Explosion in Italy: the FIAT ABARTH, icon of the Italian hot hatch, might turn back the clock on the electric era. Gaetano Thorel, Fiat’s head in Europe, revealed that customers are asking for the return of internal combustion engines, tired of the lack of customization options in EVs.
Why Do Abarth Fans Dislike EVs?
As always, Abarth has been synonymous with affordable tuning and brutal performance. Owners love to remap ECUs, swap exhausts, and turbocharge engines to extract every horsepower. But in electrified models, such as the recent 600e, this becomes a nightmare. Customers are used to modifying their cars, which isn’t possible with our EVs
, Thorel told Autocar. Encrypted ECUs and proprietary Stellantis software block any external intervention, protecting warranties but frustrating enthusiasts.
Compared to overclocked PCs or even Lamborghini Temerario with forged pistons for 907 hp, Fiat’s EVs seem locked from the factory. Without access to OEM data, tuners are left powerless. Is this an intentional barrier? Automakers fear losing control over performance and safety, but this discourages the hardcore Abarth audience in markets like the **US and Europe**.
The Return of Gasoline Engines: Strategy or Retreat?
Stellantis announced a pivot towards electrification, but reality is knocking at the door. In Italy, Fiat’s birthplace, EV sales are declining while Japanese sedans like Toyota Camry V6 prove that large engines still reign on American and European roads. Thorel confirms: the brand is considering adding purely gasoline versions to the lineup, possibly mild hybrids to balance emissions.
- Gasoline advantages: Unlimited tuning potential, V8-like sound appeal, and lower initial purchase cost.
- EV challenges: Expensive battery replacement, limited track performance range, and over-the-air updates that can potentially void unauthorized modifications.
- Hybrid future? Models like the Lamborghini Temerario hybrid show the way: crazy power output without sacrificing enthusiast fun.
In **Brazil**, where EV sales are booming despite a 56% drop in imports, Abarth could shine with flexible options. But if Fiat doesn’t unlock the ECUs, tuners will migrate to rivals like the Steeda Mustang with 446 hp.
This shift reflects a global trend: EVs for the masses, combustion for purists. Will Abarth survive this shift? The Italian scorpions will set the pace in the **performance car segment**.
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