Photo: rendering by Theophilus Chin
A new rumor has taken the automotive part of the Internet by storm. As it happens, Fiat is tipped to add a third model to the Fiat 124 lineup in the form of a coupe. But is it doable, though?
Apparently, it is. Even though the Fiat Chrysler group only owns the trademarks for “Fiat 124” and “Fiat 124 Spider,” it so happens that the Italo-American outfit gave us a sneak peek of the 124 Coupe back in March 2016.
At the Geneva Motor Show, Fiat presented the Fiat 124 Rally. Essentially a racing version of the 124 Spider, the 124 Rally features a solid roof. So yes, the blueprint for the Fiat 124 Coupe exists, but production is problematic.
You see, the Fiat 124 Spider and Abarth 124 Spider are both manufactured in the Land of the Rising Sun, at the Hiroshima plant where Mazda makes the MX-5 Miata and MX-5 RF. Do you spot what the problem is with this picture? Yup. Neither model from both automakers has a fixed roof, but a retractable one. If the Fiat Chrysler group is serious about producing the 124 Coupe, then the Mazda MX-5/Fiat 124 assembly line needs a retooling.
According to Autocar, the “Fiat 124 Coupe is understood to be under development.” Here’s another excerpt from the report: “The decision to separate it from the MX-5 is believed to have been made in order to create greater space between the two models in the minds of potential buyers and to allow Fiat to push its performance credentials to a greater extent.”
From a mechanical point of view, the chassis will be shared with the Fiat 124 Spider and Abarth 124 Spider. The engine, however, is a mystery at the time of writing this article. The mentioned publication talks about all power outputs of the existing 1.4-liter turbocharged four-pot engine. More specifically, look forward to anything between 138, 158 or 178 brake horsepower.
So there you have it. What do you make of the cited report on the coupe-ified model? Will Fiat make the 124 Coupe or will it remain a rumor?
At the Geneva Motor Show, Fiat presented the Fiat 124 Rally. Essentially a racing version of the 124 Spider, the 124 Rally features a solid roof. So yes, the blueprint for the Fiat 124 Coupe exists, but production is problematic.
You see, the Fiat 124 Spider and Abarth 124 Spider are both manufactured in the Land of the Rising Sun, at the Hiroshima plant where Mazda makes the MX-5 Miata and MX-5 RF. Do you spot what the problem is with this picture? Yup. Neither model from both automakers has a fixed roof, but a retractable one. If the Fiat Chrysler group is serious about producing the 124 Coupe, then the Mazda MX-5/Fiat 124 assembly line needs a retooling.
According to Autocar, the “Fiat 124 Coupe is understood to be under development.” Here’s another excerpt from the report: “The decision to separate it from the MX-5 is believed to have been made in order to create greater space between the two models in the minds of potential buyers and to allow Fiat to push its performance credentials to a greater extent.”
From a mechanical point of view, the chassis will be shared with the Fiat 124 Spider and Abarth 124 Spider. The engine, however, is a mystery at the time of writing this article. The mentioned publication talks about all power outputs of the existing 1.4-liter turbocharged four-pot engine. More specifically, look forward to anything between 138, 158 or 178 brake horsepower.
So there you have it. What do you make of the cited report on the coupe-ified model? Will Fiat make the 124 Coupe or will it remain a rumor?
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