Incoming Abarth 600e to boast 240hp
500e's big brother 'aims to set a new standard in the electric automotive world'
Abarth couldn’t be accused of any half-measures when it comes to electrification. Already it’s made a 500e with an exhaust (of sorts), plus the same ebullient energy to its drive that made the petrol-powered cars so popular. Now Abarth, with the help of Stellantis Motorsport, is hoping to transfer that feeling to a larger, more practical, five-door EV.
Likely to be the 600e (though nothing is confirmed yet), the latest model will be the most powerful Abarth ever made, with 240hp. It sounds like rather more than a five-door 500 with a few more horsepower, too, as this Abarth will be underpinned by a new platform; the eCMP architecture has been sufficiently evolved to now be called Perfo-eCMP. Which sounds like something to be picked up at the pharmacy, but if this really is as good as claimed - Abarth says the ‘outcome is a jewel’ - then the details really won’t matter.
Significant advances for the Perfo-eCMP car include a limited-slip diff uniquely designed for a EV application, which certainly sounds interesting, plus totally overhauled suspension and ‘an advanced braking system’, including funky acid green calipers Apparently the tyres have been developed using Formula E experience to both improve grip and reduce noise. As mentioned, Abarth isn’t doing things by halves.
Though a lot is under wraps for now, the inside of this 600e will get ‘high-comfort seats with racing ergonomics’, whatever that means, and you can surely bank on a liberal application of scorpion motifs. Abarth knows what works by now, and there’s gotta be some pent up demand for racy, almost family friendly Abarth given the popularity of both the old 595/695 plus the huge amount of 500Xs seen around. If Mini can make a JCW Countryman, Abarth can do this.
For the moment, any more concrete details are hard to come by, the announcement focused instead on the ‘combined racing DNAs’ of Abarth and Stellantis Motorsport as well as ‘excellent racing dynamics’ that are being worked on. But there’s surely cause for more optimism here than with some similar projects, because Abarth’s raison d’être is making small car funs. Expect to find out more later in the year.
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Never been on my radar before but loving the little car despite it's wheezy 70bhp 'hybrid' engine.
An absolute hoot on the race track smooth mountain roads and makes ok progress in the autopista, even 3 up with luggage.
Just have to leave it in 4th or if in 6th, change down at least twice if there's an incline
Very tempted now by an Abarth but the reality of crowded London and SE will bring me back down to earth.
I understand that the sports suspension is bone shakingly stiff and although great on the smooth roads over here, would be a mare in the UK.
Anyway I hear that this year may be the last of the ICE Abarths, so it may well be a sensible purchase.
Electric! no thanks.
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