The Scorpion brand is celebrating its anniversary with one of its most challenging yet thrilling projects: the New Abarth 600e, the most powerful Abarth ever with 280 HP and 0 to 100 acceleration in 5,85 sec.
This revolutionary model is the result of a challenging project that not only involved Abarth’s experts but also the expertise of Stellantis Motorsport engineers. Together, they developed a state-of-art sporty BEV platform: the Perfo eCMP where the technological transfer takes place giving birth to the New Abarth 600e.
A diabolic vehicle fully equipped to provide an extraordinary driving experience, and performance, along with power and disarming nastiness, which is its trademark feature. Its captivating “evil” essence can be seen in its muscular exteriors and large footprint, expansive wheels, aerodynamic rear spoiler, and aggressive yet sportive interiors. Together with the racing experts Michelin, Sabelt, JTEKT Torsen, and Alcon, Abarth studied and tested under many conditions the most suitable solutions to obtain the perfect combination for the most powerful Abarth ever.
The new model, developed with Stellantis Motorsport, marks an important step for Abarth as it sets the new standard for electric hot hatch cars and the sportiveness and electrification of urban cars thanks to its racing attitude.
The Scorpion Brand offers drivers a thrilling experience in all kinds of driving conditions with its two versions: the sporty Abarth 600e Turismo and the Scorpionissima limited edition, which comes in 1,949 units – an homage to the brand’s founding year.
Starting tomorrow, the most powerful Abarth ever is available for orders in the main European countries in both versions: the New Abarth 600e Turismo and the Scorpionissima model.
Built to be the most powerful Abarth
The reason the new Abarth model is the most powerful ever lies in some essential elements inside the car. Among these “hidden” components, the beating heart of the vehicle is Abarth’s own e-motor. The new Scorpion far exceeds the characteristics of the existing electric hot hatch cars, as it is equipped with a 207 kW 280 HP engine—the highest power ever reached by an Abarth car. The e-motor was tested on the FORMULA E test bench with a real track simulator. Moreover, the Scorpionissima with 0 to 100 acceleration in 5,85 seconds, and the Turismo with 0 to 100 acceleration in approximately 6,24 seconds are fast and responsive on every terrain. In addition, to provide greater power, this monstrous car includes 345 Nm of torque and can reach a 200km/h limited maximum speed with a battery range up to 334 Km WLTP combined cycle, according to tires equipment.
Both versions of the New Abarth 600e are endowed with three driving modes. The Turismo mode provides smoother acceleration and 110kW of power for the Abarth 600e Turismo and 140 Kw for the Scorpionissima, combined with 300 Nm torque for a fun and efficient driving experience with a maximum speed limited to 150 km/h. This configuration also features a sport accelerator pedal calibration, sport steering calibration, and standard ESP calibration. In addition to these features, the second driving mode, Scorpion Street, comes with 150kW power for the Turismo model and 170Kw for the Scorpionissima with 345 Nm torque, and a maximum speed limited to 180 km/h; the third driving mode, Scorpion Track, includes an aggressive accelerator pedal calibration, a more sporty steering and “fun” ESP tunings. The Scorpion Track configuration is the way Abarth has the most fun, with top performance on track days with maximum speed at 200 km/h, 345 Nm torque, and a higher power of 207 kW (280 HP) for the Abarth 600e Scorpionissima and 175 Kw (240 HP) for the Turismo version.
Abarth 600e: born from Abarth’s and Stellantis Motorsport racing know-how
The New Abarth 600e is the result of the racing know-how developed by the motorsport experts with whom Abarth worked for this challenging project. Abarth and Michelin began to collaborate as soon as the specifications were drawn up, in 2021. Beside wanting to convey the expected natural sportiness, the attention was placed on the tire’s safety, lifespan, and energy performance. Thanks to an optimized rubber compound and dedicated architecture, the MICHELIN Pilot Sport EV tires have been designed to respond to the 280 HP provided by the Abarth 600e, while offering this sports SUV an excellent level of grip, both in the dry and wet.
