Fiat 124 Spider Getting Hardcore Abarth Variant
Abarth will be working its magic on the upcoming Fiat 124 Spider.
In an interview with Auto Express, Fiat Chrysler Group’s chief operating officer Alfredo Altavilla said about the upcoming 124 Spider, “You like performance? There will be an Abarth version.”
The standard Fiat variant will be the “comfortable” version of the car while the Abarth model will be more “extreme,” according to Altavilla. Although the powerplant hasn’t been confirmed, Fiat will likely use a detuned version of the Alfa Romeo 4C’s engine, producing around 200 hp in a lightweight roadster. Along with more aggressive styling, larger brakes and lowered suspension, the Fiat 124 Spider will have an impressive power-to-weight ratio to rival luxury sports cars like the Porsche Boxster GTS.
SEE ALSO: 2017 Fiat 124 Spider Spied for the First Time
That also means that Fiat is willing to go where Mazda isn’t with the new MX-5 Miata. Earlier this month, the Japanese automaker confirmed that a more hardcore variant of the Miata isn’t currently being considered, but Fiat isn’t shying away from taking advantage of the shared platform to inject more power into the roadster. Expect the Fiat 124 Spider Abarth to become the halo car for the brand, as Abarth continues to expand its lineup.
[Source: Auto Express]
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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i don't know how they are gonna make an Abarth version work. the 1.4 can be bumped up to around 200HP with a few mods; precluding the need to step up to the heavier 4C engine -And too much more power will only serve to cannibalize Alfa 4C sales.