Abarth, the performance-focused brand under Stellantis, is weighing a return to gasoline-powered vehicles in Europe as electric sales lag behind expectations. The shift comes after the brand committed to an all-electric lineup with models like the 500e and 600e, a strategy that appears to be backfiring with enthusiasts.
The Disconnect Between Abarth and Its Customers
The core issue is simple: Abarth’s customers value the ability to modify their vehicles, a freedom severely restricted with electric powertrains. Unlike internal combustion engines (ICE), electric motors offer limited opportunities for tuning, chipping, or aftermarket upgrades, which are integral to the Abarth experience for many owners. As Gaetano Thorel, Abarth’s European boss, noted, enthusiasts want the freedom to tinker.
Sales Numbers Tell the Story
Sales figures underscore this discontent. In the UK, Abarth has sold only 273 cars this year, a sharp decline from 954 in the same period last year and a dramatic drop from the 5,631 units sold in 2018. These numbers suggest a clear consumer preference for traditional Abarth characteristics that electric models fail to deliver.
The Fiat 500 Hybrid as a Potential Solution
The brand is now exploring a return to gasoline power using the Fiat 500 Hybrid platform. This is not the first time Stellantis has backtracked on electrification; the hybrid 500 was essentially a reverse-engineered ICE version of the electric 500e, created after the latter’s sales underperformed.
However, the 500 Hybrid’s current 1.0-liter engine produces only 64 horsepower, with a glacial 0-62 mph time of over 16 seconds. This falls far short of the performance Abarth is known for, and the engine’s low-end torque delivery doesn’t match the high-revving character expected from the brand.
Engineering Challenges and Financial Realities
The platform itself presents significant hurdles. The 500e’s chassis wasn’t designed for a combustion engine, leaving minimal space for larger, more powerful units and adequate cooling systems. Squeezing a suitable engine into the existing framework would likely be a complex engineering undertaking.
Furthermore, developing a bespoke gasoline Abarth for a niche market would be costly, raising concerns among Stellantis accountants. Despite these challenges, Thorel confirms the brand is “trying” to make it work.
What’s Next for Abarth?
If successful, a return to gasoline power could extend beyond the 500, potentially opening the door for combustion versions of the 600 and future Abarth models. This shift would not only reshape the 500 lineup but also signal a broader reevaluation of Stellantis’ electrification strategy for performance-oriented brands.
Abarth’s potential return to gasoline is a clear admission that electrification, while inevitable, doesn’t automatically translate to enthusiast appeal. The brand’s struggle underscores the importance of understanding and catering to its core audience, even if it means defying broader industry trends.
