Abarth 124 Spider 2019 review

When you take on the classics, you better do it right.

That's why back in 2016, when Fiat launched the new 124, many raised their eyebrows in surprise.

The original was an icon of the late 1960s, the golden age of the roadster. Designed by Pininfarina, it also exuded Italian swagger and, to top it off, its double overhead cam engine (state of the art at the time) helped introduce a number of innovations to the Italian automotive scene.

Even 50 years later, those old boots looked awfully hard to tuck in, and the complexity and demands of today's economy have forced Fiat to work with Mazda to use their MX-5 chassis and manufacturing facility in Hiroshima to get it right.

parody? Some, maybe. But the MX-5 was once aimed to emulate the cars of the golden era of the original 124 and has been a runaway success ever since, perhaps with a few mistakes.

In this way, the student became the master. So, does today's version of the 124, which we only get in Australia's angry Abarth spec, bring anything new to the ultra-refined roadster formula for 2019? Is it more than just an MX-5 engineered under a badge?

I took the Abarth 124 - Monza's latest limited edition - for a week to find out.

Abarth 124 2019: Spider
Safety Rating	-
engine's type	1.4 L turbo
fuel type	Premium unleaded gasoline
Fuel efficiency	6.7l / 100km
Landing	2 Places
Price from	$30,800

Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 7/10

I should make this clear at the outset, this edition of the Monza is an ultra-limited edition of just 30 cars available in Australia. We had number 26, handmade at $46,950.

It's expensive, but not outrageous. An equivalent high-spec manual version of the MX-5, such as the (GT 2.0 Roadster), costs $42,820. Looking beyond Hiroshima, you can also buy either the manual transmission Toyota 86 GTS Performance ($39,590) or the manual transmission Subaru BRZ tS ($40,434) for less.

So, Abarth is the most expensive of the limited set of options. Luckily, it offers a bit more than just Italian spunk and some huge scorpion badges.

Every car comes standard with 17-inch gunmetal alloy wheels, a 7.0-inch touchscreen with Mazda's pretty good MZD software (but no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto support), a Bose premium audio system, heated front seats, and an entrance keyless with a button. start button.

The Model 124's 17-inch alloy wheels come in only one design, but they look fantastic. (Image credit: Tom White)

In terms of performance, each car is equipped with four-piston Brembo front brakes, Bilstein suspension and a mechanical limited-slip differential.

The Monza edition adds the normally optional ($1490) Abarth red and black leather seats with contrast stitching, as well as a Visibility Pack ($2590) consisting of steering-responsive full-LED front lighting, rear parking sensors, and a camera. like headlight washers. The package also adds items to this car's rather limited safety kit, which we'll talk about later.

These specific locations are usually on the options list. (Image credit: Tom White)

In particular, this edition finally gives the 124 the exhaust system it deserves, with the neatly named "Record Monza" system, which uses a mechanically actuated valve to make the 1.4-liter turbo engine bark and spit out a goofy smile-inducing manner.

Every 124 should have this system, it adds some much-needed drama to the engine sound without being as obnoxiously loud as something like the outgoing AMG A45.

Mazda's sleek and simple infotainment system appears, but phone connectivity is missing. (Image credit: Tom White)

Of course, the Abarth isn't as crazy-specified as some of today's run-of-the-mill SUVs. But that's not the point, it's what this car is worth, it has just about everything you really need and certainly more than an 86 or BRZ, which helps justify the extra cash.

Is there anything interesting about its design? 8/10

I love how the 124 looks. The more you study its small frame, the more you discover how different it is from its MX-5 counterpart.

It's meaner. It's prettier and definitely more Italian.

At least on the outside, the 124 is more than just a rebadged MX-5. (Image credit: Tom White)

The references to the original are tastefully applied without turning it into an overblown caricature. These include double notches on the hood, rounded headlights and a boxy rear end.

From there, it goes beyond the original 124 and seems to take influence from contemporary Italian design. I'd say there's more to this car's stiff wheel arches, bulge, taillights and alloy wheel design than just a modern Maserati.

