We snapped Fiat testing their upcoming 124 Spider with its top down, and yes, it’s based on the well-executed 2016 Mazda MX-5 roadster.
You may remember that the Fiat Chrysler Automobile (FCA) group made waves with their May 2012 announcement that they signed an agreement with Mazda to develop and build a new-generation Alfa Romeo Spider on the rear-wheel drive architecture of the 2016 MX-5 ND.
Surprisingly, in late 2014, it became known that FCA had a change of mind, replacing Alfa Romeo with Fiat and Abarth, which will both get a roadster based on the Japanese model.
We strongly suspect that FCA’s decision had to do with how Alfa Romeo would be perceived as a premium brand eyeing the likes of BMW and Audi if it released a re-bodied Mazda model – however good the donor car may be. Understandable, but shouldn’t FCA’s brass have thought of that before making an official announcement?
In any case, the agreement between FCA and Mazda now concerns the Fiat and Abarth brands, which will reportedly dress the MX-5’s underpinnings with different sheet metal and powertrains.
Fiat’s version seen in these spy shots is tipped to revive the 124 Spider name. While Fiat has differentiated the body styling with its own front and rear ends, and reworked the profile panels, you can still tell from the overall shape and proportions that this car is related to the latest MX-5.
What could really set the 124 Spider apart is if, as rumored, Fiat gives it its own powertrains, including their 1.4-liter turbocharged fours with up to 200-horses and even Alfa’s 1.75-liter turbo four with around 240-horses – though the latter, might be reserved for the higher-performance Abarth model.
The Fiat 124 will arrive in the market next year, with a possible introduction as early as this November at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
*Note: Our pals over at Jalopnik secured some low-res, but revealing shots of the 124 Spider without camo
Photo Credits: CarPix for CarScoops
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