Latest news with #Abarth600e
NZ Autocar
27-05-2025
- Automotive
- NZ Autocar
Peugeot to revive GTi badge with electric 208 hot hatch
A hot GTi variant of the electric e-208 will debut ahead of Le Mans 24 Hour race on Jun 13. New Peugeot boss Alain Favey stated recently that it will deliver a memorable driving experience. The last Peugeot GTI model available was the previous-generation Peugeot 308, sales of which ended in 2021. NZ Autocar reported earlier this year that a new GTi may be on the way. Favey recently said: 'I'm in a position to confirm that we will reintroduce the GTi on the e-208 as soon as possible.' He reckons that the new GTi is all about reconnecting to Peugeot's past. It will also link the French brand's road cars to its involvement in motorsport. Peugeot competes in the World Endurance Championship with its 9X8 hypercar. He continued: 'We want to continue to nurture the reputation of the brand for driving sensations'. An existing e-208 with roof racks. Favey has not ruled out other GTis, nor the concept of combustion engined or PHEV versions. He says it depends on customer demand. He told Autocar UK: 'We will start with the 208 and [are] definitely listening to your inputs, or what our customers will say as well. 'We don't exclude that there might be other executions of the 208 GTi under the GTi badge. But for today there's absolutely nothing planned in that sense.' The return of the GTi was one of his first priorities since taking over as Peugeot CEO in February. 2024 Peugeot 208 GT Hybrid Expect typical GTi flourishes, including red styling elements around the grille, wheels and badges. Up front a reshaped bumper with bigger vents and a splitter are likely. Typical upgrades include suspension stiffening, a wider track and uprated brakes. The new e-208 GTi will likely use the same powertrain as the Abarth 600e, which is based on the same e-CMP platform. That features a 177kW motor and a Torsen limited-slip differential up front. PSA suggests a sprint time of around 6.0sec. Both the Abarth and the Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce also feature a 207kW motor. That leaves room for a special edition 208 GTi by Peugeot Sport. With the e-208 GTi on the starting blocks, a similar version of the Vauxhall Corsa Electric is a possibility. However, Vauxhall has already confirmed plans for a hot Mokka GSE, using the Abarth 600e's powertrain.
Top Gear
16-05-2025
- Automotive
- Top Gear
Buy Abarth 600e Price, PPC or HP
Buying What should I be paying? The Abarth 600e range has been overtly priced to skirt in under the new £40k 'expensive car supplement' that adds £410 a year to your annual VED bill for the first five years of ownership. It starts at £36,975 for the standard version and it's £39,875 for the Scorpionissima, until all 1,949 of them have been shifted. That number is a nod to the year Abarth was founded, incidentally. Not a number plucked out of the thin Turin air. Advertisement - Page continues below What are the key differences? Aside from the performance-y bits, the Abarth 600e makes some proper gains in the cabin over the Fiat. You still get the same 10.25in infotainment screen (which you'll recognise from the fancier versions of the 500e) and 7.0in digital instrument panel, but they've been upgraded with bespoke Abarth graphics. There's a new, partially Alcantara clad steering wheel, aluminium pedals and privacy glass, while the darkened interior theme has yellow accents dotted around so it doesn't feel overly turgid. And the Scorpionissima? That gets more power and builds on the 600e with an even sportier interior, including heated bucket seats, new seatbelts and matte black dashboard trim with glossy patterns (as opposed to a plain black theme). You also get more scorpion badging (the 'mind the scorpion' graphics feel a little like something has been lost in translation) and an iPad style folding cover for the storage compartment under the gear selector buttons. Advertisement - Page continues below Which one should I go for? If you really want an Abarth 600e and the Scorpionissima is still available (the brand only sold 1,027 total cars in the UK in 2024, so your odds are good), that version is the only one to go for. The equipment is better, there's a decent slug more power (if you want range then just go for the standard Fiat) and it looks the part too. The Abarth 600e range will look distinctly half-hearted once the Scorpionissima does go off sale...
