Rumors that Fiat->ke30 might revive the 124 Spider,->ke5091 a stylish roadster from the 1960s, surfaced in 2014 and were confirmed at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, when Fiat came clean and revealed that there was a new roadster underway with Mazda MX-5 underpinnings. Various reports then claimed that Fiat 124 Spider will also be followed by a performance-oriented Abarth->ke2904 version with a more powerful engine and all the goodies that come with the scorpion badge. With the standard roadster unveiled at the 2015 Los Angeles Show,->ke211 Fiat took the wraps off the performance-oriented version at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show.->ke228

Not surprisingly, the 124 Abarth was conceived using the same recipe applied to the 500 Abarth. It features a sportier body kit, a mildly revised interior with Abarth trim, and a more powerful version of the engine used in the standard model. On top of that, Fiat sprinkled a bit of its classic Abarth heritage in order to link the modern roadster to the original 124 Rally, a limited-edition homologation special.

Set to arrive in European showrooms for the 2017 model year, the 124 Spider Abarth is an extremely important car for this tight niche. The main reason for that is because Mazda said it won’t develop a high-performance version of the new Miata.->ke1185 So Abarth will exploit the potential of Mazda’->ke53s new chassis and give Miata lovers the power that the Japanese roadster->ke1418 has failed to deliver.

While Fiat has yet to confirm or release data about the U.S.-spec version, a similar model is very likely to cross the pond to North America and join the standard model. Until that happens, let's have a closer look at the European version.

Updated 04/29/2016: FCA dropped prices on the 2018 Spider Abarth. Check the "Prices" section for the full details.

Continue reading to find out more about the 2018 Fiat 124 Spider Abarth.

2018 Fiat 124 Spider Abarth

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2018 Fiat 124 Spider Abarth
  • Engine/Motor: inline-4
  • Horsepower: 170
  • Torque: 184
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

Much like the Fiat Abarth 500 in comparison to the standard 500, the 124 Spider Abarth features the same styling as the regular roadster, but received a number of aerodynamic enhancements and body upgrades, which result in a more aggressive styling.

Up front, there's new honeycomb mesh grille similar to that of the original car, new air vents with black plastic surrounds underneath the daytime running lights, a larger, revised lower grille with integrated foglamps, and a sportier apron with a red insert. A matte black hood, part of Abarth's racing anti-glare kit, with a Scorpion badge replaced the standard bonnet and the Fiat logo.

On the sides, the roadster gained black-painted skirts, 17-inch, multi-spoke, lightweight wheels with red calipers, and Scorpion badges on the front fenders. The roadster also sits lower thanks to a revised suspension system. Surprisingly, there are no Abarth stripes, but they should be offered as options.

Around back, the standard was replaced by a sportier piece with vents toward the rear wheels, a quad-exhaust layout, and a more aggressive diffuser. Just like the front hood, the trunk lid was painted matte black in a nod to the original 124 Spider. Needless to say, the rear end looks pretty sporty, but I'm a bit disappointed that there are no carbon-fiber parts.

Other changes include a windscreen surround and roll bars finished in Forgiato Grey and five body colors using a special nomenclature that pays tribute to the original car's success in rallying. Options include solid "Turini 1975 White," "Costa Brava 1972 Red," metallic "Isola d’Elba 1974 Blue," "Portogallo 1974 Grey," and "San Marino 1972 Black".

As with most Abarths, the 124 Spider will benefit from an array of customizing options, including stripes and maybe even a few Mopar accessories.

Interior

Interior changes are rather subtle. The layout heavily based on the 124 Spider, which in turn is nearly identical to the MX-5 Miata. As you might have already noticed in our 124 Spider vs Miata comparison, the Fiat’s cabin is a little more upscale, having received a leather-wrapped steering wheel, revised door panels, and an extra layer of leather on the lower dashboard.

The Abarth version retained these updates, but gained a few bespoke features. Performance-oriented upgrades include sportier seats with enhanced grip, a small-diameter steering wheel with red 12 o'clock stripe, an aluminum pedal board, and a red background for the rev counter. The lower section of the dashboard is wrapped in Alcantara instead of leather, while the infotainment display has an Abarth-themed start up screen.

Standard features are similar to the 124 Spider and include a climate control system, stereo with four speakers, MP3 player and USB port, cruise control, and adjustable and electrically-folding door mirrors. Options include an infotainment system with an intuitive knob on the central unit, seven-inch color display, satellite navigation system, DAB digital tuner, two USB ports, AUX input, Bluetooth connectivity, and a rear backup camera. A Bose premium sound system with nine speakers is also available.

