Fiat 124 Spider re-introduces the small Italian sports convertible game

Nearly half a century after its original introduction, the Fiat 124 Spider returns.  Reviving the 124 Spider storied nameplate, the new car delivers a modern adaptation of the original Fiat sports convertible.

Fiat back in the small sports convertible game

After years of mostly compact hatchbacks like the refuse-to-age Fiat 500, Fiat’s only open-car offering was the Fiat 500C, and that has only a roof which slides along rails, so not giving the full convertible experience, and as it is based on the 500 hatchback, not a full sports car either.  Now, with the resurrection of the Fiat 124 Spider, a full open full sports convertible brings Fiat back in this game.

The Fiat 124 Spider was built during 1966-1982.  Remember the small Fiat X1/9 sports car from the 1980s?  With mid-mounted engine and pop-up headlights, it was a small budget sports car that mimicked supercar design and layout.  It, too, was not replaced.

After an extended-duration stretch of Fiat hatchbacks, panel vans, MPVs (from cute to weird) and cross-overs, Fiat is finally re-introducing a convertible.

Borrows from original’s styling

The Italian design house in Turin, Italy, borrows design cues from the original 1966 Fiat 124 Spider, with a low-slung presence, classically beautiful body lines and a well-balanced sporty cabin-roof ratio shared between these old and new cars.

Design details which call to mind the original Fiat 124 Spider are the hexagonal upper grille and grille pattern, round twin headlights, power domes streaks along the bonnet, and sharp wide horizontal taillamps.

The new Spider marks 4.054 metre on the measuring tape, giving an idea of how small it is, and just 1.233 m high (low).

Spider and Lusso names

The new Fiat 124 Spider will be available in Spider (base) and Spider Lusso models.  Having re-introduced the Spider name, used for Italian convertibles (Fiat Spider, Alfa Romeo Spider and Ferrari Spider all exist), Lusso is also being re-used, again indicating the more luxurious version of a Fiat.

The Spider will have black roll bar and body-colour A-pillar header, 16-inch alloy wheels as standard, with black premium cloth seats, and halogen lamps. 

The Spider Lusso has silver-painted header and roll bars, 17-inch alloys, dual chrome-tip exhausts, leather seats in Nero (Black) or Saddle, wrapped instrument cluster with visible stitching, automatic climate control, and LED segmented-ring headlights.

Dynamic driving experience

The turbocharged MultiAir 1.4-litre engine is front mounted, and delivers 103kW with torque peaking at 240Nm.  It is coupled to a 6-gear manual, and drives through the rear wheels for that sports car sensation.  This setup, with balanced weight distribution and low centre of gravity (and a lightwight rigid body structure) endows the Fiat 124 Spider with a dynamic driving experience.

Shared with another roadster

If the basic proportions and interior look familiar, and not unllke the Mazda MX-5, then you’d be right.  The Fiat 124 Spider and Mazda MX-5 are both assembled in Hiroshima, Japan, at Mazda’s plant, wherafter the Fiat is shipped to Italy to get its Fiat turbo engine.

The benefit of this arrangement is that both these cars have the small sports car roadster feeling as a delivery promise, and that simple no-bulk or excess in a trim 1050kg kerb weight.  Each has its own distinct personality.

Fiat budget price, too?

No pricing has been released yet, but if Fiat-Chrysler South Africa decides to bring it into convertible-weather country, let us hope it will be at Fiat budget price, too.