See all Motoring NewsFiat, which is gearing up for a number of high-profile launches in the next few years, has just given itself quite the halo model by launching the new 124 Spider. Sharing its name and some of its styling cues with the sixties original, the 124 has been developed jointly alongside the Mazda MX-5 and prices start at €31,495.
There are three trim levels, although ostensibly the highest one is really an additional pack. The range kicks off with the basic Classica version, which includes four airbags, air conditioning, a leather-trimmed steering wheel with audio controls, a leather-trimmed gear knob, cruise control with speed limiter, 16-inch alloy wheels, keyless engine start and a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system with WiFi, two USB ports and a multimedia control knob with aux-in and Bluetooth connectivity as standard.
The mid-range, and likely best-selling, version is the Lusso, which on top of the Classica comes with satellite navigation with 3D maps and the Parkview rear parking camera and sensors. It is also equipped with 17-inch alloy wheels, heated leather seats, automatic climate control, front fog lamps, keyless entry, chrome exhaust tips and a silver finish on the windscreen frame and rollover bars. That'll set you back €34,295. You can enhance that with the Lusso Plus for €35,795, which adds adaptive LED headlamps, LED DRLs, automatic lights and wipers and a nine-speaker Bose sound system (including stereo headrest speakers on both seats).
The 124 Spider will be available in eight colours, including two pastel finishes (Passione Red and Ice White), five metallic shades (Volcano Black, Argento Grey, Fashion Grey, Magnetic Bronze and Italia Blue) and one tri-coat pearlescent finish, Urban White.
While the 124 Spider shares its chassis and basic body structure with the Mazda MX-5, and indeed much of its interior, the engine and gearbox are from Fiat. Unlike Mazda's naturally aspirated 1.5 and 2.0-litre MX-5s, the 124 Spider is available with one engine, a 1.4 Multiair turbo petrol with 140hp and 240Nm of torque. The 0-100km/h spring takes 7.5 seconds and the top speed is 210km/h. Emissions are a little higher than for the Mazda at 148g/km.
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