RE: Fiat 124 - first pics

[daddy cool]

WJNB said:

..much more elegant with horizontal lines that flow.

Which is a longer way of saying "slab-sided".

[SFO]

how to turn a swan (MX-5) into an upgly duckling

[SturdyHSV]

That looks unbelievably American!

It's absolutely awful. Speaking as someone who really doesn't like MX-5s, the new one looks bloody fantastic in my opinion, especially the front end.

As an earlier poster alluded to, I assume most of the development time and budget was spent on creating a remarkable new composite strong enough to withstand impacts far beyond the capabilities of any previously existing material, and once this incredible new invention was complete, they promptly formed it into an ugly stick and gave this abomination a beating the likes of which hasn't been seen for generations.

What an absolutely shocking piece of work. Like so many of us, I eagerly opened the story expecting to see this:



Hopefully by the time it gets to journalists for reviews the human race will have come up with a word to describe that level of disappointment.

[Martin 480 Turbo]

It may be a pastiche of the old 124, but I for one like it better than the troubled ant look of the current Miata.

[k-ink]

Oddball RS said:

Like the Alfa mock up shown above was ever going to happen, I mean really, it would have ended up a weird fat pastiche like the rest of the range, they don't make a good looking car, you have to take this into account when you criticise Fiats effort, and it has to be based on an MX5 to control costs, id rather have one more roadster than one less.

I've given up on the brand now. I have bought a few of their cars to support them over many years, but enough is enough. I'm done with Alfa and Fiat now. This is just a piss take.

Looks Like I'll be getting an MX5 and forced induction next.

[Gandahar]

I think most people think the new ND MX5 looks better than the NC version and I think the new version of the Fiat 124 will definitely look better than this one

[xRIEx]

Veeayt said:

Looks alot like Solstice

Did Specsavers turn you down?

In what way does look "alot {sic} like" the Solstice?
- Headlight shape? No.
- Foglight configuration? No.
- Grill look/layout? Hell no.
- Bonnet lines? No.

Oh wait, you're right - I've just spotted that they both have four wheels in a rectangular arrangement and fabric roofs.


Are you like those people who think cars are the same as every other car of the same colour? "That's a black car - it must be the same as this black car."

Edited by xRIEx on Wednesday 18th November 14:16

[dgmx5]

LaurasOtherHalf said:

This is not a good looking car

The side, rear 3/4 and bonnet looks like an aero kitted NC MX-5 with a bulbous front grin and hideous front lights. The chrome windscreen surround looks particularly dated without looking retro and I see little in the way of visual clues to the original spider.

The Mazda owes little visually to its predecessors but in the flesh does look good. As to whether an Abarth-breathed on version will be hot is debatable. Save for the Biposto, most Abarths for the past two decades have been restricted to addenda and badges and not tuning.

Still, Fiat were right not to attempt another Barchetta.

[JimiGT]

I have to say I find these images very disappointing.

I currently own a Mk1 MX5 and an Abarth 595. I had every intention of swapping the 595 for a 124 when the Abarth version comes out. However, unless Abarth can radically improve the aesthetics I doubt I'll be buying one.

Having said that, I do think Abarth made a great job of the 500 (although I am biased) so maybe there is hope yet!

[dgmx5]

SturdyHSV said:

What an absolutely shocking piece of work. Like so many of us, I eagerly opened the story expecting to see this:

Good god, that looks stunning. I guess that is the price you pay when the original Mazda/Alfa tie up fades away to a Mazda/Fiat tie up.

[SturdyHSV]

JimiGT said:

Having said that, I do think Abarth made a great job of the 500 (although I am biased) so maybe there is hope yet!

Clearly a subscriber to the mantra that although you can't polish a turd, you can roll it in glitter

I admire your optimism!

[k-ink]

JimiGT said:

I have to say I find these images very disappointing.

I currently own a Mk1 MX5 and an Abarth 595. I had every intention of swapping the 595 for a 124 when the Abarth version comes out.

Same here. I was biding my time waiting for the MX5 based Alfa. Then that was cancelled. I assumed the rebadging to Fiat would not have altered things too drastically. How wrong I was! I think we'll be waiting until the end of time before Alfa is allowed to make beautiful cars again. Life is too short to keep waiting for these time wasters.

[dgmx5]

MerriDave said:

For once Fernando is lying back thinking I'd rather be sat in the MP4-30 right now.

[MrTappets]

Wow, it's like a version of the Mk2 MX5 that somehow stayed in production for the last ten years.

[myhandle]

It looks worryingly like the Mk2 MX5, which was the worst looking generation of MX5.

They have tried to reference the old Pininfarina 124 Spider in the grille and headlights, rather unsuccessfully.

Can't help thinking that this was a rather more sucessful attempt at a Fiat roadster, even if it was FWD:

Edited by myhandle on Wednesday 18th November 15:21

[zimzum]

This photoshop was way better!

[myhandle]

zimzum said:

This photoshop was way better!

Yes, that's not bad.

[ggdrew]

Bottom line ... it looks like what it is unfortunately - an over-bodied kit car based on an MX5. The mags are full of such deluded efforts these days ... the Fellatio-Fermenti P4000 RS VVTF blah blah

[dpop]

The Fiat looks AWFUL with those overhangs, and already dated. And it's only coming NEXT summer?! By which time there will possibly be a refresh of the ND MX5, possibly a few more hp, more interior choices, various aftermarket upgrades, etc etc.

[DeltaEvo2]

Dear God!
Slightly better looking than the Miata/MX-5 and clearly aimed at the USA market, look at those massive bumpers!

The Barchetta looks so much better and the Alfa concept is amazing.
According to JC the Barchetta was even better than the MX-5.

Now this? Missed opportunity...I'd rather go for a second hand a V6 4x4 Alfa Spider.

Why? Why Fiat? Who designed this? And to use the glorious Fiat 124 name? Such a shame...