Fiat unveils its Mazda MX-5 twin

Â New 124 Spider brings turbo power.

David McCowen

05:0118 November 2015

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Fiat unveils its Mazda MX-5 twin

Meet the Mazda MX-5's Italian cousin.

Fiat has unveiled the new 124 Spider, a two-seat convertible that shares its bones with the latest version of Japan's best-selling convertible.

Designed in Italy but built in Japan with an Italian engine, there are two key differences separating the 124 Spider from Mazda's offering.

The main one lies under the bonnet, where Mazda's pair of 96kW and 118kW 1.5-litre and 2.0-litre naturally-aspirated engines have made way for a compact and turbocharged motor shared with Fiat's Abarth 595 hot hatch.

Retuned and adapted to suit the Mazda's rear-wheel-drive layout, the 1.4-litre four-cylinder motor makes a handy 119kW and 250Nm that should make it punchier on the road than Mazda's twins.

Available with a choice of six-speed manual or automatic transmissions, the new motor offers significantly more mid-range punch than Mazda's alternative, producing more torque much earlier in its rev range than the MX-5.

The second change is its looks. Styled in Turin, the 124 Spider features design details intended to separate the model from its Japanese cousin, such as fresh LED lamps at the front and rear and a new bonnet with twin "power domes".

The Spider features a silver windscreen frame as opposed to Mazda's black-painted version, and the rear numberplate is mounted high, between the tail lamps and not low on the bumper.

The back of the Fiat also features twin chromed exhaust pipes on either side of the bumper, a shark fin antenna and conspicuous Fiat badge that sits proud on the bootlid.

The redesigned rear hides an extra 10 litres of boot space over the Mazda, helped by a larger body that is nearly 140mm longer and 47 kilograms heavier than the car it is based on.

Like the MX-5, it has a manually operated soft top which can be opened and closed easily in just a few seconds.

On the inside, Fiat promises "Italian craftsmanship and premium materials throughout", with a touch of colour and quality materials to enhance occupant comfort. It has an adapted version of the Mazda's infotainment system – complete with controls by the driver's elbow – along with similar seats that feature speakers mounted within their headrests.

Featuring the same double wishbone front suspension and multi-link rear as the Mazda, Fiat's entry-level 124 Spider Classica has the same-sized 16-inch wheels and 195mm-wide tyres as Mazda's 1.5-litre offering, while the more expensive Lusso shares its 17-inch wheels and 205mm-wide rubber dimensions with the 2.0-litre MX-5.

Set to go on sale next year for an as-yet unannounced price, the 124 Spider is set to be the first model in a family of Fiat roadsters likely to include a high-performance Abarth version.