[Sudeep_Kimster]

I would buy this only because of its stunning appearance

The Engine bay appears too long for a 1.4 Liter engine. Abarth version also gets stunning Dual tone color scheme

[sandeepmohan]

Originally Posted by CrAzY dRiVeR

They really have to think beyond that 1.4 engine.

I agree, to some extent, However; If those specifications and performance numbers are to be believed, the 1.4l engine seems to cut it quite well. I don't think Abarth or Fiat intended anything more with the road going version of the Spider.

This isn't the same motor that we all know. The Multiair series are award winning engines. Some factory installs even come with twin inter cooler set ups. The Multiair series is also about striking a balance between performance and economy.

Downsizing, using one engine with heavily different states of tune is everywhere. The Mini Copper with the 3 pot diesel may not appeal to the enthusiast club. Drive one and your perspective will change.

[vb-saan]

It may be based on the Mazda MX-5 and produced at the same factory in Japan, but this one looks really beautiful IMO; probably the best looking Fiat in the last few years! And as per the reviews, it actually betters the Mazda in almost every aspect




A couple of reviews:

http://jalopnik.com/the-2017-fiat-12...iat-1781392740

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxt-vSdl2m0

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Japanese engineering with Italian design.

Many reviews of the 124 and the 124 Abarth have been released over the past few days and the general impressions are positive. Looks like FIAT has taken the Mazda MX5 and done a little bit better.

Personally I love the 124 spider as compared to the smiling face on the MX5.

[revvhed]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. You just can't beat the Italians when it comes to stylish design. Now THIS is the ideal marriage .. Italian styling with Japanese engineering.

[extreme_torque]

Actually I much prefer Mazda styling over this one. The basic platform between this and the Mazda is same including the interiors. Where they differ is the tranny. Mazda comes with either a 1.5 liter or a 2.0 liter engine which is much more powerful than 1.4 turbo in the Fiat.

[blackwasp]

The only question that remains is will this be available in India ? It's high time Fiat introduces new models in her line up in India.

Even if high priced, it'll be a nice change to look at a new Fiat model.

[deetjohn]

Originally Posted by deetjohn

Fiat now says it will race this 300 horsepower, rear-drive Abarth 124 hardtop in 2017.

They weren't kidding. And it sounds oh so glorious!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ2csVvmwuY

Source

[shankar.balan]

Originally Posted by blackwasp

The only question that remains is will this be available in India ? It's high time Fiat introduces new models in her line up in India.

Even if high priced, it'll be a nice change to look at a new Fiat model.

But those Baboons up top at Fiat will bring this also in at some 75 lacs or something so only the wannabes, the poseurs and rogues and politicos and real estate demons will get to buy these cars. Not for common dog Joe's like me...bah!

[desdemona]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?featur...&v=4wFuuAfYdnw

Really keen video I came across, from MT(usa). Unusually for Americans they seem very au fait on the whole question of NA versus small-turbo (with the for-some-reason felt to be traumatic: turbo 'lag'!), suspension design and tuning, and indeed (very cheekily) on the whole styling and target-audience 'logic' deployed by platform-sibling-models like the 'Female' mx-5 Mazda as opposed to the 'more Male' retro/hommage Fiat/Abarth 124 Spider.

This genre of car's just perfect for India, imo, and that too as very-affordable fun-commuter cars NOT as ostentatiously unusable, exorbitant sports or showcars. Esp if hardtop or coupe versions (there is one already from Mazda, and a rumoured coupe for 2017 from Fiat/Abarth) are possible.

Of course, that means, for all the usual taxation, market-, car-status-culture etc etc reasons, that no such affordable (and imo quite practical) offerings will ever be made and offered here foreseeably, at least for many a year. Sigh. Well, at least the grief on the 2-wheeler front is so much lower now in India. The Indian car market just does not seem like it'll ever 'evolve', if that is a just term in this context, in such directions at all.

IMO the Indian government needs to look at Indian tariffs and FTA+other trade policy agreements, in any case, maybe then such models will be affordably available here?

Sigh, again.