# Daily Drive: Abarth 600e turns up the heat, Durango Hellcat gets louder, Polestar plays to its fans, a Corvette in costume, and Tander bows out > Daily Drive: Abarth 600e turns up the heat, Durango Hellcat gets louder, Polestar plays to its fans, a Corvette in costume, and Tander bows out I started the morning the usual way—keys on the dresser, coffee that’s a little too... > Published 2025-11-15 by Thomas Nismenth. 7 min read (1546 words). > Blog: News at AutoWin (https://www.autowin.com). ## Details - Canonical URL: https://www.autowin.com/blogs/news/abarth-600e-performance-tweaks-unveiled-daily-car-news-2025-11-15 - Author: Thomas Nismenth - Published: 2025-11-15 - Updated: 2026-01-23 - Reading time: 7 minutes - Word count: 1546 - Topics: 600e, Abarth, Automotive, Car News, Corvette, Daily, Dodge, Durango, electric vehicles, Garth Tander, Hellcat, News, Polestar, Supercars - Featured image: https://www.autowin.es/cdn/shop/articles/daily-car-news-2025-11-15.png?v=1763188630&width=1200 ## Summary Daily Drive: Abarth 600e turns up the heat, Durango Hellcat gets louder, Polestar plays to its fans, a Corvette in costume, and Tander bows outI started the morning the usual way—keys on the dresser, coffee that’s a little too hot, and a stack of press releases. Only one had me underlining bits like a teenager revising for finals: the Abarth 600e. If you’ve been waiting for a small electric SUV with a naughty streak, this could be it. But first, the rest of the garage gossip: Dodge is letting more states taste Hellcat mayhem, Polestar’s courting superfans, there’s a coachbuilt “supercar” th... ## Full Article Daily Drive: Abarth 600e turns up the heat, Durango Hellcat gets louder, Polestar plays to its fans, a Corvette in costume, and Tander bows outI started the morning the usual way—keys on the dresser, coffee that’s a little too hot, and a stack of press releases. Only one had me underlining bits like a teenager revising for finals: the Abarth 600e. If you’ve been waiting for a small electric SUV with a naughty streak, this could be it. But first, the rest of the garage gossip: Dodge is letting more states taste Hellcat mayhem, Polestar’s courting superfans, there’s a coachbuilt “supercar” that’s secretly a Corvette, and Aussie legend Garth Tander is hanging up his helmet. Quite a spread.Abarth 600e: the scorpion sharpens its stingI’ve spent plenty of time in the old 595/695 Abarths—cranky at low speeds, brilliant when you lean on them—and the 600e reads like the same recipe cooked with electrons. The Fiat 600e is already neat and tidy around town; Abarth’s job is to add mischief without ruining Monday mornings. On paper, the tweaks land in all the right places. Sharper suspension tune for quicker turn-in and flatter cornering. Sportier e-motor calibration for a harder launch and punchier midrange. Beefier wheels, stickier rubber, and uprated brakes for repeatable fun. Abarth drive modes and a cheeky sound profile (think 500e Abarth’s “sound generator,” but with more theatre).Early chatter suggests power in the “roughly 240 hp” ballpark, which makes sense given the standard Fiat 600e’s more relaxed output. I haven’t driven the 600e Abarth yet—honestly, I wasn’t sure the base car needed it—but when I tried the regular 600e over broken city streets, it felt composed and unflustered. If Abarth’s tightened things without turning it into a pogo stick, we might have the first small electric crossover you actually take for a Sunday blast just because. Side tip: If you live where roads look like the moon, test the Abarth 600e on your worst stretch. Those handsome 19s will make or break daily comfort.Abarth 600e: quick rivals snapshotWhere does the Abarth 600e land against other small electric and sporty-leaning premium SUVs? Roughly here: Model Power (approx.) Drive Vibe Abarth 600e ~240 hp (est.) FWD Playful, urban hot-hatch energy in crossover shoes Fiat 600e ~150 hp (market dependent) FWD Chic, calm, city-first MINI Countryman Electric SE ALL4 ~313 hp AWD Polished and punchy, bigger inside Hyundai Kona Electric (latest) ~200–215 hp FWD Efficient, tech-rich, less spicy Did you know? Abarth’s EV experiments started with the 500e Abarth and a synthesized exhaust note that had neighbors double-taking on early drives. Expect similar mischief here—toggleable, thankfully.Polestar’s fan-first move: building a club around the carsCarscoops points to Polestar leaning into Faraday-style engagement—premium programs, curated experiences, maybe even revenue between major launches. I get it. When I ran a Polestar 2 for a month, I loved the steering, the unfussy cabin, and the fact the infotainment didn’t feel like a beta test. Owners I’ve chatted with want fewer sizzle reels and more meat-and-potatoes support: prompt OTA updates, transparent timelines, and honest delivery dates. If these new programs bring genuine value (track days, early software, proper service perks), I’m in. If it’s just lanyards and hashtags, save your money. Quick owner tip: Before you sign up for any paid perks, check your car’s current software in Settings and read the update notes. You might already be getting the bit you care about.Dodge Durango Hellcat: more states, same glorious nonsenseGood news if your school run needs a soundtrack: the 710-hp Durango SRT Hellcat is heading into ten more states, inching toward nationwide. I’ve driven a few Hellcats over the years; the first time you mat it in a big SUV, you laugh before the speed catches up with the joke. It’s ridiculous and brilliant. 