2017 Fiat 124 - The best MX-5 (? or !)
 

Getting closer to the intro date of the Fiat 124. Essentially, it's a 2016 ND Miata chassis with Italian styling by FCA Alpha Romeo and power by Fiat or Alpha Romeo that carries over the same curb weight 2350 lbs. The car will be introduced at both the 2015 Frankfurt Auto Show in September 2015 and the LA International Auto Show in November 2015.

http://www.autoblog.com/2015/07/14/f...#slide-3548827

The power plant is likely a 1.4L i4 Turbo from the 500 Abarth. Stock specs are:
160 BHP @ 5500 RPM - 150 WHP 5500 RPM
170 Lb/ft @ 2500 RPM - 154 WTQ @ 3200 RPM

With a street tune @Shiv@Openflash with his OFT is able to make this motor hit:
180 WHP @ 5500 RPM
207 WTQ @ 4200 RPM

http://openflashtablet.com/Automotiv...OFT/index.html

http://openflashtablet.com/Automotiv...image_2021.jpg

There's also a chance it will get the 1.7L turbocharged i4 from the Alpha 4C. 240 BHP / 258 lb/ft TQ

Concept renders show improved more integrated styling over the garish ND MX-5. The most recent spy shots suggest the renders aren't too far off.

IMO this looks to be the car to beat on this platform.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PFbaDUDWj4...64700006_n.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_ZFQY2Tgm4...er-2016jpg.jpg

http://immagini.alvolante.it/sites/d...-rendering.jpg

http://cdn.auto.it/wp-content/upload...he-Abarth-.jpg

http://www.clubalfa.it/wp-content/up...S57n-ECC2T.jpg


http://www.124spiderforum.com/attach..._800x0w-jpg.6/

http://steeringnews.com/wp-content/u...ng-750x400.jpg

http://www.124spiderforum.com/attach...ndering-jpg.9/

http://o.aolcdn.com/dims-shared/dims...hots-001-1.jpg

http://o.aolcdn.com/dims-shared/dims...hots-008-1.jpg

The only Fiat worth buying!

I bet it will cost 1.5 X the MX-5 pricetag. Parts will be steep too, if it comes to North America. And of course the service network will be tiny. Italian styling doesn't come cheap. That said, I hope it comes hereand II'd like to see it on the road if it does. Probably cost like a pair of Cavalli blue jeans.

With Fiat's involvement with Chrysler and their expanding North American product line the service issues are slowing disappearing.
If the 124s do eventually come here in a couple of years I would think that the infrastructure to provide service will have grown to the point that it won't be that big a problem.

This is the one I would buy. Still disappointed it wasn't an Alfa but I really like this car.

The best thing I learned from this thread is that there's an OFT for the Abarth, that little screamer is looking better and better as a commuter car for me... Now I just need to find a commute.

The best chance Fiat has for success with a sports car is to line it up right next to or slightly above the Abarth at $22k-$25k with a slightly uptuned 1.4L Multiair (like +5hp over the Abarth, they have to do something to overcome the RWD losses otherwise their expensive sports car gets beat off the line by a hot hatch) but I'm not sure if they'd be able to undercut Mazda by that much unless they really cheap out on it somehow like a live rear axle, cheap steel body panels, made in Mexico.

My guess is it'll land in the $25k-$30k range, I doubt base price will exceed $30k given Fiat's current marketing strategy of "hip affordable". Sure with the right styling and quality materials and the big motor from the 4C they could justify a >$35k pricetag with everything expected of it but it'd look out of place next to a fleet of 500 cabriolets on the dealer lot, unless of course it had an Alfa badge. Oh wait, didn't Honda already do that?

Edit: I suppose they could put their standard 4 banger in their for like ~110 hp or their little turbo at 130 to keep the price down, after all the ND will sell just fine with the 1.5L elsewhere.

I think your assumptions are pretty spot on. $25-$30k with the 1.4 Multi-Air2 Turbo.

Btw... this is a genius little engine with it's hydro/solenoid valves. It feels punchy in the standard Abarth, I can't wait to get another OFT and tune it. My Abarth weighs about 2500 lbs, so imagine what 200+ lb/ft of torque feel like in it. Used, they're coming in around $17k and in a year $15k. 2012-2014 500 Abarths are going to be great value track toys. The 124 will be even lighter.

Even so, my guess is that it the 124 will equal a base Miata out of the box but won't feel as sharp as a ND Miata Club edition from the factory. Still the 124 should be cheaper than a Miata Club and have nearly full access to the Mazda parts bin, aftermarket, as well as much better Fiat engine options. Dollar for dollar, the 124 should end up being a more dynamic and better looking car than any MX-5 for less money.

http://media.caranddriver.com/images...s-original.jpg
http://www.caranddriver.com/features...stem-explained


Oh last thing. The base (Pop) Fiat 500x (the mini-crossover) also comes with the 1.4L i4T Multi-air and a 6MT. With an OFT, this has the potential to be a 500x Abarth on a budget . A kind of mini-Macan sleeper (like the regular 500 Turbo is an budget Abarth). @Shiv@Openflash there's yet another untapped market for you senior. Commission check address is in your PM box. Haha!

I hope you meant to say the only "new" Fiat... :D

http://i.imgur.com/BLzhf1n.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/cMH7hj5.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/UJJXTFw.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/08ryWq0.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/XBSNUtZ.jpg

I'm a fanboy. What else can I say? :D

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiat_Twin_Cam_engine
Not to mention the Fiat twin-cam engine
is the "most successful engine in the history
of the World Rally Championship".

I am GENUINELY excited about this new Fiat Spider.
I hope they manage to make it feel special. :)

[ame]http://youtu.be/Nfzlz1RqLbU[/ame]

[ame]http://youtu.be/fetkS66chfA[/ame]

[ame]http://youtu.be/W9oxpdXAqOI[/ame]

While the jury is still out on the ND —have yet to talk to people who have tracked it—, I could see myself trading my stockish, daily driven S2000 for this Fiat 124... specially if there's an Abarth version reliably making 200hp/tq... should be a riot given the power/weight ratio.

There's some concern about ND chassis flexing a tad too much but I wouldn't care as it wouldn't be my primary track car.

I wish the BRZ and FRS were as different as the ND and 124 are going to be. I'm glad that we will be getting two very different cars from one great platform.

I doubt the Fiat/Abarth version will be a faster or better car than the S2000.

Huh, that's the first I've heard of that, I'll be surprised if anyone has any hard data at this point, is there even an off the shelf coilover option from a respected manufacturer yet?

http://www2.mazda.com/en/publicity/r...5/150520a.html

wooo miata