Abarth Reportedly Done With ICE, Set On Becoming EV Only

Apparently, Abarth is thinking of making a larger all-electric SUV next

Abarth, Fiat’s performance brand, has officially moved away from combustion engines, embracing electric vehicles (EVs) with the launch of the Abarth 500e and 600e. This marks the end of the brand’s petrol-powered models, including the iconic 595 and 695. 

While the EV market has faced some challenges, Abarth is committed to its electric future and has retired internal combustion engines (ICE) in Europe, excluding hybrids altogether. In South America, however, Abarth still offers petrol-powered versions of Fiat’s Pulse and Fastback crossovers, but in Europe, the lineup is now fully electric. 

Moreover, Gaetano Thorel, head of Fiat and Abarth in Europe, emphasised that strict emissions regulations and their costs in the region make the transition necessary. “If you make a combustion sports hatch that emits 180g/km, you face up to €2,000 (about RM9,436) in road taxes. But I can offer an electric car with the same performance and enjoyment at the same price.” Thorel explained.

This decision rules out a hybrid Abarth model, even for the upcoming 2026 Fiat 500 Ibrida. Thorel dismissed the idea, stating that its mild-hybrid engine lacks the power needed for a true Abarth experience. “A micro-hybrid engine doesn’t have the performance to carry the Abarth emblem.” he said.

On top of that, Abarth’s commitment to electric cars doesn’t mean it will stop evolving. Thorel hinted that the brand might expand beyond small hatchbacks like the 500e and 600e. He suggested that Abarth could even enter the electric SUV market, especially if Fiat’s 2024 Panda-themed concepts lead to a larger electric SUV, expected by 2027. 

This could be the perfect foundation for an Abarth SUV, allowing the brand to tap into new segments. Despite these future possibilities, Abarth will not develop bespoke models. Thorel made it clear that Abarth’s heritage lies in enhancing existing Fiat models, not creating cars from scratch. 

“Carlo Abarth never made a car from scratch. Our DNA is to take a regular car and stretch its performance,” he said. Therefore, Abarth will continue tuning Fiat vehicles, setting itself apart from competitors like Alpine, which produces standalone cars in addition to tuning Renaults. 

We got all this from Carscoops and their full article is linked here. Thank you Carscoops for the information and images.