Jointly developed with Alcon, the brakes come from the racing world, making them with a bigger surface and ensuring fading resistance and heat dissipation thanks to a monobloc caliper with four pistons. The special contribution of Alcon’s expertise makes the New Abarth 600e a perfect fit for those who are looking for a thrilling driving experience from racing to street-legal applications. Concerning braking and speed, Abarth continues to surprise its community since the Scorpion brand’s experts pursued the objective of achieving more power and stability while braking with the Alcon 380 mm brakes and calipers adapted to the Abarth 600e for amazing results.
Furthermore, the New Abarth 600e features the JTEKT’s Torsen mechanical limited slip differential, offering better trajectory, improved handling, traction in turns, and safety in slippery conditions. The combination of Abarth’s and JTEKT Torsen’s expertise makes this new Abarth vehicle even more unique and competitive. The limited slip differential provides additional torque on the external wheel and the car handling is improved by the locking-effect setup, which rates 36% during acceleration and 34% during braking.
With their track know-how, racing experts from Abarth and Stellantis Motorsport also paid particular attention to other key elements to make this challenging electric vehicle project a success. They increased suspension stiffness and reinforced the chassis with a rear anti-roll bar that changed the anti-roll balance by enhancing the overall rear anti-roll stiffness.
The Abarth 600e’s cooling system with high-capacity coolant pump pushes the boundaries of battery derating, which could limit the vehicle’s performance. Furthermore, a specific calibration ensures effective cooling in the sporty modes as well.
The racing spirit is also expressed by the style and technical features of the Sabelt seats to ensure performance, dynamic, and driving support. Racing ergonomics have been achieved through an enveloping shape to contain bends. Moreover, on the Scorpionissima, the seats emphasize lateral support and have been optimized by four different high-density foams on each area of the body. Also, on the limited-edition model, the lateral holes together with the strong and accentuated bolster and the seat belt bezel provide a track-day look to entice true motor enthusiasts with an authentic racing feel.
Designed to perform: the New Abarth 600e’s exteriors
To maximize performance, the New Abarth 600e presents specific features on the exteriors and interiors. Starting with the exteriors, the design was inspired by two main themes: the first one takes inspiration from the past, interpreting the contrast given by the large, brutally squared-off volume of the front radiator of the Abarth 850 TC, from which it owes its nickname “cassettone”, conferring a decidedly sporty and emotional impact; the second theme enriches the square geometry with strong graphics inspired by the world of gaming and digital, made up by inclined lines, engraved on the surfaces that become a grille in the air intake. This logic of form and processing is found on the rear bumper as well, to exalt the resulting effect.
Furthermore, Abarth decided to make a difference by working on four elements in particular: the front and rear bumpers, the spoiler, and the wheels. On the front, the engineers and the designers stretched the silhouette, highlighting the so-called “shark nose”, improving the aero performance and thus, providing the specific bumper with a characteristic volume and with the three-dimensional Abarth inscription. The frontal look is also the result of a lowered setup and an enlarged track with an additional 30mm on the front and an additional 25mm on the back. Far from being merely aesthetic, the strongly squared shapes of the aero spoiler and the extractor in the bumper were studied and tested in the wind tunnel to improve the New Abarth 600e’s performance. As for the 20-inch diamond-alloy wheels, they are majestic and present an eye-catching design: the 5-spoke alloy wheels are designed to reclaim the stylized graphics of the scorpion’s stinger and provide a glimpse of the sporty brakes and calipers painted, between their wide gaps. In addition, its hubcap is inspired by mono bolts and has a modern faceted design. The electrified scorpion, which already made its debut on the Abarth 500e, also characterizes this model, enriching some external spots: in addition to the logos on the mudguards and the Abarth badge on the bonnet, the beloved scorpion appears on the centerline, engraved on the black surfaces of the front and rear bumpers and spoiler. In addition to the Abarth 600e Turismo, the Scorpionissima limited edition will feature the glossy black bodykit, specific lateral sticker, and colored front brake calipers.
