2017 Fiat Abarth 124 Spider: First Impressions
CARS.COM — Fiat’s in-house high-performance tuning shop, Abarth, has tuned up the automaker’s latest sports car, the 124 Spider, and put it on display at the 2016 Geneva International Motor Show in Switzerland on Tuesday. Based on the Mazda MX-5 Miata, the 2017 Fiat Abarth 124 Spider roadster comes with more power, less weight and altered styling to give it a standout look that is very much in keeping with Abarth’s traditions.
While I wasn’t a big fan of the 124 Spider when it was unveiled because of its less attractive sheet-metal lines as compared to the Miata, and with an interior that didn’t look different enough from its Mazda forefathers, the Abarth treatment makes me pause. The flat-black hood and deck lid (ostensibly to reduce glare in racing versions, according to Abarth lore) give it a menacing look, as do the dark wheels and blacked-out elements including the roll bars and spoiler. It’s less “cutesy” than the standard 124 Spider and decidedly more attractive.
Inside, the Miata bones of the interior are still evident, but the copious use of leather, faux suede and color make the family lines less noticeable. Sport seats with red leather inserts look good, with a classic pattern to the stitching that recalls previous Abarths. That heritage is important, as evidenced by the five colors that will be available, each named for a historical Abarth rally victory (San Marino 1972 Black, for instance).
We’re itching to drive the 124 Spider, given its more powerful turbo 1.4-liter motor that makes 170 horsepower and suspension tuned differently from the Miata. With the Abarth 124 Spider sporting an even more aggressive exhaust, 10 more horsepower than the base 124 Spider and its Brembo brake system, we’re thinking the latest Abarth model has all the right stuff to be a riot. Officially, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is saying that there are no plans for it to come to the U.S., but don’t count on FCA keeping this only in Europe for long.
Editor’s note: This story was updated on March 3 to add engine specifications.
