In late 2015, Fiat->ke30 entered a new sports car->ke506 niche by launching the 124 Spider, a neo-retro interpretation of a classy roadster->ke1418 originally built between 1966 and 1982. Based on the ND-generation Mazda Miata, the compact two-seater received styling of its own and a powerplant based on the Abarth 500's. In early 2016, Fiat did what the whole industry expected it to do: it showcased an Abarth version of the 124->ke5028 with a sportier appearance and a more powerful engine. But while the standard 124 Spider->ke5091 already made it to the U.S., the Abarth->ke2904 was only unveiled in its European specification, leaving North America to wait for its very own Scorpion-badged roadster.

The wait ends at the 2016 New York Auto Show,->ke226 where Fiat launched the 124 Spider Elaborazione Abarth.

Although it is powered by the 124's standard engine, the Elaborazione is a sportier proposition to the regular Spider, featuring numerous add-ons that are not available with the stock model. The styling is inspired by the Euro-spec Abarth model, while the interior has just enough goodies to stand out. While the drivetrain is as standard as they get, the chassis boasts many new components designed to deliver a more exciting experience behind the wheel. All told, the Elaborazione was developed to slot between the standard 124 Spider and the sportier and more powerful Abarth. It might not have a Scorpion badge on its nose, but it is more than worthy of the Abarth name.

Hopefully Fiat is already working on a full-fledged 124 Abath for the U.S. market, but until the performance-oriented cabriolet->ke144 arrives, the Elaborazione seems to be a thrilling option if you're in the market for a compact roadster.

Updated 03/25/2016: The new Fiat 124 Spider Elaborazione Abarth made its world debut at the 2016 New York Auto Show. Check the "Pictures" tab for a series of new images taken during it official launch.

Continue reading to learn more about the Fiat 124 Spider Elaborazione Abarth.

Exterior

Styling wise, the Elaborazione is a 124 Abarth without the Scorpion badges and a few minor features. Up front, it sports the same honeycomb mesh grille, air vents with black plastic surrounds, a larger, revised lower grille with integrated foglamps, and a matte black hood. The only Abarth features missing here are the Scorpion badge and the red stripe on the splitter.

Onto the side, it gets the same 17-inch Gun Metal aluminum roller as the Abarth version, but these come with Fiat badges instead of Abarth logos. Likewise, the Scorpion badges on the front fenders are missing. Another "downgrade" from the full-fledged Abarth model are the black mirror caps (instead of red) and black roll bars (instead of Forgiato Grey). The rear end remains unchanged save for the chrome exhaust tips.

Five exterior colors are availabile: Bianco Gelato (White Clear Coat), Rosso Passione (Red Clear Coat), Nero Cinema (Jet Black Metallic), Grigio Argento (Gray Metallic) and tri-coat Bianco Perla (Crystal White Pearl), two of which are shared with the Abarth.

Overall, the Elaborazione very similar to the full-fledged Abarth on the outside and could be mistaken for one by the untrained eye. It's pretty much what the BMW M235i is to the M2: less powerful and devoid of the fancy badges, but almost as aggressive in appearance.

Interior

Note: 2018 Fiat 124 Spider Abarth pictured here.

Interior changes are subtle, but so are those applied to the 124 Abarth. For the Elaborazione, Fiat went with red (Rosso) stitching on the leather-wrapped steering wheel, instrument cluster hood, lower instrument panel, and parking brake, as well as matte-black dashboard bezels.

To set it further apart from the standard 124 Spider, the Italians also added a custom instrument cluster, aluminum-accented sport pedals, and a unique gear shift knob.

The standard seats wrapped in leather and microfiber are also unique to this model, but customers can also have full leather seats in either black (Nero) or black and red (Nero/Rosso). Moreover, the Elaborazione can be equipped with leather and Alcantara Recaro seats, also in black.

Other than that, it comes with the same standard features found in the 124 Spider, including a climate control system, stereo with four speakers, MP3 player and USB port, cruise control, and adjustable and electrically-folding side mirrors. Options should include an infotainment system with an intuitive knob, a seven-inch color display, satellite navigation system, DAB digital tuner, two USB ports, AUX input, Bluetooth connectivity, and a rear backup camera.

Drivetrain

The Elaborazione Abarth gets its juice from the same 1.4-liter, four-cylinder engine found in the 124 Spider. The four-pot is also identical to the Fiat 500 Abarth and cranks out 160 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. Transmission choices are also identical and include a six-speed manual and a six-speed automatic. But while it doesn't get the Sequenziale Sportive in the Abarth, the Elaborazione did receive a few performance-enhancing features of its own.

For starters, the drivetrain gained an exclusive "Sport Mode" that changes the calibration of the engine, steering, dynamic stability control, and automatic transmission (if equipped with one). When used in this mode, the roadster delivers a sportier, more responsive, and performance-oriented driving experience. Like the Abarth, it also has a mechanical limited-slip differential, but with a low torque bias ratio for improved traction and power delivery during cornering. It also comes with unique engine note due to a revised exhaust system. It won't sound as aggressive as the Abarth, but onlookers will know it's not a standard 124 Spider.

More updates were made in the suspension department, where the Elaborazione received a uniquely tuned sport suspension with Bilstein front and rear shock absorbers for increased traction and more precise handling. A Brembo braking system identical to the Abarth's is available as an option and adds monoblock aluminum calipers with four pistons, allowing for enhanced braking performance.

Not a bad deal overall, despite the fact that it misses the extra ten horsepower that come with the Euro-spec 124 Abarth.

Prices

Pricing information is not yet available and that's not surprising given Fiat has yet to release prices for the standard model. However, with the 124 Spider likely to fetch $25,000 before options, the Elaborazione could start from around $28,000. In any case, expect it to cost less than the full-fledged Abarth model.

Competition

Mazda MX-5 Miata

Much like the standard 124 Spider, the Elaborazione Abarth will cross swords with the Japanese vehicle it is based on, the MX-5 Miata. This is also the result of the compact roadster market being really thin since Toyota and Honda stopped making small, sporty convertibles. Redesigned for 2016, the ND-generation Miata is slightly smaller than its predecessor and employs a significantly more aggressive design language.

The interior is almost identical to the Fiat's, but motivation comes from a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter Skyactiv-G engine that produces 155 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque. While it has similar horsepower to the 1.4-liter turbo engine from Fiat, Mazda's four-pot has less torque, which means it's a tad slower from 0 to 60 mph. The one thing the 2016 MX-5 will likely have as an advantage over the Elaborazione is price, as the Japanese roadster retails from $24,915.

Find out more about the Mazda MX-5 Miata here.

Conclusion

The Fiat 124 Spider has everything it needs to become a huge success. It was inspired by a classic Italian roadster, it boasts a beautiful and well-balanced neo-retro design, and it's plenty powerful for the niche it competes in. The Abarth upgrade makes it that much better, but the Elaborazione package is almost as exciting. Obviously designed to bridge the gap between the standard 124 Spider and the Abarth, this convertible seems like an excellent choice if you're on the market for a sportier roadster, but can't afford one with Scorpion badges. The exterior is nearly identical to its more aggressive brother, the interior received just enough unique features to stand out, while the chassis was tuned to deliver a more thrilling experience. Sure, it may lack the extra horsepower that comes with the Abarth, but it will make a great driver's car thanks to its bespoke chassis and excellent power-to-weight ratio.