The overall effect—from both the front and back of the vehicle with the specific rear lamp bezel and the coffered-inspired shape—gives the car a strong personality and a considerably bold impact.
Defining the vehicle’s aggressiveness, the black mirror caps and handles contrast with the colors of the two models: the Abarth 600e Turismo will come in the exciting Acid Green, a reference to the acidity of the poison, Antidote White, Shock Orange, and Venom Black; meanwhile, the Scorpionissima limited edition will be available in the Acid Green and the exclusive Hypnotic Purple which was inspired by the post-puncture hypnotic effect. The Abarth’s color names tell a fascinating story about the “Scorpion Sting” strategy to strengthen the effect that the Brand wants to achieve with the new Scorpion vehicle.
Impactful design on the interiors
The exteriors of the New Abarth 600e provide just a glimpse of the new electric model’s appeal, as the interiors complete the design that was sought after by Abarth’s highly qualified designers. The sporty steering wheel with leather and Alcantara inserts, both in the upper and lower part, adds additional sportiness and maximizes grip. The interior dark environment, which is also the main theme in the interiors, is provided by the black A, B, and C pillars, headliner, overhead, and trims. However, the dark trims are exalted by colored details such as the seams or the attractive yet threatening Scorpion on the steering wheel. The New Abarth 600e’s uniqueness is achieved by specific choices such as a dedicated seat, pedals covered in aluminum, footrests, and floor mats featuring the Scorpionissima that thanks to its privacy glasses maintains its mysterious and dark spirit. The internal look is also enriched by additional cool bonus features like the Abarth kick plate, the 7-inch cluster color TFT with specific Abarth graphics, the tunnel pad cover—which, like the ambient light on the left driver’s side, will only be available with the Scorpionissima limited edition—and the dashboard fascia—painted black on the Abarth 600e Turismo and matte black with its glossy black serigraphy for the Scorpionissima. In the interiors, the two Abarth 600e versions’ seats slightly differ, with two different configurations that reflect the spirit of each version. Covered with the Scorpionflage, a distinctive and exclusive pattern created with the scorpion icon, the Scorpionissima model features more aggressive, racing Sabelt seats in Alcantara with an integrated headrest which are perforated to express more lightness and sportiness; meanwhile, the Abarth 600e Turismo Sabelt’s seats come with an integrated headrest fabric with striped design. Additionally, the Scorpionissima limited edition features heated seats and windshields to better cope with the cold winter days.
Bold outside, technological inside
To make driving even more pleasant, the Abarth 600e comes with a range of ADAS that make life on board easier than ever. The long rides and the parking maneuvers in both models will always be occasionally relaxing thanks to the Adaptive Cruise Control and the Electric Parking Brake. Furthermore, every trip aboard the Abarth 600e is guaranteed by its safety pack, available on both versions. Starting from its 6 airbags and an E-call emergency response system the new Abarth’s jewel provides its drivers with Drowsy Driver Detection and Autonomous Emergency Braking system for a safe driving experience. The pack is also enriched with a Lane Departure Warning system a Lane Keeping and the ISOFIX front passenger and rear seats for the comfort and safety of all passengers. On top of that, the Scorpionissima version comes with Level 2 Assisted Driving giving additional assistance with extra features and systems like the Lane Centering & Traffic Jam assist, the 360° parking sensors that combined with the rearview camera allow a master’s parking. Instead, during urban rides, the Scorpionissima also offers an Urban blind spot monitor, power-folding mirrors when driving in congested streets, traffic sign information, and the Automatic High Beam. Abarth 600e Scorpionissima also aims at simplifying its driver’s daily life with technological equipment that supports them in every moment thanks to features such as the Hands-free power liftgate, the Cargo Flex kit, and wireless mobile phone’s charging. But the technological endowments do not end there: the Abarth 600e Turismo is equipped with the USB type A+C port, rear parking, rain, and dusk sensors, a very easy keyless start, and a CarPlay and Android Auto wireless adapter.
