Abarth 124 Spider makes debut at Geneva motor show

The new Abarth 124 Spider has been unveiled at the Geneva motor show and will go on sale in Europe in September, priced from €40,000 (around £31,000).

The performance-focused version of the Fiat 124 has been developed with the Abarth Racing Team and gets more aggressive styling with a matte black bonnet, 170bhp and a limited-slip differential.

Read our prototype drive of the Abarth 124 Spider here

It’s powered by a tweaked version of parent brand Fiat’s four-cylinder 1.4-litre MultiAir II engine, punching out 170bhp and 184b ft of torque, paired to a six-speed short-throw manual or six-speed automatic gearbox with paddle shifters, and includes a “Sport” driving mode.

Abarth claims a 0-62mph time of 6.8sec and a top speed of 143mph, and the “Record Monza” exhaust system comes equipped as standard.

The car will be a rival to the Mazda MX-5 which, with a list price of £24,295 for its top-spec 2.0-litre engine, undercuts the 124 Spider by some way. However, the quoted performance figures for the Abarth beat those of the 158bhp MX-5, which has a 0-62mph time of 7.3sec and a top speed of 133mph.

The two-seat, rear-wheel-drive Abarth 124 Spider weighs 1060kg and has a 50/50 weight distribution, according to the manufacturer, which also says it has a class-leading power-to-weight ratio.

Suspension and damping has been tweaked from the Fiat 124, with the Abarth version getting double-wishbone front suspension and five-link set up for the rear, which the Italian manufacturer says has been tuned to offer greater braking and cornering stability. It also gets front aluminium calipers.

Inside, the interior is clad in Alcantara. Standard equipment includes climate control and cruise control, while a 7.0in infotainment system with DAB, sat-nav, Bluetooth and reversing camera can are counted among the optional extras.

Abarth also unveiled a prototype rally version of the 124 Spider at Geneva, with 300bhp at 6500rpm, which is set to make its debut in the 2017 rally season.

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