LA 2015: Ohhai Fiata; 2017 Fiat 124 Spider Leaked A Day Early
AutoGuide has an early image of the 2017 Fiat 124 Spider in full pixelated glory ahead of its reveal Wednesday at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
The two-seater sports car, which shares a similar skeleton as the Mazda MX-5 Miata, will reportedly sport a Fiat engine underneath its long hood — probably borrowed from the Fiat 500 Abarth. That 1.4-liter turbocharged mill produces 160 horsepower, which is only 5 more than the Miata.
If the Fiata does get the Multi-air treatment, things could get interesting. For starters, the Fiat 500 Abarth uses nearly straight pipes out its rear end, which makes the car sound like an angsty 60-pound bee gasping for air. Top-down, cold starts could be magnificent in the 124 Spider. Second, power delivery in a boosted mill could be all kinds of lumpy fun next to the Mazda’s naturally aspirated four.
We’ll have to wait until Wednesday for official details from Fiat, including what may be in store for a 124 Abarth model.
The car is slated to go on sale sometime next year.
More by Aaron Cole
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I owned an X1/9. I prefered its edgy looks much more then the spyder that was available at the same time. I thought it was way too timid. Gorgeous in its own right tho, Pininfarina did a great job on the body. But the X1/9 took my 25 year old breath away. I'm waiting for a car like that again. Gruppo Bertone is gone. Sigh.
For those of us who understand articles by reading and are lacking in the mind reading department, could you explain what the heck this article is about? I had to read way down into the comments before I saw a reference to a joint Mazda/Fiat project with a Fiat engine in a Miata. Is that what this car is? If so, why for the love of Pete didn't you say so? Please see Twain, rule #1: "The author shall say what he is proposing to say, not merely come near it."
Based on pics from Jalopnik, this thing is far and away better looking than the "tired eyes" Miata. Same goes for the rear.
In canada they will be both nuts pricing, the new mx is $40,000.00 plus tax, to be used here 5 to 6 months out of the year. For that money- a 2012 Z4 plus lots of change, or 1series plus a NB, or LS430 plus a NB, or pony up 20k more and get a new Porsche. or the new mustang convert ecoboost premium in a fun color. The pricing should be in line with a fiesta ($20k to 23k) or ST at $25k, this is why the sales are declining- its too much to use for too little time- OR better pricing still- look at the FIAT 500, $17.5 sticker gets you a convertible, manual- tons of fun colors. That's what the mx-5 should be, cheap, limited use, under-powered but tunable, RWD, manual, in a s-load of exterior colors and 2 tone interiors. Always wanted the MX, almost think it even has enough power but the price is always too high, its not competitive and that gives me pause for what is on the market, new or used.