Outsider's Perspective: Il Miata should be amazing

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The Fiat 124 and I go way back. Without going into too much detail there’s more than a few reasons why I want the new version to be incredibly successful and make for the best cheap sports car in the market. And considering the recent announcements and the spy photos that have been floating around the Internet, I see no reason why it shouldn’t.

Alfredo Altavila, COO of Fiat made declarations that all but confirm that there will be two models of the new sporty fiat. The normal one, which is the one we’ve been expecting and that’s been rumored will have the Turbocharged 1.4 Multiair engine that currently makes the 500 Abarth the dirtiest-sounding hot hatch in the marker. Presumably in a similar state of tune (160 Horses) it should provide more than adequate laughs for the casual motoring enthusiast looking for top down fun.
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Speaking of top-down. This is another point where Fiat is keeping its cards close to its proverbial chest. When registering the brand name they went the extra mile and not just registered 124 Spider, but also just 124. Relax, it doesn’t mean that You’ll have to give Sergio a cut every time you have to use the number (I hope, I’ve already written it three times in this article and my wallet wouldn’t be too happy over its new obligations), but it could mean that apart from the 124 we’ve already seen with its sexier long hood and classical proportions Fiat could be working on a hardtop version.
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Just throwing it out there but…maybe even a sedan? Fiat could use one around this time and with proof over proof that the only place that the Fiat 500’s face looks good is the 500 itself they could use the new number as a break into a newer, cleaner design language. After all, designs didn’t came a lot more cleaner than the original 124. Maybe that’s in the works too. Maybe it’s just wishful thinking.
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What isn’t wishful thinking is the other version of the 124 that Altavila was on about. Slotting over the normal spider there would be a faster and sportier version wearing the Abarth badge. This is probably to please the people that would revel in the Gearhead’s consumer paradox and claim that the normal one was too similar to a Miata, too underpowered, blah blah blah. Oh well, rest assured the complainers will find something else to complain (too much equipment?)
In any case, there’s now a fun game to try and guess what sort of power would this new Abarth roadster would have. You *could* theoretically turn the turbos on the 1.4 up to 11 so it develops 200 horsepower and call it a day. But I’m guessing that wouldn’t do it any favors on the durability front. At least not with some reinforcing here and there.
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They could go and ask their Sister Alfa permission to use the 240 HP 1750 engine they use in the 4C. Considering the limited volume in which that is supposed to sell it’d help them to further amortize the cost of developing it just for the Giulietta and the 4C. And as we all know Marchione is all about Amortizing costs.
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Or, and this is another round of wishful thinking, they could take the 2.4-liter Tigershark engine that’s currently seeing duty in the 500X and the Renegade among others. It produces around 182 Italian ponies right now, but it’s ripe for turbocharging. Perhaps just a more aggressive tuning to bring it past the magical 200 horsepower barrier that got everyone raging when the Toyobaru was released.
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What if the Abarth is actually a hardtop only and that’s the reason they trademarked the number itself. It could be a stripped out racer with a rollcage, harnesses, no radio or carpets, aircon delete as an option. Essentially a Spec Miata (Spec 124?)-ready car. Oh dear, it seems I’m doing that wishful thinking thing again.
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Whatever the case, I’m really excited for it because of all the possibilities. People usually already have their expectations when it comes to a Miata. Cries of sacrilege were thrown when it got a hardtop last time around. But with the 124 the possibilities are endless. They could just make it another Miata, or they could make a hardcore sports car or a very comfortable mini GT car. The sky’s the limit and we all have our different ideas on what it should be. I know which one I’m rooting for. What about you?

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10 responses to “Outsider's Perspective: Il Miata should be amazing”

  1. Sjalabais Avatar
    Sjalabais

    Neat. Fiat has been doing well with retrograde styling. A boxy new sedan would really stick out from the masses. I imagine something along the lines of the recent Datsun styling exercise:
    http://resources.carsguide.com.au/styles/cg_hero_large/s3/dp/albums/album-5712/lg/nissan-idx-tokyo-concepts-_1_.jpg
    Imho, this is a really well-rounded combination of old and new. Just don’t add any fat and go right to the 124L.

    1. Texlenin Avatar
      Texlenin

      Nope, gunna have to complain about this, pedantically. Remember awhile back when I had to ask the Hooniversariat what this car was? That means the Design Center didn’t get anywhere near a good retrostylee. How hard is it to take the original 5/10 planform, round a few edges, not slant-back the upright shoebox style glass, (which was a noteworthy styling cue!) and call it a day?
      Design Center pulled the same shit when casting about for the 350; Center actually came to a
      N. Tx club meeting with several drawings: we all picked a long nose/ short ass picture that harkened back to 240/280. Oh, no….what did these titty babies pick? An Audi TT clone with
      the handles off a goram Kelvinator refrigerator!! And they always add fat!! Grumble…..

  2. dukeisduke Avatar
    dukeisduke

    I thought this was gonna be a Caption Tuesday thread, on a Thursday.

    1. Guest Avatar
      Guest

      So I’m not the only one who is pining for it’s return?

  3. Bret Avatar

    I’ve got a 500 Abarth and think that engine would be great in a Fiata sportscar, especially if the exhaust sounds similar the 500 Abarth’s. That said, the 2.4 liter would be a torque monster.
    Can’t wait to see what the new 124 Spider looks like. I’ve had 2 Miatas and 2 124 Spiders. Maybe my next car should be the Fiata?

  4. stigshift Avatar
    stigshift

    I’m disappointed. Judging from the lead image, I was expecting an article about James May…

  5. karonetwentyc Avatar
    karonetwentyc

    A 124 Spider that’s also a Miata?
    DO IT.
    Provided that the Spidata turns out better than that other well-known Italo-Nipponese collaboration, the Alfa-Romeo Arna*, I am 732 percent in favour of this. Fiat has a history of building absolutely brilliant proper two-seat sports cars – and so does Mazda. The MX-5 is a damned good little car, and always has been.
    Bring it on, and pick your preferred flavour. Done right, they’ll both be utterly fantastic.
    * I once owned an Alfa Arna; it was worse than terrible. I’m giving the benefit of the doubt to the idea that we’ve learned since then.

    1. Eric Rucker Avatar

      My understanding is that the problem with the Arna was that they kept the Nissan styling, but threw away everything else, and built it in Italy.
      The Fiata will be built by Mazda in Japan, but with Fiat styling (which could be good or bad), and Fiat powertrains.

      1. jim Avatar
        jim

        IIRC, as part of the deal shells were shipped from Japan. So, at least Arnas didn’t rus… oh wait

  6. jim Avatar
    jim

    I hope they find some kind of loophole that allows them to build it exactly like this :
    http://i.wheelsage.org/pictures/a/abarth/fiat/124_spider/fiat_abarth_124_spider_2.jpg