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.

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.