Abarth 124 Spider 2018 Review
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Abarth 124 Spider Review: A Perfect Blend of Style and Performance
Introduction
It’s not every day that you get to review one of the best-selling roadsters of all time, the Mazda MX-5 (also known as the Miata). If you’re wondering why we’re discussing the MX-5 when we’re supposed to be focusing on the Abarth 124 Spider, it’s because they are essentially the same car with subtle differences.
Partnership and Design
The affair between the Italian and Japanese manufacturers began when they formed a partnership in which Fiat took the Mazda MX-5 and built the 124 Spider to pay homage to the 1966 classic. The tri-colored beauty we have with us is the Heritage Edition, featuring a stunning combination of white, red, and black hues.
About Abarth
For those who may not know, Abarth is essentially what AMG is to Mercedes-Benz. It can be considered Fiat’s fun division. Therefore, the Abarth 124 is not an ordinary Fiat; it’s an exciting blend of Japanese engineering, Italian design, and the performance credentials of a true sports car.
Interior Features
The interior looks similar to the car it is based on but remains simple and functional with everything residing exactly where it should be. To complement the black and red Heritage theme, you get:
- Black and red leather sports seats
- Black leather dashboard and steering wheel with red stitching
Although the cabin is small, it is packed with features, including:
- Nine Bose speakers (with two speakers in each headrest)
- Heated seats
- 7-inch infotainment screen with Bluetooth connectivity
- Built-in navigation
- Two USB charging ports
- AUX audio port
The best feature of all is its manual soft-top roof, which can open and close faster and with much less complexity than the fastest automatic roof found on the Ford Mustang.
Driving Dynamics
In terms of driving dynamics, the Abarth shares the Fiat’s 1.4-liter turbo engine but boosts figures up to 170 horsepower and 250 Nm of torque, which is 30 horsepower more than the Fiat. Interestingly, the Abarth 124, despite having a smaller engine than the Mazda’s naturally aspirated 2.0-liter, still manages to produce 10 more horsepower and 50 more Nm of torque.
Put it into Sport mode, and the Abarth 124 will push all that power through a 6-speed automatic transmission, getting you to 100 km/h in just 6.8 seconds. The Abarth 124 is all about fun, and the feeling you get when driving this rear-wheel-drive roadster is something that not many other cars can offer. The accuracy and feedback from the steering wheel remind one of driving a go-kart.
Performance Features
Adding to the excitement behind the wheel, the Abarth 124 is fitted with an amazing Record Monza exhaust system that produces the loudest and angriest sound a 1.4-liter engine has ever made. Additionally, it comes with:
- Large Brembo brakes for spirited driving
- Stiff Bilstein sports suspension to minimize body roll
Conclusion
In closing, the Abarth 124 will put a huge smile on your face every time you drive it, but it is not the most practical car you can buy. With the roof up, visibility isn’t great, and there’s barely any space to keep your belongings inside the cabin. However, none of that matters because every time you turn off the ignition and start walking away from the car, you just can’t wait for the moment you’ll start driving it again. That’s why it’s well worth its AED 140,000 price tag.
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