THE AGENDA
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11. TAKE YOUR TOP OFF It’s been a while since Fiat made a two-seat convertible, writes Danny Cobbs. The most recent one, the Barchetta – based on the Punto and powered by a 1.8-litre engine – rolled off the production line for the final time in 2005, and ever since then there’s been a roadster-shaped hole in the Fiat model line-up. In fact, the only real rear-wheel-drive, two-seat drop-top of recent years has been the brilliant Mazda MX-5. Which is actually what this 124 Spider is based on. Mazda ships a virtually-complete MX-5 to Fiat’s facility in Italy, where the engineers tinker with it. It gets a different engine – a 1.4-litre turbocharged unit – tweaked suspension and distinctively different body panels, which capture the essence of the 1960s Spider. An automatic gearbox is available, but only on the top-spec Abarth version of the 124. The result is a car that’s mechanically similar but very, very different in attitude. While it’s bigger than
the Mazda MX-5, it still looks – and feels – small on the road. And that just adds to the fun, as you’ve got more space on the road to give you confidence. The turbo engine delivers a far punchier performance than the MX-5’s non-turbo units, too. Inside, the Fiat feels very well built, with soft-touch materials all around and a leather steering wheel as standard. The convertible roof arrangement is the same as in the MX-5, which means it’s very easy to operate and keeps things reasonably civilised inside once it’s up, by suppressing the noise from outside. The Fiat 124 Spider is a brilliant sports car – it looks great, is excellent to drive and great value for money. It rides well, so even very bumpy British roads don’t get in the way of the fun. And the turbocharged engine gives it the flexibility for longer trips too. It’s definitely been worth the wait. And just in time for spring drives with the top down. From £23,295, www.fiat.co.uk
www.blglobal.co.uk march/april 2018 73
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