Abarth plans popular special models also for electric cars

Simulated gear changes à la Hyundai Ioniq 5 N have probably also been tested

Photo by: Christopher Otto

By: Stefan Wagner

Dec 12, 2024 at 4:32am ET

Comment

For the extremely emotional Abarth brand with its many die-hard fans, the switch to electric mobility is certainly associated with even more persuasion than elsewhere. A lot has changed since the car started humming instead of roaring, but one thing will definitely remain the same: the seduction of fans with limited special editions.

As Top Gear magazine reports, Head of Product Guillaume Clerc has confirmed that there will be hot special editions of the still quite fresh 500e and the very fresh 600e. "It's part of the Abarth soul. A large proportion of our customers are completely crazy about the brand and they want these special series."

However, Clerc does not yet want to commit to which special editions there will be in the future. First, he says, they want to introduce the 600e to the market properly and concentrate on the car as it is at the moment, with the Scorpionissima, which is already a kind of special series as a launch edition. But in the medium term, they will animate the cars, as they have done in the past.

Anyone who has spent any time with the Scorpion in recent years will know that the market has been virtually flooded with special editions of the 595 and 695 combustion models. In 2024, a special edition of the 695 was even launched to celebrate the company's 75th anniversary. This was despite the fact that the electric 500e had long been in dealerships.

The 600e Scorpionissima will be limited to 1949 units. Compared to the base model, it will have a sound generator, larger brakes and a Torsen limited slip differential. All ingredients that we are also likely to see in future 600e special editions.

And beyond that? Any surprising gimmicks that might pick up more traditionally minded fans of the brand? Well, Abarth has actually tested simulated gear changes with steering wheel paddles, as we know them from the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, for example.

They have talked about it and tried out some options, says Abarth marketing boss Francesco Morosini to Top Gear. In the end, it was probably a question of money. Ultimately, a compromise had to be made, admits Morosini, and the focus was on the features that improve performance and not on gimmicks. Perhaps the gimmicks will in turn be something for future special models.

Tell us what you think!

View

Comments