New Fiat/ Miata 124 spider ---- what the?

I am disappointed with Fiat's effort. The car looks like the previous gen Miata to me.

Jimmy

 

A Fiat sport should look as an Italian sports car with ANSA and all.. I am sorry but that car dos not look like an italian car at all. Despites the few bits, it does not look like the old 124 at all. I could not pick it in the street as a fiat or even an italian car

 

This is the result of a company which launched the new Centro stile in 2007 where 200 people think about something to do.....

 

I rather like this rendered version
Foto - Fiat 124 Spider: la italo-giapponese
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Yep! Much better! More sex apropos to the old spider but with a distinctly modern look. Why is it so hard??

Just a lot more costly...

SV

 

Probably due to Euro pedestrian safety requirements (e.g. higher hood instead of low sloping).

"Part of what you're seeing is the effect of European and Asian pedestrian-protection requirements that went live last decade. The idea is to leave enough space beneath the hood to keep a struck pedestrian's head from caving it in far enough to hit the top of the engine."

Taking the Hit: How Pedestrian-Protection Regs Make Cars Fatter - Feature - Car and Driver

I wondered why all the Ford cars looked the same with their high grills and hoods.

 

Yes its a very weak job by fiat style team but I still like it. Miata was good to start with and all they did was change the grill.

And many reviews put miata at top of list for reasonable $ drivers car. fiat could be even better depending on engine and suspension

 

Looks pretty damn good in the latest Car&Driver I recd today. They are quoting 0-60 in 6sec which I kinda doubt as the Abarth 500 is 7.5sec I believe at pretty much the same weight. Also stating an estimated msrp of $32k starting price which is somewhat higher than I would have expected. Also said that the Alfa 1.75l 4C engine will not fit. I want to see the Abarth version...

 

YEAH! Let's get rid of safety, airbags, better headlights, fuel efficient powerful motors with low emissions, reliability - who needs that!?!? durability? who cares!

Let's bring back Fiats that rusted within 3 years of ownership, oil leakers, oil burners, horrible reliability, terrible crash performance and eff catalytic converters and fuel injection! I really wish I could pop my hood and work on Marelli ignition problems day in and day out.. that's what a real car should be!

YEAH! Let's bring that back! (>not<)


Drive this new Spider for a few days, then drive your old Spider and I think you'll have a different appreciation for both. Modern cars are so much better than previous generations, period - in almost every way. Don't get me wrong, I love old cars (I have one, have raced one, have had many others) - but give me a Alfa 4C, or this thing - I'm not going to say no, and I certainly wouldn't take an old Spider over this thing.


Let's just thank goodness that this did not become the new Alfa Spider.

 

So it's a Fiata?

The original 124 was/is gorgeous. One was brought to St. Barts last year to join a rental fleet at a premium over the usual Daihatsu stuff...

The new one? Please.

 

Agree. They could have retained pininfarina to do it. Still like it better than the Miata-that front end is a mess imho, the fiat less so. They both won't win beauty prizes.

 

Bob, the first year for the Fiat 124 Sport Spider was 1966. Consider the Mustang of the same year, and then compare that with today's version. Same for the Camaro which was introduced a year later. Things change, and they get bigger/plumper as they age.

 

Has there ever been a a stronger argument for simply buying a used S2000?



Mark

 

Its interesting how some think its great while others think its dog doo. Had an 81 and she was plenty of fun, the top was the simplest design and super easy to operate up or down from the drivers seat with one arm. Was not garaged at that time and she never failed to start even on the coldest winter days...fuel injection made all the difference on those cars.

I look forward to the Abarth version and I really like the design, much better than the Miata imo, looks like an updated 124 and very Italian to me with that long hood and short rear deck. Would like to see 200-210hp.

 

Whats difference between fiats engine and miatas?

 

I agree on all counts. But the Abarth should have even more power. For example, the 2005 Crossfire SRT6, both the coupe and the 'vert, had 330 hp.

I should add, I've only seen this Fiat in photos so far.

 

Waiting for pricing and the Abarth version.

 

Mazda is 155hp with 148lb torque, Fiat is 160hp with 184lb torque, Fiats torque is avail about 2k rpm's lower though at 2500 rpm. Fiat will be approx 100-150lb's more though due to its 5" increase in length.

 

so Miata will be the 'drivers' version? fiat the luxury one?

 

Some info on the Abarth version seen testing in Italy, its in Italian but easily enough translated via google or some other translator

Abarth 124 Spider - La Variante Dello Scorpione Scende In Strada - Quattroruote

 

Im thinking that the European version is being listed at 170hp as the regular 124 for Europe is listed at 140hp so that is a pretty good increase. As we know, the US version has 160hp so you would think that the US Abarth will have closer to 200hp.