Abarth 600e – performance and 0-62 time
The hot 600e is rapid in any of its forms, with plenty of accessible performance on tap at road speeds
As you’d expect from the most powerful road-going Abarth, performance figures are up there with the best in class. Opt for the 276bhp Scorpionissima and 5.9sec is all it takes to reach 62mph from standstill, 1.1sec quicker than the smaller 500e and 1.2sec quicker than the swansong 695 combustion model. The standard car takes an additional three tenths to hit 62mph (6.2sec), with a top speed of 124mph for both.
Unlike some performance cars, the 600e’s modes have a real impact on performance, limiting output to both conserve energy and provide a more relaxed drive. Turismo mode, the tamest of the three, pegs power at 110kw (145bhp) and 140kw (185bhp) for the standard and Scorpionissima cars respectively, Scorpion Street at 150kw (198bhp) and 170kw (225bhp) and Scorpion Track unlocking the sharpest throttle and all available power. Scorpion Track also deactivates regenerative braking entirely, making spirited driving immediately intuitive with powertrain characteristics near-identical to a combustion car, virtually eliminating the EV learning curve.
While the 600e’s numbers look modest in a world of 400bhp hot hatches, both variants are undoubtedly quick. There’s plenty of power to put the diff to good use even at higher speeds and on less dramatic sweeping curves, pulling you into line on the throttle where you’d usually expect an EV to wash wide. The more potent Scorpionissima has extra top end pull and throttle bite on initial throttle application, but identical torque figures put the two closer in performance than the specs would suggest.
Pull does tail off after the national speed limit and up inclines on some of the undulating British B-roads we tested it on, but the 600e hits big numbers sooner than you realise. While its relatively cheap construction makes it less refined than some EVs, it masks speed surprisingly well – this is a good thing for longer, more mundane journeys, but a greater sense of speed is key to unlocking that final element of low-speed engagement we love in some of our favourite driver’s cars.
