Stellantis acknowledges that Abarth needs an internal combustion engine… but it just won't fit

For months, statements from Abarth and Fiat executives had left room for doubt. This time, the message is much clearer. Olivier François, CEO of Fiat and Abarth, confirms unequivocally that’Abarth needs to bring back at least one internal-combustion model. This is a strong stance that confirms what enthusiasts have been saying ever since the brand switched to the all-electric %. But between this conviction and a car actually hitting the market, there remains a major obstacle: as of now, it still doesn’t add up.

Stellantis's messaging is evolving

In several public statements over the past few weeks, Olivier François has reiterated the same point. «I remain convinced of one thing: Abarth needs at least one gasoline-powered model in its lineup.» More recently, he confirmed this even more clearly to the French media L'Argus : «Abarth needs internal combustion engines. That’s very clear. We’re working on it.»

This shift in tone is far from insignificant. Since the discontinuation of the Abarth 595 and 695, the brand now offers only the electric 500e and 600e models. This strategy has never truly won over long-time customers, who are just as attached to performance as they are to the mechanical character, the sound, and the tuning potential that have built the Scorpion’s reputation.

The Fiat 500 Remains a Headache

The problem is that wanting to put an internal combustion engine back in an Abarth doesn’t mean it can be done quickly. As Olivier François acknowledged, the most obvious candidate—the Fiat 500—is also the most complicated. «The 500 is difficult,» he explains, even going so far as to mention a possible future generation planned for around 2030.

The reason is primarily technical. The platform for the current Fiat 500 was originally designed for an electric powertrain. Fiat successfully integrated the small three-cylinder gasoline engine from the new 500 Hybrid into it, but installing a much more powerful engine—one capable of bearing the Abarth badge—presents an entirely different challenge. The available space under the hood, cooling requirements, and necessary modifications make the task particularly complex.

Other possibilities remain on the table

That said, Stellantis isn’t closing any doors. Olivier François hints that the return of internal combustion engines may not necessarily come via the 500. «It could be the future 500, but other options remain on the table. » This statement takes on its full meaning as Fiat prepares to expand its lineup with several multi-energy models. The new Fiat Grizzly or the Fiat Grande Panda—which are already available with gasoline, hybrid, and electric powertrains—would offer a much more suitable platform for a future combustion-engine Abarth. An Abarth derived from these models thus appears technically much more feasible than an adaptation of the current 500.

A genuine commitment, but an unclear timeline

In just a few months, Stellantis’s stance has changed dramatically. After advocating for an exclusively electric future for Abarth, the group now publicly acknowledges that a brand with such strong emotional appeal likely cannot turn its back on internal combustion engines for good.

But this recognition alone is not enough to bring a new sports car to market. The technical constraints of the current 500, the necessary investments, and European regulations on CO₂ emissions continue to pose serious challenges.

In other words, Stellantis is now confirming what enthusiasts have been calling for for a long time: Abarth needs internal combustion engines. However, a solution does not yet exist. And while a comeback seems more likely today than it did a year ago, we’ll still have to wait a long time before we see a gasoline-powered Abarth roaring down European roads again. And here at Italpassion, we believe the solution could come from Brazil, which already has a track record of creating an Abarth variant for nearly every Fiat model.