Overview
THE 500e Turismo is the primary electrical automobile to return from Abarth and like familial fashions earlier than it, is predicated upon the (now additionally electrical) Fiat 500e.
In line with Abarth, the all-electric 500e Turismo and Scorpionissima duo are essentially the most responsive and thrilling automobiles in its historical past, every outfitted with a front-mounted electrical motor delivering 113kW and 235Nm, or sufficient to speed up from standstill to 100km/h in 7.0 seconds.
Driving vary is listed at 253km (WLTP), which is honest contemplating the compact automobile’s 1335kg kerb weight and 42kWh nickel-manganese-cobalt battery. The battery could also be charged at as much as 85kW DC which means it ought to be doable to achieve an 80 per cent state of cost in round 35 minutes.
The Abarth 500e (from $58,900 plus on-road prices) rides on a platform developed by FCA earlier than its merger with PSA (into Stellantis). It’s shared with its Fiat counterpart, permitting the 500e to supply significantly extra expertise than was doable earlier than.
On the protection entrance, meaning the inclusion of Degree 2 autonomous driving capabilities, cruise management, auto excessive beam, entrance and rear parking sensors, lane preserve help, velocity restrict recognition, blind spot monitoring, 360-degree digicam expertise, and driver consideration monitoring.
When it comes to infotainment, the 500e sports activities the most recent fifth era Uconnect multimedia array with beneficiant 10.25-inch touchscreen, and wi-fi connectivity to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A six-speaker JBL-sourced audio system handles music duties.
Different highlights embrace 18-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels (completed in gray and shod with Bridgestone Potenza hoops), Alcantara upholstery, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, auto wipers, keyless entry and ignition, metal-faced pedals, single-zone local weather management, sport seats with contrasting blue/inexperienced stitching, and a wi-fi system charging pad.
In a nod to its petrol-powered predecessors, the electrical Abarth 500e additionally incorporates a synthesised Sound Generator which goals to copy the sound of the long-lasting Monza exhaust – in and out. Extra on that in a minute.
Paint hues embrace Acid Inexperienced (pictured), Adrenalin Crimson, Antidote White, Poison Blue, and Venom Black.
Driving Impressions
There actually isn’t anything just like the Abarth 500e available on the market. It’s a novel providing in its phase, which after all means it’s arduous to check with these round it (though, given its value, you might argue it vies with the bigger Cupra Born, MG 4 X-Energy, and Mini Electrical).
And that’s each an excellent and a foul factor…
Good, as a result of the Abarth is basically its personal automotive (excusing the Fiat 500e after all) and stands out for being itself.
Unhealthy, as a result of in isolation it seems costly, and virtually contrived, prefer it has been created for no different purpose than to fulfill the absence left by petrol mannequin.
After all, Abarth followers are prone to disagree. However in dwelling with the Abarth for every week, we discovered it very arduous to justify the expenditure for a automobile that could be a) not very quick; and b) not very helpful.
Which isn’t to say it doesn’t do what it’s designed to do properly. Under no circumstances. It simply doesn’t make sense in the identical approach a extra sensible hatch would possibly – or {that a} correct efficiency mannequin ought to.
A 0-100km/h time of seven seconds is sluggish by EV requirements, particularly once you’re claiming to be a high-performance mannequin. The highest velocity is restricted to only 150km/h.
After all, the dimensions of the Abarth 500e means it doesn’t really feel as sluggish because the numbers would possibly recommend, however it’s apparent once you line it up in opposition to a far cheaper EV hatch just like the GWM Ora, for instance.
Certain, it would seem to be evaluating apples with oranges, however that automotive manages the three-digit dash in 8.4 seconds and prices round $38K. It mightn’t have the pedigree of the Abarth, however for a $20K saving we expect we may stay with it.
After which there may be the driving vary… Our Abarth 500e mortgage automotive didn’t have an AC charging cable on board, which meant charging was carried out at an inconvenient and out-of-the-way location to maintain the batteries fed.
Given the dimensions of the battery pack – and the mannequin’s starvation for power in even common driving situations – it’s a problem we may do with out.
