Top-Down Pricing: 2017 Fiat 124 Spider Starts at $25,990

Steph Willems
by Steph Willems

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has announced pricing on the 2017 Fiat 124 Spider, touting it as America’s least expensive turbocharged convertible.

With an MSRP of $24,995 (plus $995 destination), the Spider tops the base price of its platform mate — the Mazda MX-5 Miata — by $255. Luxury (“Luzzo”) models will go for $28,490, while the performance-oriented Abarth model starts at $29,190.

For struggling Fiat dealerships, the Spider’s arrival could mean the difference between survival or absorption into the Jeep retailer next door. That’s assuming roadster buyers opt for the Spider’s distinctively Italian lines over the perpetually popular Miata.

All versions of the Spider come with FCA’s turbocharged MultiAir 1.4-liter four-cylinder, mated to a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic. The little mill makes 160 horsepower and 184 pounds-feet of torque in non-Abarth trim, compared to the naturally aspirated (2.0-liter) Miata’s 155 hp and 148 lb-ft.

When the Spider’s specifications emerged last month, those anticipating that the Abarth model would gain 10 hp over stock models had their hopes squashed like a …well, you know. Now FCA says there will be a five horsepower bump, preserving some horsepower bragging rights for the Abarth crowd.

The Spider Abarth gets a full complement of performance-tuned upgrades, and a “look over here, dammit” paint job to go with it.

All Spiders trims are rated at 26 miles per gallon in the city and 35 mpg on the highway for manual transmission models, and 25/36 for automatics.

The Spider crawls into Fiat dealerships (possibly to rapturous applause from its employees) this summer.

[Image: FCA US LLC]

Steph Willems
Steph Willems

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  • GeneralMalaise GeneralMalaise on May 01, 2016

    They are both attractive cars and people who fancy themselves to be "car enthusiasts" should be celebrating affordable, great-handing, drop top sports cars,... no? But no, the Flo n' Eddie crowd crawl all over each other trying to see who can be the snarkiest.

    • Davefonz164 Davefonz164 on May 02, 2016

      Ignorance is bliss......my car is better than your car.......humans will never change. Having both options is great. Beautiful X19 btw.

  • VenomV12 VenomV12 on May 01, 2016

    It's like a Miata with the front end of the last Thunderbird. I think I prefer the Miata.

  • Davefonz164 Davefonz164 on May 02, 2016

    That Fiat doesn't do photos well for some reason. I saw it up close at the Auto show in Montreal and it had a nice stance, nice lines and a clean design. Obviously the older one was far more elegant. The Abarth though, minus any silly decals and decent rims will be amazing.

  • Stryker1 Stryker1 on May 02, 2016

    Looking forward to picking one of these up, second hand, in a few years for around $13,000

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