Abarth 600e’s infotainment system
Intending to always provide the best driving experience, the Abarth 600e Turismo offers an Infotainment system with a 10,25-inch radio and six speakers, while the Scorpionissima presents a 10,25-inch radio NAV as a standard element to enhance the excitement of the drive and fully connect enthusiasts to their high-speed onboard experience. On the Abarth 600e, racing could not be more fun thanks to the performance measurement provided by its infotainment system. From the homepage, drivers can be redirected to the dedicated performance pages: the torque management page to check the wheel’s torque in real time and adapt the acceleration to each weather and terrain conditions; the technical gauges page allows drivers to always have all the technical information within reach; the race gauges page provides drivers with a timer and a G-diagram to feel like a Formula E driver. In addition, only the Scorpionissima features the sound generator that can be switched on and off while the vehicle is in motion from the infotainment home page: the sound level is higher during sporty driving conditions and lower and more comfortable when driving at a constant speed because of the limited variation of the pedal throttle. In addition, the exhaust note has been enriched, with a deeper sound, in revving condition, becoming less loud in the cabin and also more “rounded and muffled”. Finally, the sound fades out starting from 80 km/h and gradually decreases up to a higher speed to adapt to the driving conditions.
To always provide the most exciting driving experience, Abarth increased pleasure, comfort, and safety with its connected services under two names: Connect ONE and Connect PLUS. The driver can benefit from a voice recognition system to communicate while on board and take advantage of regular and automatic mapping updates to make navigation easier. For the first time in the Scorpion brand’s history, Abarth will offer special integrated assistance with the ChatGPT Generative AI solution implemented on the new Abarth 600e. The new model will assist and excite its drivers by combining the existing connected services for both the automotive functions and the excitement of the ride. Indeed, through this technology, drivers can converse naturally and fluidly with their voice assistant, receive tips and learn about everything they need during their trips. By introducing this new function on its vehicles, Abarth is offering the best and safest user experience, with customers’ data always fully protected. The connected services also support the users with remote control when it comes to the centralized door closing, turning on the lights, the horn, the thermal preheating, or programming the charging of the battery on the home charging station.
While driving the Abarth 600e, drivers can enjoy their trips thanks to the identification of the most suitable EV routing, which is provided by the connected services and the TomTom support. Reaching the destination becomes easier without coming across traffic or being stopped by unexpected events. In addition, the vehicle allows drivers to use the mirroring mode of the infotainment system for an ideal journey thanks to the e-ROUTES by Free2Move Charge application.
The New Abarth 600 “Temptation” Campaign – LINK
The New Abarth 600e’s DNA and essence, represented by its power, sportiness, and performance are skillfully captured in the spot, Temptation, and described through an ironic and playful narrative. The commercial is a true hymn to the vehicle’s attitude. It expresses the inner tension between restraint and unleashing raw power reflecting the brand’s legacy and its distinctive features such as speed and passion. The spot begins on a peaceful setting, a typical Italian street where the Abarth 600e is parked showcasing its sporty allure, prominent even when static. The car catches some officers’ attention who casually inspect the vehicle, admiring its power and design. Even motionless, the Abarth 600e, accompanied by its proud and calm owner, conveys a stunning self-confidence that only a car designed for speed and thrill can express. With an ironic twist, the officers notice that the Abarth 600e has captured their interest without moving and that the only thing for which it could be accused is always being, even when stationary, a great symbol of performance. The iconic status of the Scorpion brand here is represented and reinforced by the juxtaposition of power with moments of restraint. The Temptation to drive fast is strong and the spot narrates with humor how Abarth’s performance is always ready to be unleashed, in a perfect combination of style, speed and control.
Credits:
Agency: Migrante
Executive Creative Director: Leonardo Ricagni
VP, Creative: Sol Ricagni
Copy Creative Director: Federico Russo
Art Creative Director: Hilde Capra
Agency Producer: Pablo Figueroa
Associate Creative: Franco Machado
Turin, 28th October 2024