Fiat 124 Spider revealed – first pictures and details

The first images and details of the new Fiat 124 Spider convertible – which is making its debut at this week’s Los Angeles Motor Show – have emerged.

Based on the underpinnings of the MX-5, the 124 Spider gets new clothing and different engines, but the promise is it will be as appealing as its Japanese donor.

The new Fiat 124 Spider, designed at Centro Stile in Turin, Italy, borrows cues from the original 1966 Spider – widely considered one of Fiat’s most lovely cars of all time – and reinterprets them for today.

Our contact at Fiat SA says the company is considering the 124 Spider and the upcoming Abarth version for local release around mid-2016, but it’s unlikely that both versions will be released here.

Fiat has tried to mix elements of the original 124 Spider’s styling into the new car’s looks, without it becoming overtly retro. Is it worth a premium over the Mazda MX-5? It comes with more rounded headlights hosting the LED DRLs while at the back there are rectangular taillights also using light-emitting diodes. The roof is just as easy to use and those body-hugging seats seem very comfortable, so everything you like in the Miata you’ll likely find in the 124 Spider revival. A pretty enough vehicle, its unglamorous front-driven Punto underpinnings didn’t stand a chance of competing with the Mazda’s more classic rear-wheel drive configuration.

1979 The Spider’s transformation to an American model is complete; Fiat does a deal with GM to offer the firm’s three-speed automatic transmission.

1980 Fiat switches the 2.0-litre engine over to Bosch fuel injection and introduces a catalytic converter. Paying homage to the original that came about almost 50 years ago, the all-new open top Fiat is continuing the Italian marque’s product expansion in North America. The Italian design house brings the auto back to Europe, as well as continuing to sell it in the United States as the Spider Azzura. This is the same engine you get in the Fiat 500 Abarth, so you can expect good low-end power and a few delightful backfiring.