The Abarth 124 Spider is Underwhelming in its Geneva Debut

Abarth 124 Spider (Credit: © Fiat)

It is becoming clearer each day that we will not see a new Mazdaspeed Miata anytime soon. However, with Mazda and Fiat working hand in hand on the MX-5 and 124 Spider, we saw the opportunity for an Italian version of the Mazdaspeed roadster in the rumored Abarth 124 Spider. Today, the Abarth 124 Spider is a rumor no more as Fiat officially unveiled it at the 2016 Geneva Auto Show.

» Related: Fiat Strapped A Camera To An Actual Eagle For This Commercial

Unfortunately, the Abarth 124 Spider isn’t quite the beast we were all visualizing as it comes with a 1.4-liter MulitAir Turbo engine that produces 170 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. This is a decent bump relative to the base model’s 140 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque, but I was looking for something closer to 200 horsepower and 225 pound-feet.

This engine mates to either a six-speed manual transmission or a Sequenziale Sportivo automatic gearbox with paddle shifters. Of course, power heads to the rear wheels exclusively. This adds up to a 0-to-62 time of just 6.8 seconds—a nice drop when compared to the base 124 Spider’s 7.5-second sprint time. The underwhelming part of this announcement is that the Abarth 124 Spider is no quicker than the base MX-5, as the Mazda hits 60 mph in just 6.3 seconds. I am willing to bet that one of the requirements in the joint venture was that no versions of the 124 Spider may be quicker than the MX-5.

While it may not beat the MX-5 in a straight line, the Abarth 124 Spider does have a modified suspension system that could help it trump the Mazda on the track. This system includes exclusive Bilstein dampers, stiffened anti-roll bars, and a dual-pinion electric power steering system for precision handling. Braking duties are provided by a Brembo system with aluminum front calipers.

The looks of this new roadster are also all Abarth. On the outside, the Abarth 124 Spider features the Racing Anti-Glare Kit, which includes a matte-black hood and trunk lid, a Record Monza exhaust system, 17-inch alloy wheels, Forgiato Grey windshield surround and roll bars, and LED taillights. Inside, this model gains the Racing Alcantara Kit, leather seating, aluminum pedals, a small-diameter steering wheel, and a short-throw gear shifter.

The Abarth 124 Spider will launch in Europe in September 2016 at a starting price of €40,000 ($43,508). There is no mention of its U.S. availability.