On check, the Abarth 500e consumed round 17.9kWh per 100km, or sufficient to supply a theoretical 234km of vary. By some means, we have been perilously near empty at round 200km… so clearly one thing’s off with the on-board pc.
Fiat (and subsequently Abarth) have taken nice pains to make sure the 500e is extra comfy and sensible than the mannequin earlier than it, and for essentially the most half it exhibits. Oddment storage is nice, the again seat larger, and the driving place considerably improved.
But, it’s nonetheless usually Italian (higher suited to these with longer arms and shorter legs) in its format and an apparent sufferer of the mannequin’s compact proportions. The high-set seating place means there may be minimal headroom and compromised leg room for taller of us – a difficulty for these eager to commute or try longer journeys.
We additionally discovered that the absence of arduous buttons means you’ll want to make use of the touchscreen for lots of the automobile’s capabilities, a lot of which require an in-depth menu search to entry.
It’s a criticism the Abarth will not be alone in sharing, and one which may be a matter of familiarity over time; however we actually really feel that some capabilities are higher left to a click on of a button, not only for comfort, however security as properly.
Whenever you couple all this with a good serving to of tyre noise and a naff sound generator (which sounds just like the automotive is completely caught in gear leading to us switching it off after the primary 10 minutes), then it’s maybe a sign that the Abarth 500e simply didn’t hit the mark…
However, let’s not fairly go there simply but.
You see, the Abarth 500e is greater than only a Fiat with the wick turned up.
It beneficial properties its personal suspension tune (a strut entrance/torsion beam rear association), driveline discount ratio, four-wheel disc brakes, and revised steering, all of which contributes to an agile dealing with bundle that’s terrific enjoyable each out and in of town’s confines.
Certain, the 500e mightn’t have the vary to take in your favorite weekend roads, however you sort of want it did.
There’s a degree of confidence and grip to the bundle that makes it extremely entertaining by a collection of bends, the physique reacting playfully to inputs with a personality not too dissimilar to its petrol-powered predecessor.
The steering weights up properly as you feed it although corners, and is weighted excellent in two of the three modes accessible – in our view, it’s too ‘heavy’ in Monitor mode.
The 500e even spins up an inside wheel as you sprint out of corners, exhibiting that regardless of the small numbers there may be nonetheless loads of muscle to be flexed. Hit the suitable driving mode and the 500e tenses up and bristles on the enter of throttle, as if sensing that it’s time to hustle.
What’s extra spectacular nonetheless is that it does all of this with out feeling overly agency. Certain, it’s not as plush as its Fiat by-product, however it isn’t like using a sled.
There’s greater than sufficient compliance for clean journey over pockmarked roads – as if the engineers have purposefully left sufficient in reserve to make sure your fillings stay intact. It needs to be a fairly ragged stretch of street earlier than the Abarth feels uncomfortable.
The drive modes – primarily Tour, Road, and Monitor – alter the responsiveness of not solely the throttle and steering, but additionally the brake regeneration.
The deceleration provided is intense, virtually abrupt, and takes a little bit getting used to. In most driving conditions you should use the brake regeneration in lieu of the service brake, which is sort of a disgrace contemplating how properly metered the pedal is. Stopping efficiency is superb.
However it’s not all rosy… the brake regeneration can virtually be too restrictive in city driving and tends to create a ‘jolt’ when manoeuvring at sluggish speeds or when altering course whereas parking.
Once more, it might’t be adjusted past the presets; so, you’ll need to study to adapt should you’re going to like proudly owning this automotive.
And there are these that may. For those who don’t have the necessity for a bigger automotive, love the seems, need to go electrical, and benefit from the up-and-at-‘em dealing with the 500e has to supply then it would simply be the automotive for you. However for near $60K, we simply can’t heat to it.
As a lot as it’s a well-equipped and pleasing tiny tot, the Abarth 500e simply isn’t the automotive it should be for the cash. If it was beneath $50K or had a one other 50kW we’d change our tune. However for now, it’s a cross from us.