Welcome to the first electric hot hatch. We'd define that as the souped-up version of an existing electric hatch. And here you get extra power, a stiffer suspension, spoilers, and a jazzier cabin. Since this is no longer the 1990s, we won't insist on red seat belts.

So if it's the first electric hot hatch, it mustn't have rivals? Don't be silly. The Mini Electric, Honda e, Peugeot e-208 are roughly similar in size and power but lack either battery range (Mini and Honda) or sporty bent (Peugeot). The Cupra Born and Renault Megane are lively, but bigger and dearer and not quite such party animals as the Abarth.

The Abarth is based on the Fiat 500 electric, just like when Carlo Abarth himself began emboldening Fiat 500s back in the late 1950s. That brings a super-compact electric hatchback, front-wheel drive and design that's a retro-modernised version of those 1950s themes.

They even gave it a sound generator designed to mimic a petrol engine. This was shaped with input from Abarth's rabidly active and loyal fanbase, as a means of keeping those petrolheads on side.