The quad tailpipes (actually just two four-hole tailpipes) may be overkill, but add a bit of extra aggression to the rear of this car. I'm not a fan of the huge Abarth badges on the bow and stern of this car. It takes a bit of subtlety out of the equation, and the one on the trunk lid is completely unnecessary.

It goes a little too far in some places, but overall it looks great. (Image credit: Tom White)

I would also say that our Monza Edition test car looks best with white paint and red highlights. It is also available in red and black.

The inner part breaks the illusion a bit. I'd say not enough has been done to distinguish the 124 from its MX-5 roots. This is all Mazda switchgear.

Of course, there is nothing wrong with this switchgear. It's well built and ergonomic, but I wish there was something different here. Fiat 500 steering wheel… some switches that look cool but barely work properly… A little more Italian personality that is so well expressed on the outside…

There are too many Mazda inside. It works very well, but hardly has its own personality. (Image credit: Tom White)

The seats are unique to the Abarth and are beautiful, with red highlights running through them to the dashboard and wheel seams. The Monza version has the official logo of the famous Italian circuit between the seats with the build number engraved on it.

How practical is the interior space? 6/10

When it comes to evaluating practicality, it's fair to compare such a car to its direct competitors. Such a sports car can never compete with a hatchback or SUV in terms of practicality.

However, like the MX-5, the Abarth 124 is cramped inside. I fit inside it perfectly, but there are problems.

There is very little legroom for me with a height of 182cm. I had to adjust to having my clutch tab at an angle or I would hit my knee on the bottom of the steering wheel, which also makes it hard to climb this car. The handbrake takes up a lot of space in the limited space of the center console, but what about storage in the cabin? You can also forget about it.

The low-set handlebar is good, but limits the driver's legroom. (Image credit: Tom White)

In the center there is a tiny flip-up binnacle, small enough for maybe a phone and nothing else, a slot under the air conditioning controls, apparently designed specifically for phones, and two floating cup holders between the seats.

There is no glove box in the doors, as well as a glove compartment. You get quite a lot of storage space behind the cup holders, accessible through the hatch opening, but it's a little awkward to use.

However, once you get in, this car fits like a glove in terms of ergonomics. The steering wheel is nice and low, the seats are surprisingly comfortable, and the elbow is nicely centered, guiding your hand towards the excellent short-acting shifter. There isn't a lot of headroom, no matter how you trim it, but it's such a small car that you wouldn't expect much more.

How about a boot? It's better than you might hope, but with only 130 liters on offer, it's still no more than a weekend getaway. It's also smaller than the Toyota 86/BRZ (223L), which also has rear seats close at hand, no matter how small.

The trunk is limited, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that there is even so much space in it. (Image credit: Tom White)

No spares to be found. 124 only has a repair kit.

What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 7/10

Unlike the MX-5 and 86/BRZ combos that offer a choice of naturally aspirated engines, the 124 forges its own path by dropping Fiat's 1.4-liter turbocharged MultiAir four-cylinder engine under the hood.

Italian flair and flaws are inherent in Fiat's 1.4-litre turbocharged engine. (Image credit: Tom White)

The word "turbo" should rightfully alert you in a car of this size, but it's hardly a high-performance unit compared to its non-turbo counterparts.

Power output is set at 125kW/250Nm. This power figure may seem a bit low compared to the new 2.0-liter MX-5 (135kW/205Nm) and 86 (152kW/212Nm), but the extra torque is welcome. This comes at a price, which we will explore in the driving section of this review.

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How much fuel does it consume? 7/10

The 124 has a bold official combined fuel consumption figure of 6.4L/100km, which I far exceeded. At the end of my week (including some really mixed highway and city driving) I landed at 8.5L/100km, which was exactly on this car's "urban" rating, so take that as a realistic figure.

It's also less than what I expect from the 86 and possibly the MX-5, so overall it's not that bad.

