Fiat revives the 124 Spider

I dreamed about buying a Fiat 124 in the 70s but it was a stick shift and my new wife said NO to the idea.  So I settled for something that was a very conservative sedan. Ugh!

The collaboration between Mazda and Fiat to share the latest MX-5 roadster platform sees its Italian iteration with the Fiat 124 Spider. But the Spider is more than a rebadged Miata. The Fiat carries a 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder MultiAir engine from the Fiat stable that generates 160 horsepower and 184 lb.-ft. of torque. With a price tag around $28,000, the slightly luxurious Fiat Spider Lusso is similar to a tony Mazda. The MX-5 155 hp has a 2.0-liter four.

Road & Track says “One of these cars is very good. The other is truly excellent.”

Consumers Reports has yet to review this car.  That organization always cautions people that first year models can be buggy and it is best to wait for the second year of car design.

Still it might be fun to at least take the Spider on a test drive.