Fiat 124 Spider - more info [Updated]
Official info following Fiat 124 Spider's LA unveiling updates our earlier story
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]
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.
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]
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