Not that long ago rumors about a Fiat convertible based on a small Japanese hatchback started to appear. Well, these rumors turned out to be about the all new 2017 Fiat 124 Spider which shares its chassis, most of the interior and some parts of the exterior with the Mazda MX-5, one of the best cars ever made. But how can you improve perfection? Well, besides adding more power Fiat also tweaked the exterior to fit their new look. Some said that it is a bit too childish but we have to say that the Fiat looks amazing and the Abarth model which adds even more styling cues is even better.
2017 FIAT 124 SPIDER PRICE AND REVIEW
We are going to say the few bad things about the 124 from the start because pretty much everything else is just as perfect as on the Mazda. Firstly, they added nearly 7 inches of length. How? Well, the nose is quite a bit longer thanks to a new design. On top of that the car is around 150 pounds heavier due to its engine, but this can easily be forgotten once you step behind the wheel. Just like with the Mazda, it starts at just over $26,000 and all the more expensive versions usually add just cosmetics, unlike in the Mazda. The car is already available for sale across the Globe and despite its drawbacks it is one of the better cars ever made.
ENGINE OF 2017 FIAT 124 SPIDER
Let’s start with what makes the 2017 Fiat 124 Spider vastly different than its close sibling, the MX5. The engine is probably one of the largest changes over the Mazda and while it may suffer from some problems, it still is a good change in our opinion. Unlike the Mazda which offers a 2 liter naturally aspirated inline 4, the Fiat gets a smaller 1.4 liter turbocharged inline 4 petrol engine, a very similar unit to that of the 500 Abarth. This has been tweaked so it now makes 160 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque in the base model. The Abarth bumps the output to 164 horsepower and the same amount of torque.
Unfortunately, because the engine design is quite old, it doesn’t feel as great as that of the Mazda. This offers plenty of torque and power between 3,000 and 5,500 rpm but the power feels sudden. In comparison, the Mazda offers a more linear torque and power curve all the way up to the redline. This makes the Fiat more suitable for those looking for a better on-road car. It drivers similarly to the Mazda despite having an extra 150 pounds. This is thanks to its all-new suspension system and larger brakes. The engine also feels more powerful and at lower revs it seems more suitable as well. The only real drawback when compared to the Mazda is the automatic which is $1,300 more than the 6-speed manual which happens to be perfect for this turbocharged engine.
2017 FIAT 124 SPIDER INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR
Now, the most intriguing part of the 2017 Fiat 124 Spider, its exterior design. Many criticized the concept for being too unusual but when it was launched as a production model the car received quite a bit of praise. This is mostly because Fiat managed to take cues from the original Spider and adapted all of that to the Mazda body.
The end result is a car with a unique Italian flair which feels a lot more grown-up than the Mazda. Many even said that it looks like a miniature version of the Viper and we would incline to agree with that. Its interior on the other hand is not all that special because it is the same as that on the Mazda with a few different badges.
Info on Fiatusa.com