Fiat 124 Spider

For the first time since...um...forever...there is now a rear-wheel drive Fiat that we can all enjoy for and this rear-wheel drive Fiat marks the return of the legendary 124 nameplate in honor of the original 124's 50th anniversary since 1966. Heritage aside, the newly revived 124 Spider is just one of the biggest contributions in the axis powers (read: Japan-Germany-Italy collaboration) in the history of automobiles. Why?

2017 Fiat 124 Spider

There's a big reason why because the new 124 Spider is basically a fourth-generation Mazda Roadster underneath it but despite most of the stuff comes from Mazda, its performance is what differs it because the 124 has a little spark of Fiat on its Mazda-wrapped backbone. Under the hood is a 1.4L turbocharged MultiAir petrol engine which produces around 138 horsepower, which sounds like more than the Roadster's 1.5L petrol engine produces, meaning it can go 0-100kph in seven and a half seconds and onwards to 215kph. Even when they both have the same 6-speed gearbox and the same driving feel, the 124 is the better bet because it can do things that the Roadster can't in terms of speed, power, and everything else.

2017 Fiat 124 Spider

In context, those who did enjoyed the latest Roadster had the impression that this car still retains the classic Roadster formula, valuing aerodynamics over performance, as well as delivering its nimble and yet accessible dynamics everyone can master. For the Roadster-based Fiat 124 Spider, though, while it promises to hark back the legendary 124 fifty years ago, it still acts and behaves just like the Roadster. It's nimble, it's easy to drive, and very accessible if you're sure enough to drive one on the open roads but driving one on the cities can get too tricky because while this is mated only with a 6-speed gearbox, parking this car can get messy but whatever it is, feels like this day will never end.

2017 Fiat 124 Spider interior

While this is purely a Mazda Roadster underneath with a different engine from Fiat, the new 124 feels very gorgeous to look at from day to night, however it can still be overshadowed when the open-top car you've encountered is another Italian car. Specifically, an Alfa Romeo 4C Spider. While the 4C is strikingly gorgeous to look at and drives better than the 124, best to know that the 124's starting price of 27,500 Euros, meaning that you can buy two of these (and some) for the price of the 4C Spider. Now that's a bargain good enough for a poor man's 4C Spider, though.

2017 Fiat 124 Spider

So, would you rather have this than the Mazda Roadster it was based upon? Well, since the new 124 behaves like the Roadster, the only difference you will notice is the performance due to its turbocharged petrol engine made by Fiat and once you notice how it works, you have a clear judgment on which would you pick.

Available colors: Rosso Passione, Bianco Gelato, Grigio Argento, Grigio Moda, Azzurro Italia, Bronzo Magnetico, Nero Vesuvio, and Bianco Ghiaccio.

Photo: Fiat