The Independent
14-04-2025
- Automotive
- The Independent
Abarth 600e review: Sports SUV is more than just a Fiat in a tracksuit
The Abarth 600e is more proof that you can have serious fun in an EV. Considerably cheaper than a Hyundai Ioniq 5N – our favourite EV hot hatchback – the 600e follows a similar theme, not least with its attempt to engineer an exciting 'engine' note as you enjoy the acceleration. The 600e lacks some of the engagement of the Hyundai, but uses clever tech to boost the handling. The car can be hustled through corners with meaty-feeling steering and quick spurts of acceleration that will put a smile on your face. The styling looks the part, too, with Abarth's trademark scorpion graphics dotted around along with a beefy body kit. But while the 600e looks good value against the Hyundai, it's still pricey, even though a recent price drop means the Scorpionissima version now drops beneath the £40,000 threshold for the expensive car supplement. If you do want a Scorpionissima, they are limited to just under 2,000 models. Abarth works with some big names in the racing world to give the 600e its sporting credentials, including Michelin, Sabelt, JTEKT, and Alcon. Yet some of the basics for an all-electric family SUV seem to have been forgotten in the race for performance. Primarily, the ride. Our passengers soon complained about the bumpiness, especially in the back. The fun I had driving the car with three others on board was soon offset by their complaints. Then there's the range. A maximum claim of 207 miles is nowhere near what you'll get if you enjoy the Abarth's performance to the full, or spend a while on the motorway. And although the interior of the 600e has been spiced up, the quality on offer isn't what I'd want in a car at this price – there are too many cheap plastics around. But if passengers are a rarity, you don't tend to travel too far and have regular access to cheap charging, there are few EVs that will make you smile as much as this Abarth. How we tested We had a blast driving the Abarth 600e around streets and lanes in the south of England – we even took it into London where the look and sound created quite a stir. As it's an SUV we also put the family on board and checked out the boot. Independent rating: 7/10 Pros: Bags of fun, quick, handles nicely, looks suitably outrageous, interesting sound Cons: Pricey, stiff ride, interior quality Abarth 600e specs Price range: £36,975 to £39,875 Battery size: 54kWh Maximum claimed range: 207 miles Miles per kWh: 18.7kWh/100km Maximum charging rate: 100kW Battery, range, charging, performance and drive Whether you go for the standard model or the Scorpionissima, you get the same 54kWh battery in Stellantis' Perfo eCMP platform. If you go for the Eco tyre option, Abarth claims a maximum range of 207 miles – that drops to 199 mile in the Scorpionissima with Perfo track-orientated tyres. Either way, you'll struggle to get anywhere near those figures, especially if you enjoy the 600e's performance to the full – 0-62mph takes just 5.85 seconds in the Scorpionissima but not much less in the standard car – or if you spend a lot of time on the motorway. The Scorpionissima offers up to 276bhp and the standard car 237bhp. We say 'offers up to' because you'll need either car in the most aggressive (in terms of accelerator, steering and electronic intervention) setting that Abarth calls Scorpion Track. There are also Scorpion Street and the most gentle Turismo modes – the latter meaning a reduction in power (and performance) down to 146 and 195bhp. Charging speeds aren't especially quick, though – something to note if you do decide to take your Abarth on a track, where it will use battery power pretty quickly. With a maximum rate of 100kW it'll take 27 minutes to get from 20 to 80 per cent charge. That's all the price you pay for the fun the 600e offers, which you may enjoy even more in the Scorpionissima model thanks to its sound generator. It produces a fruity sounding burble that's audible outside of the car as well as inside – and yes, I did find a tunnel to check it out. The sound generator does a reasonable job of mimicking a petrol-engined Abarth, with the noise getting louder the quicker you accelerate and easing off on a cruise. You can even 'rev' the car by blipping the accelerator when the car's in park or neutral, while there's another burble when you turn the car off – although it sounds a bit too much like a tummy rumble. If you don't like the fake noises, you can turn them off completely, too. It's a shame the standard car doesn't get that feature for the added fun it brings, though. The 600e handles impressively, putting its roster of tech to good effect, including a racing-style mechanical limited slip differential which enables the car to perform better during acceleration and braking, especially into and out of corners. The steering is impressive, too, with good feedback and swift reactions, as you'd expect from something that looks so sporty. Unfortunately, the sporty setup of the suspension is just way too firm. It'll be fine on a super-smooth track, but our UK roads are anything but super-smooth and the constant jiggling and jolting can get really wearing, especially for passengers. Interior, practicality and boot space Using the Fiat 600e as a starting point means reasonable practicality for the Abarth version. Space in the back is okay, but not exactly generous, thanks partly to the larger than average specialist sports seats in the front of the car. The 360-litre boot isn't exactly