If there’s one thing Carlo Abarth, the founder of Italy’s most famous tuning house, set out to prove, it was that small cars designed for the narrow, cobbled streets of Italy’s towns and cities don’t have to be boring. And boy did he succeed.
From the titchy (and rabid) Abarth 750 Coupé Zagato to the giant-killing Abarth 1000 TC and the much-loved Abarth 595 of today, the brand’s history is peppered with iconic pocket rockets designed to turn your local urbanscape into a playground.
And it’s that small-but-mighty philosophy that still guides the House of the Scorpion today – and nowhere is that more evident than in its latest creation: the Abarth 600e Competizione.
The most powerful road-going Abarth ever built, developed alongside Stellantis Motorsport and packed with seriously hardcore hardware, one could be forgiven for thinking this electrifying crossover is designed purely for B-road blasts and track-day thrills.
But that’s only part of its remit. You see, despite being the most potent Abarth in history, the 600e Competizione is, above all else, a car made for the cut and thrust of the city – and that’s exactly where it excels.
With compact dimensions, family-friendly practicality and a suite of clever technology designed to make everyday driving easier, the 600e Competizione combines genuine performance-car credentials with the sort of usability modern life demands. Here's why it might just be the ultimate urban Abarth.
Learn more about Abarth 600e Competizione
Nippy, zippy and sized for the city
Despite being crammed full of hardcore, track-honed hardware – and boasting more power than any car to wear the Scorpion badge before it (280hp, to be exact) – the 600e Competizione’s compact exterior dimensions, high-rise driving position and one-pedal driving modes mean it’s thoroughly unintimidating to pootle around town in.
At 4.1 metres long and 1.8 metres wide, it sits right in the sweet spot for urban driving; compact enough to squeeze through narrow streets and manoeuvre into awkward parking spaces, yet substantial enough to command the road and still turn a few heads.
A mere 10.5-metre turning circle reinforces the point. Multi-storey car parks, three-point turns and even the odd U-turn, where safe, are disposed of with ease – you could even call them entertaining.
Yet despite its small footprint, practicality isn’t compromised. A 360-litre boot gives you proper usable space for luggage, shopping or the usual chaos of everyday family life.
The elevated driving position helps, too. Visibility is strong, making it easy to place the car in traffic and judge its corners when threading through busy streets. Parking sensors all round plus a 180-degree camera also add an extra pair of eyes around town and help ensure the vivid two-tone paint and in-your-face decals stay exactly where they belong.
The final feather in the 600e Competizione’s city-conquering cap is its instant power delivery. No waiting for revs. No gear changes. Just squeeze and go. Nipping into gaps and pulling away from junctions both happen with confidence-inspiring urgency.
And in its most urban-friendly driving mode, Scorpion Street, clever regenerative braking means the car does much of the work for you; in traffic, simply lift off the throttle and the car comes to a reassuring crawl.