6.2-liter supercharged V8, 710 hp and 645 lb-ft (factory-rated), AWD. 0–60 mph in the mid-3s when the stars (and tires) align. Surprisingly civil on a normal commute, firm on battered backroads. Tows like a champ (up to 8,700 lb when properly equipped). EPA figures live in the “budget like a speedboat” zone (think teens on the highway).It’s one of the last, loudest howls of the American V8 in a family-friendly shell. If you want one for the scrapbook of your ears, now’s the moment. Did you know? The Durango Hellcat’s launch control is hilariously effective in the dry and hilariously optimistic in the wet. Choose your moments.There’s a Corvette under that supercar costumeCarscoops highlighted a coachbuilt special that started life as a C6 Corvette and now asks close to six figures. Underneath the couture: GM reliability, parts you can get without a treasure map, and a front-engine V8 with a proper soundtrack. I’ve driven everything from base LS3 C6s (430 hp) to the LS7-powered Z06 (505 hp), and the bones are fantastic—provided the bodywork doesn’t turn them into a wind tunnel experiment gone wrong. The upside: stout drivetrain, easy servicing, serious performance with the right setup. The worry list: cooling, aero stability, and build quality—don’t assume the pretty bits are functional. Paperwork matters: ensure the title, VIN, and insurance situation matches the car sitting before you. Inside job: unless fully reworked, a C6 cabin still feels like… a C6 cabin.In short: it’s theater you can actually service at a normal shop. Just make sure the show has a solid stage.Garth Tander retires: the Mountain’s metronome steps awayAutosport reports that Garth Tander is calling time on his Supercars career. Five Bathurst 1000 wins, the 2007 title, and a knack for pace management that felt like he had a separate clock in his head. What I’ll remember: that steely patience in long stints, and how he seemed to know when to let chaos tire itself out. He’ll make one of those TV analysts who tells you what actually happened—not just what looked dramatic on replay.Today’s headliners at a glance Topic What happened Why it matters Abarth 600e Performance tweaks previewed for Fiat’s electric crossover. Small EVs can be fun, not just frugal. Polestar strategy Fan-forward programs channel Faraday’s playbook. Engagement and revenue between product launches. Durango Hellcat Expands to 10 more states. Final chapter for rowdy V8 family haulers. Coachbuilt Corvette C6-based special seeks near-$100k money. Exotic looks with mainstream serviceability—buyer beware. Garth Tander Announces retirement from Supercars. End of an era for a Bathurst master. Abarth 600e: real-world notes from the driver’s seat (and driveway)Imagining it in the grind: school drop-off, a wet roundabout, then a clear on-ramp. The steering should be quick enough to place it on a dime, the throttle mapping eager but not snatchy, and the brakes consistent after a couple of spirited stops. If Abarth nails NVH, you’ll still hear your kids arguing about who stole whose snack—which, oddly, is the mark of a good premium SUV these days. Cabin vibe: expect sport seats that hold you without pinching; check headroom with a helmet if you do track nights. Infotainment: the 600e’s system is clean enough—just confirm wireless CarPlay/Android Auto stability on your phone. Range reality: sport modes and sticky tires will trim miles; plan your weekend blast accordingly. Ownership: look for an Abarth-specific service schedule and brake pad options that don’t dust like a Victorian chimney. Fun fact: Abarth’s logo is a scorpion because founder Karl Abarth’s zodiac sign was Scorpio. Fitting, given the way these cars love to nip at your ankles.Quick takes and buying notes Abart... ## Related Store Context - [AutoWin Blog & News](https://www.autowin.com/blogs/news): Automotive news and fitment guides - [AutoWin Store Index](https://www.autowin.com/llms.txt): Full product catalog for AI agents - [Agent Instructions](https://www.autowin.com/agents.md): Commerce protocol and Shop skill - Reviews verified on [AutiVex](https://autivex.com/business/autowin-com): AutoWin customer ratings