huge, either, but probably big enough for most people most of the time, too. However, things are also very dark inside, including the back, where the shadow of the big sports seats looms large. That's heightened by the black that's used pretty much throughout the entire cabin, plus dark privacy glass in the rear windows. There are plenty of sporting touches inside, with the Abarth scorpion symbol popping up here and there as expected. There's a leather and Alcantara-clad steering wheel and aluminium pedals, while the driver's 7in digital instrument panel gets a sporty Abarth makeover, too. The Scorpionissima model also gets a fussy folding cover for the centre console which is more trouble than it's worth. Despite the sporty trimmings inside, the quality is more Fiat than Abarth. Considering the price hike in the transition from mainstream to sporty model, nothing happens to the quality of the plastics inside, which feel a bit cheap in places; certainly too cheap for a car at this price. Technology, stereo and infotainment Other than the technology under the skin that makes the 600e drive so well (or sound exciting in the Scorpionissima model), there are a reasonable amount of creature comforts inside the car. There's a 10.25in infotainment touch screen with plenty of Abarth extras giving you dedicated performance pages and fancy graphics to play with, including a G-force measurement. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, although Abarth's own navigation system is reserved for the Scorpionissima model. You also have to choose the more expensive model for that sound generator (shame) and features like 360-degree parking sensors with a rear-view camera, blind spot protection, traffic sign recognition, automatic high-beam, power-folding door mirrors and heated seats. Both models get adaptive cruise control, plus other safety features like autonomous emergency braking and drowsy driver detection. If you're not listening to the Scorpionissima's sound generator, the audio system only offers six speakers and the sound from that is distinctly average. Prices and running costs Abarth has just dropped the price of the 600e Scorpionissima by £2,100 to £39,875 meaning it won't be hit by the expensive car supplement that applies to EVs from the second year of ownership. At that price it's still expensive, though. With the cheaper £36,975 standard model you don't get many of the nicer features, including the fun sound generator. Of more concern is the car's efficiency. The claimed 207 mile range is fanciful at the best of times, let alone if you enjoy the car's performance to the max. And then charging speeds aren't that great. If you use the car on a track and there's a fast charger handy, you'll have to wait nearly 30 minutes to get a 20 to 80 per cent charge at 100kW. Skoda Elroq rivals MG 4 X-Power Cupra Born Volkswagen ID. 3 FAQs How long does it take to charge? Find a fast charger that will go at speeds of 100kW and either of the two Abarth 600e models will get from 20 to 80 per cent charge in a claimed 27 minutes. How much does it cost - is it worth it? Prices range from £36,975 for the standard car to the Scorpionissima at £39,875, which is the model you'll probably want although it's limited to 1,949 models Does Abarth replace batteries for free? If you should have a problem with your battery, Abarth will replace it for up to eight years after purchase, or 100,000 miles. The verdict: Abarth 600e There's no doubting the amount of fun you can have behind the wheel of an Abarth 600e. It's fast, it handles superbly, looks as outrageous as you'd expect and even sounds interesting. But that's not without compromise when it comes to range, ride and price.
Forbes
22-03-2025
- Automotive
- Forbes
Abarth 600e Brings Affordable Fun To Electric Driving
The Abarth 600e feels at home on a go kart track. I was not expecting to like the Abarth 600e as much as I did. The Abarth 500e is lots of fun, but mostly because of the way it looks and the hilarious noise it makes. The Abarth 600e is different. Like the 500e, it's based on a Fiat of the same numerical value. But unlike the 500e, Abarth has done more to bring the 600e in line with its brand values. The result is one of the most amusing electric hatchbacks currently on the market. Abarth has made its name since 1949 taking practical small cars and injecting performance. Many car brands have their 'skunkworks' garages that tune and uprate their regular cars into something that could even be race-worthy but certainly adds appeal for discerning everyday drivers. In the case of the Abarth 600e, the basis is the Fiat 600e, a car I quite liked when I tested it last year. But the latter isn't a fun driver's car – it's a practical small family hatchback. The Abarth 500e had 36hp more than the Fiat 500e it was based on, dropping the 0-62mph sprint to 7 seconds from 9 seconds. However, the Abarth 600e has 345Nm of torque and either 240 or 280hp, depending on which version you go for (the more powerful one is the Scorpionissima, namechecking the arachnid Abarth uses as its logo). Either one is a big leap from the Fiat 600e's 154hp, and the Scorpionissima is in fact the most powerful car Abarth has ever made. The basic Abarth 600e is available with a wider choice of colors. There are many differences in setup between the Abarth 600e and the Fiat version, too. The car has been lowered and the track enlarged by 30mm at the front and 25mm at the back. This provides room for the 20in diamond cut alloys. The suspension has also been