Review: 2017 Fiat 124 Spider Abarth
More than just a fancy looking Italian Miata, the Fiat roadster delivers.
A few months ago, I had an opportunity to test the 2017 Mazda MX-5 Miata Club at Auto Club Speedway. It’s safe to say that I fell in love with the new ND chassis. So when one of my colleagues gave me the keys to the 2017 Fiat 124 Spider Abarth, there was no way in hell I was going to pass up the opportunity to give the Fiata a go. When the day finally came to test the roadster, SoCal decided that it was the perfect time to have a storm. Call it bad luck or whatever you want. It didn’t stop me from having some intimate one-on-one time with the Italian sports convertible.
This is old school turbocharging.
Unlike its Miata counterpart which comes with an all-aluminum, naturally aspirated 2.0L 4-banger, the 124 Spider Abarth is powered by an iron-block MultiAir turbocharged 1.4L engine. The standard 124 Spider puts down 160 horsepower while the Abarth makes an extra 4 ponies thanks to the performance tuned exhaust system. While the quad-tipped exhaust makes arousing sounds from the outside, the same sensual feelings aren’t quite experienced inside the cabin. The two siblings couldn’t drive any more differently when it comes to their power plants. The SKYACTIV NA 2.0L motor in the Miata revs happily throughout the power band all the way to redline. The 124 Spider Abarth on the other hand is the complete opposite with its old school turbocharging characteristics. In the lower RPMs, there’s practically nobody home until you get around 4,000 RPM and that’s when the party starts. You go from not having much torque down below and then BAM – a surge of power pushes you back into your seat and the little Italian roadster comes alive. It’s no GT-R by any means, but a light car makes for a quick car.
Do it yourself or not at all.
The Abarth comes standard with a slick 6-speed manual gearbox that’s actually sourced from the NC (3rd Generation Miata) but with its own bespoke gear ratios. An Aisin B400 6-speed automatic transmission is available as an option, but why do such a thing? Roadsters should only come with manual transmissions, agreed? Those that know anything about manual transmissions know that the best in the business are from Honda, and Mazda, specifically – Miatas. From driving the latest ND Miata to the 124 Spider Abarth, I was able to notice the differences in gear ratios right from the get go. The ND’s ratios are fairly short to compliment the low torque and free-revving characteristics of its NA engine. On the other side of the coin, the Abarth’s gear ratios are a bit taller, again to suit the needs of the turbocharged 1.4L. To be honest, the Miata Club’s shifter feel did feel a bit smoother, but the Abarth is still loads of fun to row through the gears, especially over anything else out on the market. However, I still have yet to drive the new 991.2 GT3 with the 6-speed gearbox, so I might be wrong.
Float like a butterfly, sting like a scorpion.
Knowing that the 124 Spider shares the same chassis as the ND Miata, I already knew the Abarth was going to be absolutely delicious to drive, especially in an enthusiastic manner. With the Abarth trim comes with a couple of upgrades over the Classica and Lusso models that definitely improve performance in the handling department. The major addition are the Bilstein Dampers that are fitted all around, along with stiffer spring rates. The rear sway bar has been softened up just a tad bit since the rear spring rates were stiffened up 14% over the lower trim levels. The stiffer suspension results in much flatter cornering compared to the Miata Club I drove which had quite a bit of body roll. To tighten up the already potent chassis, a front strut tower bar has also been added.
The more aggressive suspension can definitely be felt during normal driving conditions out on the streets and highways, but the upgrades won’t be fully appreciated until you take the Abarth to a winding road. That’s exactly what I did, and boy can the Fiata move! Even in damp conditions the Abarth was surprisingly neutral, neither under or oversteering. The front axle has a good amount of grip that inspires confidence behind the wheel to attack corners. And once you’re in it, the rear follows through very nicely from apex all the way to corner exit without a hint of oversteer, as long as your steering inputs are on point. A lot of credit goes to the sticky 205/45R17 Bridgstone Potenza RE050A tires that come standard on the Abarth. An optional Brembo brake package is available for added braking power, but the standard brakes handled the canyon driving test like a champ.
Italian styled Miata: love it or hate it.
I’m not sure about you, but I don’t find the ND Miata beautiful at all. Aggressive and sporty are words I would use to describe it, though don’t me wrong, that’s not a bad thing. Whenever I see a 124 Spider out on the road, I just can’t keep my eyes off it. The Italian styled exterior just works for me. It’s aesthetically pleasing at any angle, but the rear 3/4 view is where the Abarth’s good looks really shine. The 124 Spider appears larger than its Miata sister thanks to the longer front and rear overhangs. If you didn’t already know that the Abarth was actually Miata in disguise, you’d never know just looking from the outside. The front and rear facias are distinctively classic 124 Sport Spider inspired hiding the fact that entire car is manufactured in a Mazda plant in Japan. Love it or hate it, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Interior styling.
Let’s get right into it: The interior of the Abarth is pretty much copy and pasted from the ND Miata with the addition of a few shiny bits such as the air vent rings and HVAC knobs. Even the steering wheel is the exact same, but with a Fiat badge in place of a Mazda one. Keeping the cabin styling the same as the Miata made sense, plus Mazda interiors are some of the best in the business. The standard seats are comfortable, but won’t hold you down in place as well as the optional Alcantara and leather-wrapped Recaro buckets.
With the absence of a Mazdaspeed version of the current generation Miata, I would say that the 124 Spider Abarth is the closest thing to it. With some of tuning and modifications, the Abarth’s MultiAir 1.4L can make a bit more power making for an even more exciting driving experience. If you’re in the market for a good looking roadster that’s comfortable and handles like a Miata (wink), then the Fiat 124 Spider Abarth is the one for you.
What do you think about the 2017 Fiat 124 Spider Abarth? Let us know on the forum!
