The Abarth 500e is not your typical electric car. It's a hot hatch that combines the iconic style of the Fiat 500 with the performance and attitude of the Scorpion brand. And it's already winning awards for its design, proving that electric cars can be fun, sporty, and stylish.
The Autonis Design Award
The Abarth 500e has recently received its first award: the prestigious Autonis design award by Auto Motor und Sport, one of the most influential automotive magazines in Germany. The award is based on a survey of more than 16,000 readers who voted for their favorite car designs in various categories. The Abarth 500e won the "small car" category with 28.6% of the votes, beating competitors such as the Mini Electric, the Honda E, and the Renault Zoe.
The Autonis award is a recognition of the distinctive design of the Abarth 500e, which combines the retro charm of the Fiat 500 with the sporty features of the Abarth brand. The Abarth 500e has a bold and aggressive look, with 17-inch alloy wheels, Abarth signature LED lights, bold bumpers, and sharp lines. The interior is also inspired by racing, with sporty seats, integrated headrests, a three-spoke steering wheel, and a digital instrument cluster.
The Abarth 500e is available in two versions: the standard Abarth 500e and the Abarth 500e Turismo. The latter adds some exclusive features, such as 18-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, Alcantara premium interiors, and an Abarth sound generator that mimics the roar of a combustion engine.
The Performance and Technology
But the Abarth 500e is not just about looks. It's also about performance and technology. The Abarth 500e is powered by a 113.7 kW (153 hp) electric motor, which delivers a 100% electric driving experience with zero emissions. The motor is paired with a 42 kWh lithium-ion battery, which provides a range of up to 199 miles on the WLTP cycle.
The Abarth 500e also offers thrilling acceleration, thanks to the 235 Nm of instant torque that allows it to sprint from 0 to 62 mph in just 7 seconds. That's faster than the petrol-powered Abarth 595 and only slightly slower than the range-topping Abarth 695. The top speed of the Abarth 500e is electronically limited to 93 mph.
The Abarth 500e also features some innovative technologies that enhance its performance and fun factor. One of them is the new Abarth driving modes, allowing the driver to choose between three settings: Normal, Range, and Sherpa. Normal mode is the default setting, which provides a balanced performance and efficiency. Range mode maximizes the range by limiting the power output and activating more regenerative braking. Sherpa mode is designed for extreme situations, such as low battery or traffic jams, and reduces the speed, power, and air conditioning to save energy.
Another technology that makes the Abarth 500e stand out is the Abarth Telemetry system, which allows the driver to monitor their driving performance and improve their skills. The system provides real-time data on speed, acceleration, braking, battery level, and consumption, as well as access to some famous race tracks around the world, such as Monza, Silverstone, and Nürburgring. The driver can compare their lap times and driving style with those of professional drivers or other users.
The Comfort and Convenience
The Abarth 500e is not only fast and fun but also comfortable and convenient. It offers a spacious and ergonomic cabin, with plenty of room for two adults in the front and two children in the back. The boot capacity is also decent for a small car, with 185 liters of space that can be expanded to 550 liters by folding down the rear seats.
The Abarth 500e also comes with a host of features that make life easier and safer for the driver and passengers. Some of them are:
- 360-degree parking sensors and rearview camera help with parking maneuvers and avoid collisions.
- Blind spot warning alerts the driver of vehicles in their blind spots.
- Automatic high/low beam adjusts the headlights according to traffic conditions.
- Wireless charging pad, which allows charging compatible smartphones without cables.
- Keyless entry with a dedicated wearable key enables unlocking and starting the car without using the key fob.
- Electrochromic internal mirror, which automatically dims the glare from the rear traffic.
- Exterior mirrors with defrost, which prevent fogging and icing in cold weather.
- One-touch windows allow opening and closing windows with a single touch.
The Abarth 500e also features a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which provides access to various functions and services, such as navigation, music, phone, climate control, and more. The system is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which allow mirroring the smartphone's apps on the screen. The system also supports Amazon Alexa, which enables voice control of various features, such as playing music, checking the weather, making calls, and more.
For those who love music, the Abarth 500e offers a JBL premium audio system, which delivers a powerful and immersive sound quality. The system features eight speakers, a subwoofer, a virtual center algorithm, and a speed-adjusted volume, which adapts the sound to the driving conditions.
The Price and Availability
The Abarth 500e is already available in some European markets, such as Italy, Germany, France, and Spain. The prices start from €34,900 ($39,000) for the standard Abarth 500e hatchback and go up to €37,900 ($42,300) for the Abarth 500e Turismo hatchback. The convertible versions cost an extra €2,000 ($2,200) each.
The Abarth 500e is expected to arrive in the UK in early 2023, with prices starting from £34,195 ($45,400) for the standard Abarth 500e hatchback and going up to £36,195 ($48,000) for the Abarth 500e Turismo hatchback. The convertible versions will cost an extra £2,000 ($2,600) each.
The Abarth 500e is not yet available in the US, but there are rumors that it might come in the future. However, there is no official confirmation from the company yet. Still, the Abarth 500e price looks very good and competitive.
The Conclusion
The Abarth 500e is a unique electric car that offers a lot of fun, style, and technology. It's a hot hatch that preserves the heritage of the Fiat 500 and the Abarth brand while embracing the future of electric mobility. It's also a car that has already won an award for its design and might win more in the future.
If you're looking for an electric car that stands out from the crowd and can make you smile whenever you drive it, you might want to consider the Abarth 500e. It's an electric scorpion with a sting in its tail.
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