Abarth 124 Spider Review Australia | Features, Specification, Price

• Car Reviews,
• Dec 21, 2021

 

The performance version of the Fiat 124 Spider (2016) is known as the Abarth 124 Spider. Mazda has produced it under the Abarth marque for FCA. The Abarth 124 Spider came into the limelight at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show. From underneath, the Abarth 124 Spider is a bit like the Japanese.  This is because of its strong ties with the  Mazda MX-5. Despite that, there is without a doubt traces of Italian passion when it comes to such cars. The assembly of the Abarth 124 Spider happens in the Officine Abarth in Turin, Italy. This is where the Japanese built roadster gets its final model-specific parts installed. To know more about the model, keep on reading. 

 

Abarth 124 Spider engine:

Although the Abarth 124 Spider is based on the MX-5 that offers a choice of naturally aspirated engines, the Abarth 124 Spider carves its own path and comes with Fiat's 1.4-litre 'MultiAir' turbo four-cylinder engine.

 

The turbo four-cylinder engine of the Abarth 124 Spider produces 125kW of power and 250 Nm of torque. If we compare these figures with the new 2.0-litre MX-5 (135kW/205 Nm) and 86 (152kW/212 Nm), they might be a little low in terms of power, but it offers extra torque.

 

Abarth 124 Spider exterior:

Many people love the way the Abarth 124 Spider looks. If you pay attention to the details of the small frame of the 124, you will discover that it is much different from its counterparts like the MX-5. The exterior of the Abarth 124 Spider is more Italian, and the looks are beautiful and, at the same time, angrier. 

 

The designs that are in reference to the original are applied so gracefully that it transforms the Abarth 124 Spider without making it into a bloated caricature.

 

The features that refer to the original include: 

✓ Dual indents on the hood

✓ Rounded-out light clusters

✓ Squared-off rear

 

In addition to the original 124 designs, the new Abarth 124 Spider also influences contemporary Italian designs.

 

It has the following features that have Italian design:

✓ Wheel arches

✓ Scoops mouth

✓ Rear light fittings

✓ Alloy wheel 

 

The Abarth 124 Spider also has quad-exhaust pipes that provide this car with an aggressive-looking rear. There is an oversized Abarth badge work on the nose and the car's boot lid. The vehicle also has Monza Edition, which comes in white paint and red headlights. The other option of colour includes red and black.

 

Abarth 124 Spider interior:

The inside of the Abarth 124 Spider breaks the tradition as on the inside, and there is not much done to differentiate the 124 from its MX-5 roots. The switchgear that it incorporates is all Mazda. 

 

The interior of the 124 is tight. The legroom upfront is too tight that a person with 128cm height has to adjust the clutch foot at an angle to avoid getting my knee smacked on the bottom of the steering wheel. This car is tough to clamber into. It has limited centre-console space, and the handbrake takes up plenty of room. 

 

As for the storage area, you would be a little disappointed. It has a tiny flip-up binnacle in the middle. This binnacle is shallow enough for storing a phone and nothing else. There is a slot under the air-conditioning controls that too is designed to keep phones. 

 

In addition to that, you will get two floating cup holders between the seats. There is a large storage area behind the cupholders, which can be accessed via a hatch opening. Other than that, there is no more room for storage. The doors do not have any storage area; you will miss out on the glove box too. 

 

Sitting in the car is comfortable as it fits like a glove in ergonomics. It has very supportive seats, and the wheel is low and nicely set. Also, while sitting, you can rest your elbows well in the centre. This allows your hand to lead easily towards the short-action shifter. Although the headroom is tight, this is what you can expect from such a small car. 

 

Coming to the boot space, it is better than everyone may expect. With the 124, you get 130 litres of boot space. The boot space that this car offers is no more than a weekender. Other than that, the Abarth 124 Spider has a repair kit and no spare. 

 

Abarth 124 Spider safety:

Currently, none of the models of  Abarth has an ANCAP safety rating. As for the safety rating, we can say that this car shares its most underpinnings with the MX-5 that scored a maximum five-star rating, in 2016 so the Spider will achieve a similar score. 

 

Coming to the safety features of the Abarth 124 Spider, you get the following: 

✓ Dual front and side airbags

✓ Active head restraints

✓ Seatbelt pre-tensioners 

✓ Active pedestrian protection

✓ Stability controls 

✓ Reversing camera

✓ Reversing sensors

 

In addition to the above, the visibility pack comes standard in the Monza edition adds the following safety features: 

✓ Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA)

✓ Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM)

 

It also lacks some of the essential safety features that include:

✓ Auto emergency braking (AEB)

✓ Active cruise 

✓ Lane-assist technologies

 

Abarth 124 Spider pricing:

The Abarth 124 Spider has a price range of  $29,400 – 38,500 based on third party pricing data.

 

Pros:

✓ The Abarth 124 Spider has a distinct look and feel

✓ It is a challenging but rewarding ride

✓ The Monza Edition has a glorious exhaust

 

Cons:

✓ It has got an annoying turbo-lag

✓ The cabin of the Abarth 124 Spider is too tight

✓ This car comes on the pricey end of the vehicles

 

The final verdict!

The Abarth 124 Spider is a tiny car with many flaws and dramatic looks. A person who goes for looks is in a good deal when it comes to this car. It is a perfect car if you want it for daily driving. Before purchasing this sort of old car, you must get to know all about its past. In order to know the hidden history of any car in Australia, use Quik Revs online platform. Our platform provides the necessary information at an affordable price. To learn more about services, visit our homepage now!