I've beaten the official fuel consumption figures, but that's within the range of what you'd expect from a car like this. (Image credit: Tom White)

The Fiat turbo engine requires unleaded gasoline with at least 95 octane to fill the 45 liter tank.

What is it like to drive? 9/10

I was driving Route 124 on the New South Wales Old Pacific Highway from Hornsby to Gosford at dusk on a Saturday. Talk about the right car at the right place at the right time.

He was completely in his element, racing around the tight hairpins, then blasting out the straights, giving the short derailleur a thorough workout. This new exhaust added 150% to the spectacle as each aggressive downshift was accompanied by crackling, hissing and barking.

It's an absolute joy, the right nod to what cars were like in the good old days of Sunday driving, and thus the right nod to the history of the 124.

Few things compare to a shorty, small rear wheel drive car with the roof down on a good day. (Image credit: Tom White)

And, of course, it has flaws. However, many of them fall into the subjective category for such a vehicle.

Let's take an engine for example. I've heard endless critiques of him as slow and annoying. And this. Shift into the wrong gear and rev too low, and no matter how hard you push on the accelerator, you'll be stuck fighting a mountain of lag. Really. Few seconds.

Even trying to climb the steep road, I was worried that the car would just stall in first gear.

It's a bit odd, but when you're on the open road it's worth enjoying the challenge it offers. Shift into the wrong gear and this car will let you know how stupid you are. And yet, when you do it right, it produces a wave of straight-line excitement that is arguably a lot more dramatic than an MX-5 or 86.

Another problem is the speedometer. It is tiny and has an increment of 30 km/h to 270 km/h. How fast was I driving, officer? No idea. I have about two inches to tell if I'm moving between 30 and 90, so one can only guess.

The clear advantage of the MX-5's chassis is its kart-like handling, and the excellent, quick, direct steering seems to be unaffected, too. Sure, the suspension is a little wobbly and the convertible chassis is a little rattling, but that's all because it's so much closer to the road. It would be hard to find a better transmission with its fast, short action and reasonable gear ratios.

Ultimately, the 124 is just (literally) old fashioned weekend fun offering a challenging yet rewarding ride.

Warranty and safety rating

Basic Warranty

3 years / 150,000 km


guarantee

What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 6/10

No Abarth model has a current ANCAP safety rating, although the MX-5, with which this car shares most of its fundamentals, has the highest five-star rating as of 2016.

In terms of features, you get dual front and side airbags, "active head restraints", seat belt pretensioners and what's called "active pedestrian protection". Also present is a standard set of stability controls, a rear-view camera and sensors.

There's no automatic emergency braking (AEB, which has now become an ANCAP requirement), active cruise, or any lane-keeping assist technologies, but the "Visibility Pack" standard in the Monza version adds rear cross-traffic alert (RCTA) and blind-spot monitoring. (BSM).

Four airbags and rudimentary active safety are a disappointment, but probably not something that this car's target audience will particularly care about.

How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided? 6/10

Too bad the 124 is only offered from Abarth with a three year 150,000 km warranty. Its MX-5 counterpart is now offered with a five-year unlimited promise, and Fiat could really get some positive warranty coverage right now.

Unfortunately, the 124 has a limited warranty, even compared to its MX-5 counterpart, and there's the question of maintenance costs. (Image credit: Tom White)

You will need to service 124 times a year or every 15,000 km. Limited service price? Ha. In Abarth, apparently, this is not the case. You're on your own.

Verdict

The Abarth 124 Spider is an imperfect yet dramatic little machine that should bring a smile and a big, thick Italian mustache to the face of any weekend warrior.

As long as you don't expect it to do much more in terms of its day to day driving capabilities, it makes for a great alternative to the well thought out MX-5 formula.

Whether he comes from Hiroshima or not, it doesn't matter. His ancestors would have been proud.

Now if only they all had a great Monza Edition exhaust...

Would you ever prefer an Abarth 124 MX-5, 86 or BRZ? Tell us why or why not in the comments below.