Fiat hints at gas Abarth comeback after owners complain EVs can't be modified enough

Fiat has hinted at a gas Abarth comeback for the popular, powerful little runaround.

And it comes amidst owners complaining that EVs can’t be modified enough.

Abarth customers pride themselves on being able to customize their vehicles.

And EVs just don’t offer that option – so gas could be on its way back.

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Could ICE-powered Abarth cars be returning?

So, Fiat is at the epicenter of some pretty interesting news today.

Stellantis, as you know, is the firm that owns several major car brands.

Dodge, Alfa Romeo, and Maserati are just a few of those marques.

But the Fiat brand is reportedly facing a bit of a revolt.

And is trying to figure out how to make the Abarth relevant to customers again.

Gaetano Thorel is the head executive running things over at Fiat Europe and recently gave an interesting interview to Autocar magazine.

He revealed that Abarth customers are clamoring for ICE-powered vehicles again.

As you might remember, the petrol-powered Abarth 595 was discontinued back in August 2024.

And owners have prompted the brand to strongly consider bringing them back.

The reason? Thorel relayed the fact that Abarth customers love to modify their cars.

Why can’t EV cars be modified in the same way?

Of course, modification isn’t possible with electric vehicles. Or is it?

This argument has led to quite a bit of criticism from various corners.

People across the world have been modifying computers and PCs for decades.

And that has people wondering whether modifying an electric car might actually be easier than gas-powered engines.

Could it be that manufacturers are concerned about giving owners that level of control?

Such a move would likely involve leaving the ECU unencrypted.

But whether such trust would ever be left to owners is quite difficult to imagine.

So it’s back to gas-powered engines for modders.