RE: Fiat 124 - first pics

RE: Fiat 124 - first pics

Saturday 21st November 2015

Fiat 124 Spider - more info [Updated]

Official info following Fiat 124 Spider's LA unveiling updates our earlier story



It is no secret Fiat and Mazda have been collaborating on a pair of related roadsters sharing common MX-5 based underpinnings. The fourth-generation Mazda model is now well established, on sale and winning us over on road and track. Leaving the Fiat 124 Spider a lot to live up to.

Fiat originally released the 124 Sports Spider, designed and manufactured by Pininfarina, at the Turin motor show in 1966. Just shy of 50 years on, the new 124 Spider takes a nostalgic approach by unashamedly borrowing retro styling cues. A distinctive line flows along the side from the front wing back over the haunches to the rear lights while the headlamps and upper grille are all clearly inspired by the original, including the bonnet bulges that were necessary additions to fit larger engines.

Powered by Fiat's 1.4 MultiAir Turbo, the engine produces 140hp and 177lb ft and is mated to a six-speed manual gearbox specially optimised for high torque output, says Fiat. Those who don't want to be as involved may opt for the automatic transmission. Compared with the base 1.5 MX-5, power and torque are up but no word on weight as of yet. As reported in our original story, and in earlier ones from WorldCarFans and Autocar, it'd seem a more powerful 160hp version is also coming for some markets with further power for hoped-for Abarth versions down the line.

Unlike the front-wheel drive Barchetta that attempted to take on the original MX-5, this 124 is, of course, rear-wheel drive. The front suspension comprises a double-wishbone set-up with a multi-link arrangement out back purposefully engineered to "increase toe-in under high cornering forces for improved stability." Reducing wind noise has not been an afterthought. The roof has been fitted with a headliner, said to improve sound absorption and Fiat has also designed the bootlining to further absorb and insulate. Roof down and it is the same story - air is guided above the heads of the occupants to the rear of the car. According to the official release even the seatbelt position has been taken into account to reduce wind noise.

Keeping the 124 light has been addressed with a mixture of steel and aluminium panels and using a spring-assisted soft-top, eliminating the need for a heavy power assisted one. Inside, the Mazda link becomes more apparent, with familiar switchgear and layout. A three-gauge binnacle with its central rev counter gives an idea what the car is designed to do. Due on sale mid-2016 we await to hear on further technical and equipment specs and - of course - price. [Nikolai]









[Original story]
Fiat's reaction to the original MX-5 was, of course, the Barchetta. A pretty enough car, its unglamorous front-driven Punto underpinnings didn't stand a chance of competing with the Mazda's more classic rear-wheel drive configuration. That and LHD-only confined it to also-ran status against the all-conquering Mazda, Fiat accepting that this time round collaboration with the Japanese rather than a style over content imitation is the only way forward.

Based on the ND MX-5, although with a very different vibe
Based on the ND MX-5, although with a very different vibe
And so here we are, the much discussed, long awaited Fiat 124 Spider. It is, of course, based on the new ND MX-5 and recognisable so, despite all-new panels and a very different vibe. If Mazda has pushed ahead with a modernist vision of traditional MX-5 values Fiat is clearly being much more overt about plundering previous glories, with a clear retro look inspired by the original of the same name.

There's no official word yet but both WorldCarFans and Autocar are reporting that the car will use versions of Fiat's 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder MultiAirII engine with a choice of manual and automatic gearboxes and a choice of 140hp and 160hp outputs dependent on market. If the performance should be on a par, give or take, with the normally-aspirated Mazda the character should at least be sufficiently different to make them distinct choices from each other in driving character. And that's before Abarth gets its hands on it.

More details when we get them. [Dan]













[Sources: WorldCarFans, Autocar]

Author
Discussion

Oddball RS

Original Poster:

1,757 posts

217 months

Wednesday 18th November 2015
quotequote all
Looks good to me, finally something in this price bracket that promises something warm (Abarth).

rb26

783 posts

185 months

Wednesday 18th November 2015
quotequote all
oooooooooooooooh dear...... Looks only a mother could love. vomit

lindrup119

1,228 posts

142 months

Wednesday 18th November 2015
quotequote all
I don't hate it. But I do hate that the windscreen surround reminds me of Audi A4/Chrysler Crossfire convertibles.

An Abarth version would be great to see.

Ved

3,825 posts

174 months

Wednesday 18th November 2015
quotequote all
No contest in terms of looks. KO to Japan:


LaurasOtherHalf

21,429 posts

195 months

Wednesday 18th November 2015
quotequote all


This is not a good looking car

sgq89

93 posts

142 months

Wednesday 18th November 2015
quotequote all
is it just me or does it look a bit like a miniature Dodge Viper? Not a bad thing though

GTEYE

2,092 posts

209 months

Wednesday 18th November 2015
quotequote all
Looks about as much like a Fiat as the Alfa Arna did an Alfa Romeo.

Absolutely everything about it looks worse than the Mazda, so you have to ask, why would you not just buy the Mazda?

Edited by GTEYE on Wednesday 18th November 12:41

KillerHERTZ

935 posts

197 months

Wednesday 18th November 2015
quotequote all
Yuk!

craigjm

17,907 posts

199 months

Wednesday 18th November 2015
quotequote all
GTEYE said:
Looks about as much like a Fiat as the Alfa Arna did an Alfa Romeo.

Mazda every time, this is going to bomb.
Exactly this. I am glad it didnt end up being the new Alfa Spyder.

jtopps

154 posts

153 months

Wednesday 18th November 2015
quotequote all
Cannot unsee...

Krikkit

26,500 posts

180 months

Wednesday 18th November 2015
quotequote all
Love the MX5, can't say I like this at all! Far too blobby to my eyes.

trialsta

90 posts

188 months

Wednesday 18th November 2015
quotequote all
I don't think it looks as good as the MX5 but if Arbath have a go at it then maybe we'll end up with the higher performance MX5 that people have been banging on about for years but Mazda refused to build.

daddy cool

3,996 posts

228 months

Wednesday 18th November 2015
quotequote all
They have made a small, muscular-looking car turn into something that looks bigger and blander. Italian style, my arse.

Is the bonnet modelled on batman's abs?

TurboHatchback

4,151 posts

152 months

Wednesday 18th November 2015
quotequote all
That looks dreadful whereas the new MX5 looks lovely IMO. Why on earth would you buy this?

MerriDave

13 posts

107 months

Wednesday 18th November 2015
quotequote all
Fugly. I can hear them in the board meeting 'Lets take a well priced, reliable MX5 add a sprinkle of our reputation for poor reliability and make it uglier, winner!'

k-ink

9,070 posts

178 months

Wednesday 18th November 2015
quotequote all
They ditched the stunning Alfa Romeo concept for this bland Fiat turd?!! What an absolutely wasted opportunity. Fiat - go fk yourself!!

dazwalsh

6,095 posts

140 months

Wednesday 18th November 2015
quotequote all
Back is alright, front needs to be sharper and less bubbly. Ruins the look conpletely

Veeayt

3,139 posts

204 months

Wednesday 18th November 2015
quotequote all
Looks alot like Solstice

Crusoe

4,068 posts

230 months

Wednesday 18th November 2015
quotequote all
like the fiat 500 it is a reasonable recreation of the original with a bit of modern size increase and rounding of edges.


Axionknight

8,505 posts

134 months

Wednesday 18th November 2015
quotequote all
Ved said:
No contest in terms of looks. KO to Japan:

Without a doubt IMO