A lady. A lovely, sensual, responsive Italian lady. <\/p>\n
Thats how Car and Driver magazine described the Fiat 124 after its debut in the 1960s. <\/p>\n
The sentiments no doubt sexist by todays standards, but heck, it was the 60s. And there was a point to the seductive words: Not all sports cars have to be hard-edged. <\/p>\n
This one had all the mechanicals and quickness and a sporty suspension but also a more refined interior and quieter ride. <\/p>\n
After a nearly 40-year absence (the classic endured till 1978, then buzzed around till 85 as the Fiat 2000), the Fiat 124 Spider has returned in the form of a 2017 model. But this time the Italian lady has a factory live-in friend, the Mazda Miata. <\/p>\n
Mazda, you see, manufactures the 124 alongside the Miata at its Hiroshima, Japan, plant and provides many of its underpinnings. <\/p>\n
But the 124 (base price: $27,495; as tested, $33,635) retains the shape and body creases of its legendary Pininfarina design, and its engine is actually prebuilt and shipped from a Fiat plant in Italy. So its Fiat DNA is alive and well. <\/p>\n
It also is 5 inches longer, has more upscale materials inside and boasts a noticeably quieter ride than the Miata. Acoustic glass and headliner help keep noise to a conversation-friendly level. <\/p>\n
In contrast to Mazdas naturally aspirated 2.0-liter engine, the Spider gets a turbocharged 1.4-liter engine that puts out 160 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque (4 more horses ride along with the Abarth version). <\/p>\n
Shifting the standard manual tranny in this little bug-eyed roadster is a blast thanks to its tight six-speed shift box. A six-speed automatic is optional on all trims and, while it ticks smoothly, it can be a little sluggish to respond. <\/p>\n
On the road, the rear-wheel-drive 124 is quick and nimble. Corners are taken confidently thanks to precision steering and Fiats own suspension components. Bumps and dips are gobbled up around town, too. <\/p>\n
The highway ride is comfortable for a roadster, and an EPA-estimated 36 mpg makes it even more tempting to take out on a road trip (25 mpg around town). <\/p>\n
Flipping down the soft top, which has a glass rear window, is easy-breezy. It takes less than a minute and can be done without leaving the drivers seat. Just unlatch at the top and toss it behind you. <\/p>\n
Put the top up and taller folks will find the Spiders cabin a little cramped. Roadsters typically are like airplane cockpits for those over 6 feet tall: They must carefully squeeze in each of the body parts. Same deal here, with limited headroom, legroom and elbow room. <\/p>\n
Likewise, weekend jaunts will require thoughtful packing with a mere 4.9 cubic feet of trunk space available. <\/p>\n
But the interior has a nice look and feel, with soft-touch materials surrounding the instrument panel and leather-wrapped steering wheel. There are piano-black accents throughout. A 7-inch touchscreen (optional on the base model) is bright and clear, and its menus easy to navigate. A nine-speaker Bose sound system is available. <\/p>\n
Three trim levels are offered. It starts with the base Classica, which gets 16-inch alloys, push-button start and a tiny 3-inch touchscreen. The Lusso adds 17-wheel wheels, fog lights, leather seats and a tech package with rear-view camera and bigger touchscreen. <\/p>\n
For the racing-inspired, theres the top-line Abarth: quad exhaust tips, limited-slip rear differential, adjustable driving modes and Brembo high-performance brakes, plus some sporty interior accents like simulated suede seats. <\/p>\n
Fiat even includes racing-school instruction in Arizona to every Abarth buyer willing to make the trip. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Original post: A lady. Continue reading
\nFiat DNA is thriving in Japanese-built 124 Spider - Press Herald<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"