The launch of an electric Abarth 500 is confirmed

Last year, the Stellantis group confirmed that Abarth will become an electric vehicle manufacturer by 2024. The Italian firm, halfway between a sports division and a full-fledged brand, has been marketing high-performance versions of FIAT models (Punto, 124 Spider…) for years.

However, for some time now it has only offered derivatives of the popular 500, the Abarth 595, and 695. Given that the new generation of the iconic urbanite is only marketed in electric versions, it was only a matter of time before Abarth gave it a spicy touch for those who consider the 118 CV of the FIAT model insufficient.

The arrival of the first electric Abarth 500 will take place in the coming months, coexisting with the current 595 and 695 thermals until 2024, the year in which Abarth will cease marketing. Although its technical characteristics or launch schedule have not yet been revealed, the company has wanted to involve its community of fans in the development of its latest creation.

Through “Abarth Performance Creator”, a participatory tool that allows the company to interact with its followers, Abarth has opened a vote to choose the sound that the AVAS (Acoustic Vehicle Alert System) system will emit when the car is moving, as well as in the on and off phases.

The Abarth 500 will be one of the first electric hot hatches on the market

electric Abarth 500

This system is used in silent electric vehicles to warn users of their presence, its use being mandatory in Europe for safety reasons. Manufacturers such as BMW are making a significant effort to give this acoustic warning a personal touch, a path that Abarth will also follow to give its models a sporty feeling.

In parallel, Abarth has also shared an image of its logo with a lightning bolt, thereby evidencing its imminent electrification. Currently, the Abarth models offer a power of between 145 and 180 hp, so it would not be surprising that the most radical versions of the electric approach even exceed 200 hp.

The new Abarth 500 will be one of the first electric hot hatches on the market, as well as the only one in the A-segment (the Dacia Spring, SEAT Mii electric, Renault Twingo E-TECH, and Volkswagen e-up! do not have sports versions). Its closest rivals by approach will be in segment B: Alpine 5, Honda e, MINI Cooper SE…

The post The launch of an electric Abarth 500 is confirmed appeared first on Latest Car News.


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