It's been many years since the Fiat stand at the Geneva Motor Show has been this crowded. The reason? Abarth has turned the 124 Spider into something so hot that it makes you want to drive naked. We are talking about the Abarth 124 Spider equipped with a 170 PS version of the 1.4-liter turbo from the Cinquecento.
It's not quite the 200 horsepower monster we were expecting, but the output is noticeably higher than in the Mazda MX-5 Miata. 250 Newton meters of torque are also a nice bonus when you want to break traction at the rear wheels.
Abarth likes to be very precise with its performance numbers. From 0 to 100 km/h, the hot 124 Spider takes 6.8 seconds. Meanwhile, the top speed is 230 km/h (123 mph), which means that you could race a Clio RS and stand a chance.
While hot hatchbacks usually pack 200 ponies, the Abarth roadster can make due with less thanks to its curb weight of only 1,060 kilograms or 2,336 lbs that are evenly split between the front and back. The Abarth thus has a power-to-weight ratio of 6.2 kg/HP, setting a new benchmark in the segment.
But this car is not about the numbers or pure acceleration. It's about taking a standard car and adding adrenaline, driver enjoyment, and the spirit of competition. Thus, upgrades like "Abarth by Bilstein" dampers, stiffer anti-roll bars and Brembo brakes have been made. The standard six-speed manual is joined by an automatic Sequenziale Sportivo gearbox that has been tuned to offer "genuine racing sensations" when it shifts. Lastly, Record Monza exhaust channels the anger of the peppy 1.4-liter turbo engine.
Cosmetically, the Abarth 124 Spider is distinguished by its black grille and much larger air intakes. Side skirts, a rear spoiler and blacked-out wheels are also part of the package. The hood bulge and its black paint are references to the original 124, while all the Fiat badges have been replaced by the scorpion logo. Inside, the black and red leather is sprinkled with red stitching and Alcantara.
If you want to race it, Fiat has also revealed the 124 Rally that will be ready for the 2017 R-GT Rally category. 300 horsepower will help it compete against rivals from Lotus or Porsche.
Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida. Full profile
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