2017 Fiat 124 Spider: A Classic Performance Roadster

The most purchased roadster on the market today is the Mazda Miata MX-5 for many reasons. This car is fun, its quick and it drives in such a way to give you the feeling you had when you drove many years ago. While the Miata is admirable, taking a step up to a car that has more style, a classic heritage and comes from a brand that has been known to make some of the best roadsters in the world is a choice many of us want to make. This is where the Fiat 124 Spider comes in and is able to make its mark on the world as the Italian roadster we want to drive.

Driving is meant to take place in many settings and on an open road. The romance of driving is never more present than it is in the new Fiat 124 Spider. As a gorgeous convertible with Italian style it’s easy for you to imagine yourself behind the wheel of this little car with the top down on a warm night in the summer. Look up and you see a clear sky that ends only at the horizon that is the end of the road you’re driving on to give you the feeling of wonderment on the open road.

The 124 Spider has some features that set it apart, other than the style of the car. One of those is the convertible top that can be easily raised and lowered with one hand in only a few seconds. Because its and easy to operate manual top you won’t have to think about whether to drive with the top down, that will be your preferred way to drive. As odd as it may sound, when the top is up the cabin is extremely quiet in this car. Using an acoustic windshield and sound insulation the 124 Spider is the perfect car for long road trips across the country.

On the inside this roadster features piano black accents, leather trim and a look that lets you know it’s from an Italian automaker. You will love the gauges and systems presented to you as you feel in control of one of the best looking cars on the market. Speaking of looks, the exterior offers you the classic style of a great roadster from the 1960s with modern accents to make this a car everyone will watch roll down the road.

You do only get one engine with the 124 Spider and it brings in more power than the other roadster on the market. This engine is a 1.4-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine that makes 160 horsepower and 184 lb.-ft. of torque. When you choose the Abarth trim, the power is increased to 164 horsepower for a little more push. There are two transmissions offered, both are six-speed setups and one is manual while the other automatic. With the manual you will enjoy 26 city/35 hwy mpg and when the automatic is your choice the numbers are 25 city/36 hwy mpg for you to have the fuel mileage you want for more fun on the road.

Even though the convertible top is manually operated, there are plenty of modern features for this car. The standard version brings you push button start, cloth seats, 16-inch wheels, air conditioning, a four-speaker audio system, Bluetooth connectivity and four airbags. Moving up to the Lusso trim you add 17-inch wheels, heated leather seats, a Letherette dashboard, automatic climate controls and keyless entry. Moving to the top at the Abarth level you add a sport suspension, a limited slip differential and other aggressive features for the sportier drive.

Options for this FIAT include the Technology Collection which brings in the seven-inch infotainment screen, a rearview camera and keyless entry. In the Lusso or Abarth trims, you can enjoy add-ons such as rear parking sensors, a navigation system, adaptive headlights, rear cross path detection, blind spot warning and a nine-speaker Bose audio system. The Abarth trim is the only one that will give you Recaro sport seats with Alcantara leather along with Brembo brakes if you want the highest performance level you can have.

It’s time to make driving fun again and the Fiat 124 Spider is the car that will only allow fun from behind the wheel, stop on by and pick up your new roadster today and start enjoying the drive once again.