Performance cars – particularly electric ones – are often judged on theory: numbers on paper, bold claims, and computer-generated promise. That’s why we decided to take the new Abarth 600e Competizione, the most powerful road-going car to wear the Scorpion badge, out of its comfort zone and into something a little more… physical.
We chose three gritty, unforgiving urban environments, each designed to pose a very different performance challenge – from low-grip surfaces to high-speed stability runs and loose-surface agility tests – to see what Abarth’s latest creation is really made of. Watch the videos below to find out how it fared.
Learn more about the Abarth 600e Competizione
Warehouse: Grip under pressure
A shiny, dust-flecked warehouse floor is about as far from a racetrack – or a normal road, for that matter – as it gets. Incredibly low grip, unpredictable surfaces, and zero forgiveness for sloppy power delivery.
Perfect, then, to test how the 600e Competizione deploys its 280hp. Fitted with Michelin Pilot Sport EV tyres and a mechanical JTEKT Torsen limited-slip differential as standard, and developed hand-in-hand with Stellantis Motorsport, the brief here was simple: put the power down cleanly.
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The result is a car that felt far more composed than the conditions suggested. Even at full throttle, the trick diff and traction control system worked seamlessly to manage delivery, keeping it smooth and progressive. There was wheelspin under load, of course, but it never felt unruly or out of control.
Catesby Tunnel: Breathless acceleration
Catesby Tunnel offers something rare: 2.7km of uninterrupted, perfectly smooth tarmac, sealed away from wind, camber changes and distractions. Repurposed from a former railway line, it now stands as the world’s longest indoor vehicle test facility.
That made it the perfect place to explore the Abarth 600e Competizione’s straight-line performance. With 280hp and 345Nm of instant electric torque, 0-62mph is dispatched in just 5.85 seconds.
The controlled conditions of the tunnel also allowed its high-speed stability to come to the fore, thanks to its aero-optimised bodywork.
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Off the line, it felt every bit as quick as the sub-six-second claim suggests – in fact, marginally quicker. Using the built-in timing equipment, we recorded a run that just undercut the official 0-62mph figure.
At higher speeds, it felt beautifully planted. And the simulated engine sound – designed to replicate a deep, petrol-like roar – reverberated through the tunnel, amplifying the sense of speed and occasion.
Container yard: Ultimate agility test
The Abarth 600e Competizione is not an off-roader – let’s make that clear from the start. But the loose, gravelly surface and tight industrial corridors of an East London container yard turn out to be an unexpectedly revealing agility test.
Built on a performance-focused evolution of Stellantis’ eCMP platform, the 600e Competizione has been extensively reworked by engineers and motorsport specialists into a cohesive driving package. A dedicated chassis setup sharpens response and control, while the mechanical Torsen limited-slip differential helps manage the instant torque delivery of the electric powertrain.
