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After years of making awkward hatchbacks, Fiat is finally back in the sportscar business with the 2017 model year 124 Spider. It was the biggest debut at this year's Los Angeles Auto Show, after which it received praise and critique in equal measure.
Mazda doesn't have the need for speed and has been adamant there won't be a turbo version of the Miata. Nevertheless, the 124 Spider will try to set your pants on fire by offering a hardcore Abarth version.
And we're not talking about something that's only slightly spicy, like the discontinued Punto Abarth. Oh no, we're talking Carolina Reaper chillies - one careless bite and you are so dead.
While the standard 124 Spider has 160 hp (140 hp in Europe), the Abarth version will deliver about 200 hp. We don't yet know if that's coming from existing 1.4-liter turbo or something borrowed from the Alfa 4C. But engineers have clearly been tasked with making a roadster that outruns most small hot hatchbacks.
These are the first spy photos of the Abarth 124, taken somewhere in Italy. They show that the little roadster has been fitted with better everything: wheels, tires, brakes, and exhaust. Those four pipes might not look like much, but once they get custom tips, they will look as sweet as those on the Audi S3.
Besides the fact that Abarth roadsters will add a nice performance premium of at least 40 hp over their standard counterparts, the company is also motivated to produce a version of the 124 so it can participate in a new rear-wheel-drive category of the World Rally Championship.
We don't know when the Abarth 124 Spider will come out, but probably towards the end of 2016. The Italian scorpion brand will also debut a hot version of the 500X crossover to compete with the MINI Countryman on the top level.
Besides the engine, there still are many unknowns surrounding the hot new roadster. For example, we don't know if the Abarth 124 will be available with an automatic or how much it will cost. But this is an exciting time for Fiat fans.
Beiträge von Skullz101
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In-house tuning arm seeks to expand lineupA sportier version of the 2017 Fiat 124 Spider was a hot topic of conversation even before the car debuted at the LA Auto Show in November, and Fiat is not exactly hiding the fact that it is considering a more hardcore version of the reborn roadster.
Fabrizio Simoni, Abarth's head of marketing, indicated to Automotive News Europe that an Abarth 124 Spider was one of the two models that the in-house tuner is considering, in addition to a 500X baby SUV. Currently, Abarth only offers the 500 hatch in manual and automatic flavors, with the latter having joined the stateside lineup in order to expand the sub-brand's appeal to slushbox aficionados.
So far, only one new Abarth model has been confirmed to join the lineup in 2016, and even though Fiat executives have not stated which one it'll be, a mockup of the Abarth version has already been shown to a select group of visitors at the LA Auto Show. That's about as close as automotive executives get to grabbing a bullhorn and yelling, "Yes, we're going to make this car!"
Moreover, an Abarth version of the Spider has already been spotted testing, though what will power the souped-up roadster is still a matter of speculation. A version of the 1.4-liter four-cylinder found in the stock 124 Spider is certainly a candidate. Tuned to provide a modest boost over the stock 160 hp output in the U.S. model, the Abarth variant could end up pumping out close to to 200 hp. A refit of the 1.7-liter engine from the Alfa Romeo 4C has also been cited as a possibility.
At least a couple versions of the Abarth 124 Spider are said to be in the works aimed at different markets, including a range-topping variant with well over 200 hp that would make use of some WRC-inspired components.
Read more: http://autoweek.com/article/ca…-124-spider#ixzz3tOLVChZ2
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^-- ich bin anderer Meinung, aber zeigen wollen wir es trotzdem.
Kritik, positiv wie auch negativ! -
Kommentar zum Fiat 124 Spider. Hat der Frischluft-Italiener auf Basis des Mazda MX-5 das Zeug zur Legende, oder macht es sich Fiat zu einfach?
Video:
http://www.autobild.de/videos/…r-25.11.2015-7192065.html -
"Fast 50 Jahre nach dem ersten 124 Spider melden sich die Italiener mit einem Nachfolger unter der Sonne zurück. Genau wie das Original von 1966 aus der Feder von Pininfarina ist der neue 124er ein minimalistischer Roadster ohne Schnickschnack. Knapp geschnitten und in der Basisversion nur rund 1000 Kilo schwer, bietet er zwar beispielsweise eine Touchscreen-Navigation, ein Head-up-Display und ein schlüsselloses Zugangssystem. Aber er verzichtet zum Beispiel auf ein elektrisches Verdeck."
Weiter hier: http://www.20min.ch/auto/fahrb…che-Freundschaft-26749045
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"(ampnet) - Weil Alfa Romeo nicht mehr wollte, sprang Fiat ein: Die Italiener feierten auf der Los Angeles Auto Show im November die Wiedergeburt des 124 Spider – auf Basis des Mazda MX-5."
...: http://www.marktspiegel.de/nue…r-ist-zurueck-d14927.html
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We knew for quite some time that Fiat was prepping to build a small, sporty roadster on Mazda’s ND platform, but we didn’t expect such a divergent result from the original MX-5.Even though the new Fiat 124 is technically a Mazda MX-5 with Italian-tailored clothes and a turbocharged engine, it manages to adopt a completely different character than its Nippon counterpart. But how can two cars built at the same plant (at Mazda’s Hiroshima facility)look so different?
While the MX-5 appears to be a sharp, driver-focused roadster, the 124 Spider appeals to the forgotten art of “romantic motoring”, centering its existence on driving as a form of delectation, instead of performance.
Fiat 124 Spider Comparison between MX5.jpg
Of course, these differences are translated in design cues that make each vehicle appear completely different. Not entirely, obviously, as the Japanese base can still be spotted from the 124’s profile and silhouette. Still, the Italians did a pretty good job of (almost) completely masking the original design.
Fiat’s vision mirrors the original 1974 Sport Spider, especially the later, Pininfarina-marketed Spider Azzura, both designed by the Italian coachbuilder. In fact, the similarities between the two are so striking, it actually seems like Fiat brought the Azzura in the 21st century.
Fiat’s brand new roadster is on a completely different visual pathway compared to the Mazda’s approach. Even the proportions are somewhat changed on the 124, as it’s a bit longer with more extended overhangs; or at least it looks that way, since its back end isn’t slightly raked and the front end doesn’t slope towards the tarmac like the MX-5’s aggressive, pointy design.
Nonetheless, at least Mazda’s front end is clean, clear and crisp, with a very unique and original style. Fiat’s front fascia, on the other hand, has a familiar vibe to it (especially the grille), even though you can’t pinpoint where it got it from. It kind of resembles Mini’s current style philosophy, even though we know it’s in fact a very good interpretation of the original Azzura. Sure, it looks more docile than the MX-5’s sharp and angry appearance, even with the two bulges on the hood. The Mazda’s voluptuous bonnet design, which extends to the front fenders, looks more enticing than the forbidden fruit.
At the back, the Fiat takes a trip down to memory lane once again, almost plagiarizing the Azzura. There’s no doubt the simple, gimmick-free approach, along with the slightly tilted taillights were taken from its ancestor, as the new 124 was sketched as a safe, evolutionary approach to the old car that left its distinctive mark on the US market. And yes, it looks markedly different than the MX-5, which appears to be at least 10-years younger than the Fiat.
In the cabin, things take a 180 degree turn, because there are practically no differences between the two models. Both the 124 Spider and the MX-5 have exactly the same layout and design. In fact, the only major game changer is the badge on the (slightly thicker) steering wheel. Perhaps cash-strapped FCA couldn't, or wasn't prepared to, fork out for a new interior.
Fiat’s classic approach may have cleared Mazda’s path and appeal to potential buyers, but its somewhat dated design can still spawn its very own cult of followers.
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