Design and Build

We're looking here at the fixed-top model, but there's also a cabrio version offered too with a folding fabric sunroof-style top. Either way, you might be surprised just how different this Abarth 500e is from its Fiat 500 EV donor model. Even under the skin where it has a wheelbase 24mm longer and a track 60mm wider. As you'd expect, stuff you can see looks more aggressive too - lights, diffuser, skirts and bumpers are all of course Abarth-specific. Inside, just as with the old car, there's a sportier take on the donor Fiat model. There's scorpion branding everywhere, lots of Alcantara trimming and a satisfyingly chunky 3-spoke sports steering wheel. Plus you get a 'wearable' Abarth key and there are bespoke graphics and dedicated 'Performance Pages' for the 10.25-inch central infotainment screen. This display runs Fiat's latest 'U connect 5' media system and can deliver navigation, a Wi-Fi hotspot and 'Apple CarPlay'/'Android Auto' smartphone-mirroring. There's a circular instrument panel as before but, as you might expect from EV, it's now fully digital. Those condemned to a seat in the rear will find that this EV generation model's 2cm wheelbase increase means that things aren't quite as cramped as before. Out back, there's a compact 185-litre boot with either body style.

Market and Model

Pricing starts from around £30,000 upwards for the base fixed-top model; there's a £3,000 premium for the Cabrio version. You can get the fixed-top version in plusher 'Turismo' form from just over £35,000, with again, a £3,000 premium for the Cabrio, though by then you'd be spending well over £38,000. Standard across the range is a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system (with 'Performance Pages') and a 7-inch TFT instrument cluster display with dedicated Abarth graphics. the standard model also gets the Abarth Sound Generator and a JBL Premium Audio System. The 500e also gets an Abarth-branded version of the 'MyFiat' app, through which you can remotely interact with your car. Via this app, you can also schedule charging, find a public charger and check battery status. Stretch to the 'Turismo' version and you get 18-inch diamond-cut Titanium Grey alloy wheels, an alcanatara-trimmed dashboard and an alcantara and leather sports steering wheel. Plus heated front seats, a wireless charging pad, a rear-view camera with 360-degree sensors, heated mirrors and windscreen, keyless entry and go, and a blind spot warning system. A fixed glass roof is standard on the hatchback version of Abarth 500e Turismo.

Cost of Ownership

Don't expect the driving range figure to quite match the best-possible 199 mile figure of the Fiat 500 EV donor car - given the racier electric motor and the weight of all those bodywork add-ons. Think more like 164 miles. And the charging system (like this car's 42kWh battery) is of course just the same. The Abarth 500e features an 85kW DC rapid charging system that can recharge from empty to 80% capacity in just 35 minutes and can provide the car with 31 miles of driving range in just 5 minutes. Buyers can also get a wall charging box that offers 3kW charging and apparently doesn't need to be professionally installed. This wallbox can be upgraded to allow for 7.4kW charging at home. That 7.4kW wall box allows you to fully charge this electric Abarth in just over 6 hours. The car also comes with a mode 3 cable for charging at up to 11kW from a public charging point. It can be charged via AC or DC power points. As usual with an Abarth, this car is covered by a three-year, unlimited mileage warranty and there's 36 months of breakdown cover included as well. Should you have a problem on a journey, you can use the 'Uconnect' infotainment system to contact roadside assistance. What else might you need to know? Well, servicing intervals are every year or every 12,000 miles, whichever comes first. Owners can keep up to date with their car's maintenance schedule via the 'My Car' section of that 'MyFiat' app, which briefs you on the time of your next service and various maintenance issues.

Summary

This is but the first episode in a brand-new Abarth story, one that founder Carlo Abarth could never have dreamed of. And it'll help this fledgling Italian brand that, for the time being anyway, this 500e has a clear run at the market for small EV hot hatches. That's emboldened them to charge plenty for this little battery-powered shopping rocket; for the money, you can obviously get a much larger EV. But in terms of fun-per-kilowatt-hour, there's nothing to touch this car at this price point and we're not sure if there ever will be. The best Abarth EVer? Future faster versions of this car will more clearly challenge for that title. But this one stakes a creditable claim.