Built for fun – Abarth 500e doesn’t let you down

When did we get so obsessed with range? 

Do you ever remember saying to your friends: “So how many miles to you get out of a tank of fuel?” 

No, exactly, we were too busy talking about 0-60mph sprint times and how much torque and BHP were under the bonnet. Ah, great days. 

Now, when a lot of the test cars are electric, it’s the only thing I’m asked about to the detriment of some great cars and conversation generally. 

So, here we have one of my favourites, an Abarth. I’ve owned three because they are that good.  

I would have had a fourth, a Riva, but the salesman couldn’t be bothered to get back to me with a price, so I bought a Toyota. 

So it is with great pleasure that the keys to an Abarth 500e are handed over at the door and I scamper to see what it looks like. 

Ooh, it looks fabulous. Lovely alloys too and airdams and spoilers. The scorpion badges on the wings and wheels are ace. I’m a happy man. 

Climb in and things continue to be lovely. Chunky Alcantara steering wheel, with the suede-like material extending to seats and dash. I love it. 

Clocks are attractive and there’s the ubiquitous touchscreen but it’s easy to use.  

All good, all what I expect. Then comes the elephant in the room as I charge to 100 per cent to be told by a digital readout that this gives me a maximum range of 146 miles. Hmmm… 

Right, what is needed is a change of mindset. Let’s look at the Abarth’s many merits and see if the limited mileage is going to be a problem. 

Abarth is built for fun, for blasts in the countryside or to pose around town.  

If you want to ply up and down our tedious network of motorways then look elsewhere. 

I ride a motorbike and when I go for a jolly jaunt I never consider that the tank range is 120-150 miles. 

 I just head out and enjoy myself. If it’s full at the start it will be near empty at the end and I don’t have a problem with that. 

Sometimes I put it in the barn empty as it’s lighter to manhandle, other times I might fill it up so it is ready for the next time I go out. 

Adopt that approach with the Abarth and there are no problems, especially as it seems to recharge in no time at all. 

Now that’s out of the way let’s consider what makes the Abarth so special.  

Do you remember the joy of driving a go-kart before you were old enough to drive on the road? That’s the same feeling you get with the Abarth. 

No rorty exhaust note this time as it’s an EV but the way it takes off gives the serenely quiet 500e plenty of character. 

The drive is exemplary as it boasts typically rapid Abarth acceleration but when you lift off you also get engine braking.  

That’s fun when you come to judge the correct speed for an approaching bend. 

A lot of that speed can be carried through the curve because handling is excellent and grip tenacious.  

Then, as you are about to come out of it, you can tap the accelerator and the electric motor will spit you out the other side. Hilarious, even at moderate speeds. 

Mr Abarth was a racing driver in the 1950s and since then his specialist workshop has been taking a variety of craft, from Ferraris and Maseratis to humble Fiats, on which his technicians work their magic. 

The same ethos remains today even though he might be shocked that there is no internal combustion engine under the bonnet. 

Attention to detail is still apparent in abundance. There are scorpions every, inside and out, and tasty materials, like Alcantara, alloy pedals, a honeycomb grille and glorious 18in alloys. 

This is the convertible so it has a canvas roof which peels right back electrically to reveal the sky – bliss. 

Abarth 500e is down on power, about 13BHP compared to the ICE Turismo I used to own, but it doesn’t feel it as the torque is instant and delivered in a way only EVs can. 

That, plus the looks, the handling and the sporty interior, all come together to maintain the Abarth’s reputation for dynamic motoring. Range? Who cares about the range? 

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