Of all the reveals and new cars shown at the LA Auto Show, it was the Italians that took home top prizes. First Alfa Romeo wowed everyone with its spectacular Giulia debut, complete with record beating performance numbers, and then Fiat won hearts and wallets with its new 124 Spider.
The 124 Spider is the final reveal of the long discussed and rumored “Fiata” project between Mazda and Fiat. The 124 is built from the Miata, and shares much of its componentry with the car. For all intents and purposes, the 124 is simply a Miata with a new body and a new motor. The interior has been altered to be more luxurious with more leather and soft touch materials, but it is still obviously Miata. The transmission, suspension, and rear axle are all Miata as well. But under that new hood is the turbocharged heart from the Fiat 500 Abarth. That means more horsepower, and a lot more torque, for the little convertible.
Considering the 2016 Miata was the best car I drove all year, I can’t wait to get the keys to one of these things.
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