Drivetrain

Motivation for the 124 Spider comes from a 1.4-liter turbo-four tuned to deliver 170 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. These figures represent only a 10-horsepower improvement over the standard, U.S.-spec model and a 22-horsepower, seven-pound-feet increase over the Euro-spec version. Fiat says that this drivetrain will be offered in the EMEA region (Europe, the Middle East and Africa), meaning that there is a chance for the U.S.-spec convertible to get more power. If this happens, expect the four-banger to crank out at least 180 horsepower.

With 170 horses at its disposal, the 124 Abarth needs 6.8 seconds to hit 62 mph from a standing start on its way to a top speed of 230 km/h (143 mph). Buyers will be able to choose between the six-speed manual or the automatic Sequenziale Sportivo gearboxes.

In order to highlight the superior performance of the Abarth model, the Italian brand added a Record Monza exhaust, which increases performance and delivers a throatier note.

Other goodies include a suspension system tuned for greater cornering stability. The setup includes Bilstein dampers and stiffened anti-roll bars. Stopping power comes from a Brembo braking system with aluminum front calipers.

Fuel economy figures aren't yet available, but they should be similar to the standard 124 Spider. The non-Abarth cabriolet returns 26 mpg city and 35 mpg highway with the manual transmission and 25 mpg city and 36 mpg highway with the automatic gearbox.

Safety

The 124 Abath comes with many active and passive features. Standard equipment includes ABS, EBD, ESC, and three-point seat belts with Constant-Force Retractors that control the degree of force applied by the belt. The LED adaptive headlamps are optional. They enhance driving in poor visibility conditions and can be equipped with rain and dusk sensors.

Prices

The 124 Spider Abarth retails from $28,195, not including the $995 delivery fee, in the United States, a $3,200 premium over the base cabriolet. This sticker also makes it the most expensive 124 except for the limited-edition 124 Spider Prima Edizione Lusso, which fetches $35,000. Adding an automatic transmission to the Abarth increases the price by $1,350, taking it to $29,545 before options.

In Europe, the 124 Spider Abarth comes in at €40,000. Deliveries are set to begin in September 2016.

Model

Transmission

Price

Fiat 124 Spider Abarth

six-speed manual

$28,195

Fiat 124 Spider Abarth

six-speed automatic

$29,545


Competition

2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata

Granted, the Miata isn't as quick or powerful as the 124 Spider Abarth, but the fact that both cars share the same platform turns the Mazda into some sort of base model of the Fiat. The Miata will come with fewer fancy features and less oomph, but with a sleek appearance and a significantly more affordable sticker. There will be a lot of cross-shopping here, especially with not too many roadsters available in this niche. The Miata just got a full makeover for the 2016 model year, receiving new exterior styling, a revamped interior and a new drivetrain. Power comes from Mazda's->ke53 2.0-liter Skyactiv-G engine that produces 155 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque. Pricing starts from $24,915.

Read more about the Mazda Miata here.

Porsche 718 Boxster

As a mid-engined sports car->ke506 that's both faster and more powerful, the 718 Boxster->ke570 isn't the type of car buyers would generally cross-shop with the Miata. However, the 124 Abarth might have just enough power to give the German roadster a run for its money. Moreover, the Fiat's premium interior might have a shot at matching the Boxster's luxurious and sporty cabin. Performance-wise, the base 718 Boxster comes with a turbocharged, 2.0-liter flat-four that cranks out 300 horsepower. It charges from 0 to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds with a manual and 4.7 ticks with the automatic and hits a top speed of 170 mph. Pricing starts from $56,000.

Find out more about the Porsche 718 Boxster here.

Conclusion

The Fiat 124 Sport Spider is a legend among European roadsters and Fiat's decision to launch an Abarth version of its 21st century iteration is downright brilliant. The sports-compact niche is in dire need of new competitors, and the 124 Spider Abarth seems like the perfect addition to the already available Mazda Miata and Porsche 718 Boxster. It remains to be seen whether the new model will live up to the original Abarth 124 Rally, a homologation special launched in 1972, but seeing how Fiat used its heritage in the modern Abarth 500, the Italians can’t go wrong with this one. Finger's crossed that the U.S. model comes with more than 170 horsepower on tap.

Updated History

Updated 03/01/2016: Abarth unveiled the new 124 Spider at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show.

Updated 12/04/2015: Our spy photographers caught the upcoming 124 Spider testing for the first time.

Updated 11/23/2015: Now that we've seen the Fiat 124 Spider its time to think of its next logical iteration: an Abarth version. Based on the recent rumors and details, we created a rendering that might help you make an idea on how the next car could look like.

Spy Shots

December 4, 2015 - First testing session

Rendering