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Abarth 600e electric crossover previewed with 240 horsepower

The second electric member of the Abarth family is nearly ready to make its debut. Based on the Fiat 600e crossover unveiled in 2023 for the European market, it features a muscular-looking exterior design and the most powerful drivetrain the brand has ever put in a car. Finished in Hypnotic Purple, the Abarth 600e sits much lower than the Fiat-branded model. The picture released by the firm shows the Scorpionissima trim, which will be limited to 1,949 units and only offered at launch, so keep in mind that the standard car might look a little different. With that said, it gets a deeper front bumper, 20-inch wheels designed to clear bigger brakes, and a massive roof-mounted spoiler. Abarth hasn't released full technical specifications. All we know at this stage is that the 600e Scorpionissima Edition will ship with a 240-horsepower drivetrain. That figure makes it the most powerful regular-production model in the brand's history, but it doesn't tell the full story. The 600e stretches 164 inches long, so it's likely the biggest car in Abarth's history, and there's a chance it will be the heaviest as well. That's not to say it won't be fun to drive. Abarth wrapped the big wheels with sticky tires and, significantly, fitted a mechanical limited-slip differential. We'll need to be patient to find out what the 600e looks like inside; Abarth has only clarified that the model will be "loaded." More details about the Abarth 600e Scorpionissima Edition will emerge in the coming months, though nothing suggests we'll see the model in the United States. And, while the standard 600e has a gasoline-burning counterpart, it doesn't sound like the Abarth will get one. Related video:

Fiat Grande Panda is a compact hatchback with a serious attitude

Earlier in 2024, Fiat announced plans to turn the Panda — which has been one of its smallest and most affordable models since 1980 — into a full range of models. The first member of the extended Panda family is a compact, crossover-like hatchback called Grande Panda. Stretching to 157 inches long, the Grande Panda stands out with angular styling and a futuristic-looking front end. There's a tiny bit of retro hiding in that 22nd-century-like stare: The Fiat logo is offset to the side, like it was on the pre-facelift version of the original Panda. The black plastic cladding, the skid plate-like trim on the front bumper, and the roof rails give the hatchback a rugged look, while the rear lights create another visual link to the first-generation Panda. What's certain is that the Grande Panda looks like nothing else on European roads. We haven't seen the interior yet. We're told it seats five, and we hope the cabin will be at least as distinctive as the exterior. Technical specifications haven't been released. Fiat noted that it built the Grande Panda on a multi-energy platform to offer both hybrid and electric variants. Four-wheel-drive is a big part of the Panda's heritage, but we're guessing the Grande will settle for front-wheel-drive. Fiat will release more details about the Grande Panda in the coming months. The model will be sold in Europe, in the Middle East, and in Africa, but nothing suggests we'll see it in the United States. As for the current, third-generation Panda, it's sticking around for the time being. It was renamed Pandina in February 2024, and it's tentatively scheduled to remain on the market through 2027. It's old by car standards — it made its debut at the 2011 Frankfurt auto show. It remains one of the cheapest new cars in Europe and one of Fiat's best-sellers, however.

India's classic Premier Padmini taxi killed by emissions laws

As part of an eco-conscious measure to fight pollution in 2008, the government in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, banned all taxis 25 years and older. In 2013, that was changed to 20 years old. With each ruling, thousands of Premier Padmini taxis, an iconic car that transported the people of Mubai for decades, have disappeared from the roads. At the end of 2019, it was estimated that about 50 late-year Padminis were still driving, and in 2020, the survivors will cruise their last rides. An article from NPR explores the vehicle's history and the impact it had on the region's culture. The Padmini's origins begin in the '60s in the form of a Fiat 1100D, also known as a Delight 1100. The Fiat model served as the base for what first debuted as the Premier President from Premier Automobiles. It was later renamed the Premier Padmini after a famous Indian royal.  The car became extremely popular and sales shot up as it became the taxi of choice. Officials estimate roughly 60,000 Padminis were in Mumbai at the car's peak. Unfortunately, an open market and an influx of modern cars in the '90s doomed the black and yellow taxi, and production ended in 2000. Their last month to drive is June 2020. As the car becomes more myth than tangible reality, some artists have dedicated their works to honoring a vehicle that serviced millions of people from numerous generations. Check out the full article on NPR.   This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.