Abarth will no longer produce pure combustion cars, focusing instead on electric cars, its European boss has told Autocar.
The brand launched its first electric car last year with the 500e, and recently its second, the larger 600e, while the petrol 595 and 695 were discontinued in August.
Citing increasingly strict emissions regulations, Fiat and Abarth European head Gaetano Thorel ruled out any non-EV successors to its combustion models, explaining that the costs were simply too high for both the automaker and consumers.
“If you make a sports hatch with a combustion engine that emits 180 g/km and you are in Italy, you have to pay between 1,000 and 2,000 euros in road tax every year,” he said. “Is it fair if I can give customers an electric sports hatch that behaves the same way, offers the same fun and delivers equivalent performance? All for the same price? I think it is better to offer electric cars.”
When asked whether Abarth would explore hybrid technology instead – especially given that the Fiat 500 Ibrida has been confirmed for production in 2026 – Thorel ruled out the idea as the powerplant would be too “compromised”.
He said: “We have to stay true to the Abarth DNA, and the engine that’s in the new 500 is a micro-hybrid engine that doesn’t allow you to extract the power to make a real Abarth. possible.”
Thorel also ruled out the possibility of Abarth producing its own bespoke offerings, despite rival firm Alpine having committed to keeping its own models stable rather than rebadging Renault products, starting with the A390.
He said: “(Founder) Carlo Abarth never created a car from scratch. Abarth DNA wants to take a conventional car and expand its performance through engine, dynamics and sound, to make it sporty and accessible.
“We want to remain true to this DNA and that is why we will not be launching a tailor-made Abarth for the time being.”