet to be announced.

With its exclusive e-motor that was trialled on the Formula E test bench, sport brakes, racing-derived tyres, a battery-cooling system that improves performance, plus the enhanced limited-slip diff, the Abarth 600e proudly takes the company’s scorpion-badged line-up to the next level of EV driving.

While many owners will never go near a race track, it was interesting to experience the blistering pace and control when faced with racing lines, apexes and long sweeping curves. 

The range may be superior on certain rivals, but any Abarthists (as fans are called apparently) should definitely test out the 600e before making any damning judgements about the company selling its soul to the devil and moving to full electrification.