Photo: Mazda
Mazda isn’t keeping the new MX-5/Miata for itself and we’ll get at least one more version from a different automaker. Kinda like Toyota and Subaru did. At first, the rebodied Miata was said to come as an Alfa Romeo model, but at the last moment it switched party with Fiat and this unfortunately ended up in a delayed launch.
Speaking with the press at the 2015 Detroit Motor Show, Fiat Chrysler chief Sergio Marchione said they have to delay the launch of the new compact drop-top as the project switching added some impediments.
“Yes it did have an effect.” Marchionne said. “We had to go back and change some parts on the Mazda vehicle. Adding three months or four months [to the release date].”
The FCA alliance gladly took the challenge as both Fiat and Abarth need to sprinkle their lineup with some coolness. There’s still no word how the new car will be named or what badge it will wear.
If you ask us, the Fiat Barchetta is a big possibility, but let’s not forget about the long-rumored and much-awaited standalone Abarth sportscar. Whatever it’s going to be, we’re sure it will find clients pretty fast, thanks to the cheap/fun/cool open top sportscar recipe Mazda brought back.
“Yes it did have an effect.” Marchionne said. “We had to go back and change some parts on the Mazda vehicle. Adding three months or four months [to the release date].”
The switch
At first, Alfa Romeo decided to use the new MX5 platform to build a small convertible, but then it decided it wants to be more premium and passed the project to Fiat/Abart, while they said to build theirs as a standalone model derived from project Giorgio.The FCA alliance gladly took the challenge as both Fiat and Abarth need to sprinkle their lineup with some coolness. There’s still no word how the new car will be named or what badge it will wear.
If you ask us, the Fiat Barchetta is a big possibility, but let’s not forget about the long-rumored and much-awaited standalone Abarth sportscar. Whatever it’s going to be, we’re sure it will find clients pretty fast, thanks to the cheap/fun/cool open top sportscar recipe Mazda brought back.
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