stiffened to reduce roll. One feature that gives the Abarth 600e very different handling to the Fiat version is the JTEKT Torsen mechanical limited slip differential (LSD), improving traction as you accelerate out of corners. EVs can get you to high speeds fast, so Abarth has fitted 380mm Alcon-derived disc brakes and calipers to ensure you can stop fast too. Apart from the larger wheels, the Abarth 600e has plenty of changes in its appearance. You can still see the resemblance to the Fiat 600e, but with significant improvements. The body kit is more angular and less round than the Fiat 600e. The default paint color is the same Acid Green as the Abarth 500e, although you can also choose orange and more sober white and black. The Scorpionissima only offers Acid Green and an exclusive Hypnotic Purple, with no extra cost required for either. The latter also has a gloss black body kit. The result is a considerably more aggressive look, although it's hard to obscure the friendliness of the 600e's round headlights. On paper, the Abarth 600e is not that fast for an EV. The base 240hp takes 6.2 seconds to hit 62mph and the Scorpionissimo only drops that a little to 5.8 seconds. This seems pedestrian when compared to an electric supercar like the Maserati GranTurismo Folgore. But this is on par for a hot hatch powered by internal combustion, but straight-line speed is not really what this car is about. The chassis setup means that you can chuck this car into corners with great gusto. It feels entirely at home on windy British A-roads and is very forgiving if you hit a bend a little bit faster than you meant to. Simply turn in, hit the accelerator after the apex, and let that capable LSD pull you round. To hammer home this point, Abarth took journalists at the launch to a go-karting track for a few laps each. The 600e is very much in its element here. In the hands of a demonstrator familiar with this track's tight corners, the car is capable of nausea-inducing changes of direction thanks to its ability to pull 1G laterally. In my less familiar hands, the Abarth 600e was still able to provide huge amounts of cornering enjoyment and luckily those big brakes worked as advertised, slowing the car very capably. Despite being a small hatchback, the Abarth 600e weighs 1,700kg, whereas the 2025 Mk8 Golf GTI, for example, is just 1,454kg. Handling is not quite so nimble for this reason, but the Abarth 600e remains hugely enjoyable. If you loved the silliness of the Abarth 500e's artificial noise box, never fear – the 600e has that available too. The Abarth 600e is great for twisty British A-roads. You can choose how aggressively you harness the Abarth 600e's capabilities via the three power modes – Turismo, Scorpion Street and Scorpion Track. Turismo only gives you 148hp for the basic Abarth 600e and 198hp for the Scorpionissima, with 300Nm of torque. It's aimed more at range and efficiency. Scorpion Street increases these figures to 201hp and 228hp respectively, with the full 345Nm of torque. Scorpion Track then enables all the power. The modes also alter setup, including accelerator pedal setup, ESP and steering. The car was clearly twitchier in Scorpion Street, with ESP not kicking in much and more torque steer. The grip is much more than you'd expect a small four-seater hatchback to have. Because that is the point with the Abarth 600e – it's still a practical car. The rear seats are a bit cramped but still viable for adults (unlike the 500e) and there's a decent amount of luggage space in the rear. You get 360 liters with the rear seats up and 1,231 liters with them down – enough for the daily shop, a short family trip, or a light DIY collection. However, one drawback with the stiffened suspension is that the ride is hard for some British roads. It's swings and roundabouts – you gain in driver engagement but lose in comfort. Pricing is not outrageous either. The basic Abarth 600e costs £36,975 ($48,000), while the Scorpionissima is £39,875 ($51,500). Both these figures fall below the UK Expensive Vehicle tax threshold, so you won't be paying the higher amount for this. The price compares well with internal combustion hot hatches, such as the 2025 Mk8 Golf GTI. So you're not paying anything extra by going electric for your hot hatch thrills. The pricing is also similar to the MG4 XPOWER, which is much faster in a straight line but lacks the handling enhancements of the Abarth. Cornering is tight with the Abarth 600e. Unfortunately, however, the Abarth 600e does have one drawback – that 54kWh battery combined with so much motor power doesn't make for a lot of range. The WLTP rating is 207 miles, quite a lot lower than the Fiat 600e's 250 miles, and you'll get far less than that if you dial up the more aggressive setup modes and drive accordingly. DC charging maxes out at 100kW, too, so replenishing from 10 to 80% takes 27 minutes. Not terrible, but that will be less than 160 miles. So you can really only go around 2 hours on a motorway between stops with the Abarth 600e, making long distances possible but not ideal. The Abarth 600e is therefore not perfect. The hot hatch is meant to be the universal transportation tool – potentially fun on a track at the weekend, but otherwise great for everyday activities like commuting, shopping, trips with friends and family, and visiting people in other cities. The 600e lacks a little for the latter but covers every other area well, making it one of the best electric hot hatches yet, if not the ultimate small all-round EV driving machine just yet.
