2017 Fiat 124 Spider Elaborazione Abarth: First Look

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Competes with: Mazda MX-5 Miata, Subaru BRZ, Mini John Cooper Works Convertible

Looks like: Someone is optimistic about Americans’ abilities to speak Italian

Drivetrain: 160-horsepower, turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic gearbox

Hits dealerships: Late summer, early fall of 2016

We first cast eyes on this car across the Atlantic at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show, but now we know there’s a version coming to our shores with an even longer name that’s sure to trip off the tongues of Americans.

More 2016 New York Auto Show Coverage

The 2017 Fiat 124 Spider Elaborazione Abarth is the high-performance version of the 124 Spider that’s based on the Mazda MX-5 Miata. It’s bowing at the 2016 New York International Auto Show.

Exterior

The Abarth-tuned version gets a unique front and rear design as well as 17-inch gunmetal gray alloy wheels. There’s also an option of a hand-painted hood stripe.

The Elaborazione Abarth models will be available in five colors, and will feature black side sills and gunmetal gray mirror covers and roll bar.

Interior

When we first saw the car, the interior touches really jumped out and distinguished the car from the Miata, more than the 124 Spider did.

The Abarth highlights include red stitching, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a matte-black instrument panel bezel, a unique instrument cluster, aluminum-accented sport pedals and a unique gearshift knob. Cloth seats are standard; leather seats in either black or black and red are optional, as are leather and Alcantara simulated suede Recaro-brand seats.

Under the Hood

The Elaborazione Abarth is powered by a 160-horsepower, turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic gearbox. It makes 184 pounds-feet of torque, and Sport mode changes the engine calibrations as well as the electric power steering, stability control and automatic transmission response. 

Abarth models also have unique suspension tuning and optional upgraded Brembo-brand brakes.