Fiat 124 Spider and Abarth to be distinct versions New Fiat 124 Spider and the hot Abarth version will be clearly defined and different models, say sources
by Mark Tisshaw
3 September 2015
The Fiat 124 Spider and its Abarth offshoot will be much further apart than first thought, senior company sources have revealed.
The new Mazda MX-5-based sports cars, which are due in 2016, were among 30 Fiat Chrysler Automobiles products shown at a global dealer conference in Las Vegas last week.
While it was known that the 124 Spider would spawn an Abarth version, as with other Fiats in the range, what has become clear is just how different the pair will be.
Rather than the Abarth getting the usual performance makeover of more aggressive front and rear ends, the sports car will actually get different sheet metal to the donor car for a completely different look.
Previous artist’s impressions of the 124 Spider are also understood to have been very wide of the mark. There will be no 500 references in the 124 Spider; instead it will be unashamedly a modern version of the 124 Spider with associated styling cues, in the same way the new 500 is a modern version of the original.
The New MX-5 is a very good car, understand why Fiat want to over power it for those wanting a more thrilling ride - albeit living more dangerously.
I just find it amusing we have to pay extra for RWD car over FWD with a few improved bits.
One would think with all the manufacturing advances the MX-5 would still be priced cheaper than it is.
Wonder where Fiat is going with it's pricing and how they will depreciate compared to the Mazda ?
PS
I'm waiting for a Folding hard top version, I do not like cloth tops at high speeds....... so we wait.
170hp is the Euro tune for this car. Much like the Abarth 500, it'll be more powerful here. I wouldn't expect 235hp though, probably a little bit less.
I'm sorry, that's a waste of money. I like this car, and love that they're doing an Abarth version, but seems like a silly exercise when Fiat needs alot of attention elsewhere.
Fiat dealers need more vehicles go sell....and this wasn't too big of an investment given the donor Miata chassis and power plant from the FCA family. I'm confident Sergio would've killed it if the numbers didn't pencil out. His track record suggests he won't hesitate to kill projects that aren't profitable.
Well, the Abarth name goes on it. From what i am hearing, with it comes more HP, colors and a few things like that. Like a Z06 version of the Stingray. That works.
They confirmed the American version to be 160hp. And to be fair, the Dodge Dart isn't a rebadged Fiat. It's just based off the CUSW platform, same as the very successful Jeep Cherokee. I do agree that it would've been wise just to just group Maserati, Alfa, and Abarth into one dealership and call it a day.
The dart was the 40 mpg vehicle for dodge that allowed fiat to get Chrysler, dodge and jeep for just about nothing from the American government. It was built using fiat components and was not really suited to American desires. It was the US government mandating fuel efficiency and we can see how well that dart sold.
As far as the Abarth having only 160 hp.....in my opinion the vehicle will be a dud in the American marketplace. A slight odditity with some degree of style ...
FCA had the opportunity to build the abarth brand and took the cheap way out.
How FCA couldn't pony up for over 200 hp in this day and age is in my opinion ridiculous and a waste of time ...
Even 237 hp would have been light for the launch of a performance brand in America.
Another blown opportunity by FCA...
Glad they have jeep to prop them up through their various errors.
So far it's jeep and hellcat and maybe the nice Pacifica...
All the long deferred brands are receiving new models,including Fiat, Maserati, Alfa. The Aegea/Tipo are being well received. New models are being introduced in the EMEA and LATAM after a decade of deferrals while American/Nafta,models were being replaced. Some like the Ram, Cherokee, Grand Cherokee, Renegade have been unqualified successes. Others like Dart and C200 have achieved some fine technical reviews, but lesser market success. There are no longer un-competitive laughing stock, not fully developed, or not fully debugged models.
The factories, every one save the relatively modern, Canadian one which builds the LXs, have been modernized unlike the decaying "deferred maintenance" situation when Fiat SPA appeared. Debt is down too. North American market share has returned to classical levels, too.
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