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After years of making awkward hatchbacks, Fiat is finally back in the sportscar business with the 2017 model year 124 Spider. It was the biggest debut at this year's Los Angeles Auto Show, after which it received praise and critique in equal measure.
Mazda doesn't have the need for speed and has been adamant there won't be a turbo version of the Miata. Nevertheless, the 124 Spider will try to set your pants on fire by offering a hardcore Abarth version.
And we're not talking about something that's only slightly spicy, like the discontinued Punto Abarth. Oh no, we're talking Carolina Reaper chillies - one careless bite and you are so dead.
While the standard 124 Spider has 160 hp (140 hp in Europe), the Abarth version will deliver about 200 hp. We don't yet know if that's coming from existing 1.4-liter turbo or something borrowed from the Alfa 4C. But engineers have clearly been tasked with making a roadster that outruns most small hot hatchbacks.
These are the first spy photos of the Abarth 124, taken somewhere in Italy. They show that the little roadster has been fitted with better everything: wheels, tires, brakes, and exhaust. Those four pipes might not look like much, but once they get custom tips, they will look as sweet as those on the Audi S3.
Besides the fact that Abarth roadsters will add a nice performance premium of at least 40 hp over their standard counterparts, the company is also motivated to produce a version of the 124 so it can participate in a new rear-wheel-drive category of the World Rally Championship.
We don't know when the Abarth 124 Spider will come out, but probably towards the end of 2016. The Italian scorpion brand will also debut a hot version of the 500X crossover to compete with the MINI Countryman on the top level.
Besides the engine, there still are many unknowns surrounding the hot new roadster. For example, we don't know if the Abarth 124 will be available with an automatic or how much it will cost. But this is an exciting time for Fiat fans.
