A Tiny Crossover May Finally Bring Gas Engines Back To Abarth

Abarth moved early into the electric era in Europe, committing to an EV-only lineup sooner than most of its Stellantis siblings. The problem is that reality has not quite followed the plan. Not because EV sales are shrinking, in fact they are up 21 percent across Europe this year, but because Abarth itself has struggled to gain traction with its electric offerings.

Right now the brand’s range is limited to the 500e and 600e, and neither has generated the level of demand Stellantis likely hoped for. Faced with that reality, the Scorpion brand is now considering bringing a combustion-powered model back into the mix.

One obvious candidate sits within the Stellantis parts bin already. A hotter take on the Fiat Grande Panda could fit the brief. The tiny crossover currently comes with internal combustion, mild-hybrid, and fully electric powertrains, all riding on Stellantis’ Smart Car architecture. Give it the Abarth treatment and the recipe writes itself. More power, tighter chassis tuning, and styling that looks noticeably less friendly than the standard car.

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According to Autocar, the project exists, at least in early development form, although production approval has not yet been granted. Gaetano Thorel, who oversees both Abarth and Fiat in Europe, hinted at the brand’s intentions when asked about the idea of a performance-focused Grande Panda. “Certainly we will leverage the Abarth legacy on something else. That’s all we can say right now.”

A few months ago, Thorel admitted that many Abarth enthusiasts still miss the “wrenchability” and the distinctive soundtrack of internal combustion. Fully electric performance models may be quick, but they leave little room for tuning or mechanical tinkering, something that has long been part of the brand’s appeal.

How Would It Look?

Our speculative rendering imagines what an Abarth-flavored Grande Panda might look like. The concept features larger bumper intakes, a revised grille, additional LED elements, and a more pronounced front splitter. We also added larger alloy wheels, Scorpion badges, and body-colored cladding around the fenders, while removing the roof rails to give the crossover a slightly sleeker profile.

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The sharper exterior design would be joined by a custom interior trading the light-colored plastics and Bamboo inserts of the Fiat for dark Alcantara upholstery and carbon details. It could also gain a pair of bucket seats, a flat bottom steering wheel, aluminum pedals, and new graphics for the digital cockpit.

A proper Abarth would also need mechanical upgrades. Stronger brakes and a dedicated suspension tune would help separate it from the comfort-oriented setup used by the Fiat Grande Panda and its Citroen C3 sibling. That would also mark the first serious performance treatment for Stellantis’ budget-oriented Smart Car architecture.

Hybrid Performance Possibilities

So what about the powertrain? The turbocharged 1.2-liter three-cylinder gasoline engine of the Fiat Grande Panda isn’t strong enough for a hot version. but that could change with electrification. A hybrid setup with dual electric motors would be a fitting option for the upcoming Fiat Grande Panda 4×4, while providing the much needed boost for an Abarth version with the right software and hardware tweaks.

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Such a setup would likely fall short of the 278 hp (207 kW / 281 PS) produced by the single electric motor used in Stellantis performance EVs like the Abarth 600e, Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce, Peugeot 208 GTI, Opel Mokka and Corsa GSE, and the Lancia Ypsilon HF. Even so, a hybrid solution might appeal more to traditional Abarth fans, while adding some much-needed variety to the lineup.

Affordability would also be central to the formula. Given the budget-minded foundations of the Smart Car platform, an Abarth Grande Panda would likely sit below the 500e and 600e in the price list, potentially becoming the brand’s new entry point.