Report: Fiat’s version of the Mazda Miata MX-5 could be called 124 Spider
So even more rumors of a new collaboration between Mazda and Fiat have been floating around for some time now.
The rumors suggested Fiat was going to pay Mazda for use of its new Miata MX-5 platform to underpin Fiat’s new intended subcompact spider, which will apparently be called the 124 Spider.
This sort of contradicts a previous rumor, which suggested Fiat changed their minds by making the new small roadster into an Abarth-branded car.. But, now, it seems Fiat’s back on track with the original plan of a Mazda-based sports convertible.
The idea is to revive the spirit of the original Fiat 124, which is one of the many small roadsters that influenced the Miata’s conceptual introduction. And that means lightweight, compact, simplicity, in a front-engined rear-wheel drive body. A curb weight is speculated to sit below 2,204lbs for the new 124, along with Fiat’s ubiquitous 1.4L MultiAir Turbo four in various power forms.
The Abarth idea isn’t entirely defunct however since the high-performance version of the 124 could be called the Abarth, sporting more than 200hp to its rear-wheels, larger brakes, sport suspension and more aggressive bodywork.
The new Fiat 124 is expected to surface in 2016 with sales launching in 2017.
– By: Chris Chin
Source: AutoExpress