Fiat 124 Spider (2017)

Design

Designed at the Centro Stile of Turin, the new Fiat 124 Spider is a modern reinterpretation of a true legend, in addition to one of the most popular Fiats of all time: the original Spider from the 1960s. The iconic style of the 124 Spider, in fact, evokes some of the finishes of its forerunner, adapting them to the modern taste of the twenty-first Century. This is the story behind a model that has joined the Fiat range of contemporary cars that are linked closely to the tradition of the brand.

Exterior

With its slender, timeless silhouette, the Fiat 124 Spider features an attractive, classic and perfectly proportioned side panel, a low centre of gravity, a retracted passenger compartment and a long bonnet like a true sports car. A horizontal line rises from the front, stretches back and joins with the rear line near the rear light cluster: this is an unmistakable reference to the classic 124 Spider.

In the same way, the upper hexagonal grille was inspired by the exclusive form of the front air intakes on the historical model and recalls the honeycomb structure of the sporty grille on the legendary 124 Spider.

The original headlights together with the front hexagonal grille contribute to reasserting the car's bold personality. The lower grille is charming and just touched by the lid-shaped headlight surrounds. The front direction indicators and fog light covers add a dynamic touch and together make the front of the car truly unmistakable.

The "humps" on the bonnet emphasise the position of the engine and the power delivered: it is a reference to the second-generation 124 Spider, a vehicle which featured this type of structure. The exclusive LED headlights and rear lights add expressiveness to the car, both during the day and at night.

The rear end of the Fiat 124 Spider is characterised by two elements: the swallow-tail section rear wings and the horizontal rear lights which pick up particular features of the car's predecessor. The shape of the rear bumpers, with the upper surface jutting into the rear door, conveys a characteristic V-shape to the back of the car.

One significant detail lies in the rear lights, which form a ring-shaped luminous surface thanks to the body-coloured inserts. There are eight liveries to choose from: two pastel shades, Passione Red and Gelato White; five metallic shades, Vesuvio Black, Argento Grey, Moda Grey, Magnetico Bronze and Italia Blue; and the three-coat Ghiaccio White.

Further details which accommodate both technical and styling requirements include the built-in rear spoiler, which improves the aerodynamic load, and the double exhaust pipe, which emphasises the engine's performance capacity. Last but by no means least, the rear number plate is fitted in the middle of the rear lights, in pure original 124 Spider style.

Interior

All the interior has been set up with top-quality materials: leather for the seats, steering wheel and gear stick boot. Soft-touch materials for the upper dashboard and chrome-plated finishes make this new Fiat a prime example of Italian manufacturing excellence. The interiors of the 124 Spider are designed and built to ensure maximum on-board comfort. Moreover, the ergonomic design of the car was painstakingly designed and fine-tuned to ensure the perfect layout of pedals, steering wheel and transmission.

The exclusive design of the dashboard, with a glossy black or silver insert depending on the trim level, further enhances the soft-touch materials. The steering wheel was ergonomically designed to improve vehicle manoeuvrability, and is wrapped with high-quality leather. Also the light mesh structure seats and exclusive shape of the trim and foam parts were designed to guarantee the highest level of comfort. The door panels are made with high-quality, soft-touch materials and the chromed handle has a satin finish.

The instrument panel in front of the driver's seat has three indicators, including the centrally positioned rev counter, designed for sporty driving.

Engine, transmission and suspension

In the EMEA region, the Fiat 124 Spider is equipped with the reliable 1.4-litre turbo four-cylinder engine with MultiAir technology, which delivers 140 HP power (103 kW) and 240 Nm of torque. The engine has retained its distinguishing features: four cylinders in-line with an aluminium head, a 72 mm bore and an 84 mm stroke, for a total displacement of 1,368 cm3. The Fiat 124 Spider reaches a top speed of 215 km/h and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.5 seconds. The outstanding dynamism of the car is also achieved thanks to the rear-wheel drive, an extremely well-balanced weight distribution and a low centre of gravity.

Lightweight manual transmission for rapid and accurate gear shifts

The transmission in the 124 Spider comprises a 6-speed manual transmission with a compact and lightweight structure. The couplings are direct and fluid, and lever manoeuvrability is optimal. The selection of this type of transmission makes it possible to use a compact rear differential unit that increases efficiency while reducing fuel consumption. The clutch pedal was optimised to allow the driver to control the pickup phase precisely and make quick gear changes to maximise driving pleasure.

Suspension and steering devised for excellent driving dynamics

In the front, the new 124 Spider uses an elegant quadrilateral suspension, whereas the rear adopts a multilink architecture for total vehicle control in a curve. Thanks to the dual pinion electric power steering, the steering of the 124 Spider is light and reactive, and filters road stress. The interlocking applied directly on the rack ensures extremely precise command feedback, even when lateral accelerations are particularly high. The position of the steering column, together with the transmission ratio of the steering, guarantees a linear response that adapts to any driving style.

Technology & Infotainment

The new Fiat 124 Spider affords an extensive range of high-tech instruments, which enhance the sporty nature of the car and allow customers to stay connected and safe at all times.

The 124 Spider has a three-gauge instrument panel featuring a large rev counter in the middle, a speedometer on the right and a data display on the left allowing the driver to monitor all key driving information at a glance.

The new Fiat 124 Spider features easy-to-use infotainment systems. The 3.0" car radio, which is supplied as standard on both trim levels, includes an AM/FM radio, an MP3 player, a USB port, an AUX socket and 6 speakers. The infotainment system, which is optional for both trim levels, includes a 7" touchscreen display, AM/FM radio, HD Radio, MP3 player, two USB ports, auxiliary socket, six speakers, multimedia control and Bluetooth connectivity. The Lusso trim level also includes a rear camera and 3D navigation system.

Also included on the 7" system, voice recognition allows drivers to operate their mobile phone, music and navigation system hands-free, to stay focused on driving. Voice-text reply also allows drivers with a compatible mobile phone to reply to a text message using predefined responses.

Other available options include navigation. For superior sound quality even with the top down, a Bose premium sound system with nine speakers, including dual headrest speakers per seat and a subwoofer, is available.

For added entertainment, the system also provides drivers with access to App Aha and Stitcher Internet radio apps via Bluetooth connectivity.

Aha by Harman and Stitcher Radio

Aha makes it easy to access instantly more than 30,000 stations of audio content, including leading Internet music services, Internet radio, news, entertainment, audiobooks, Facebook and Twitter newsfeeds, weather and more. Stitcher Radio is an application that provides access to thousands of radio shows and podcasts streamed directly to devices without downloading or syncing. Recommended content is automatically selected by registering content added to Favourites.

Connected services

"Connected services" is a subscription package which makes every trip simpler and more comfortable. Specifically, it can be used to look for service stations and sort them by position or by price; it can receive traffic warnings, weather information and places of interest.

Safety

The new Fiat 124 Spider offers an extensive range of devices, both standard and optional, for active and passive safety. LED rear light clusters, four airbags and ABS are always supplied as standard, in addition to sophisticated stability control systems. Indeed, ESC increases the driver's vehicle control, allowing him or her to maintain a stable direction in all driving conditions. It is useful in critical situations, e.g. on corners and mixed surfaces in the presence of snow, ice and gravel. The ESC applies selective braking and acts on the accelerator to take the car back on line if a difference between the driver's action and trajectory is detected. Last but not least, EBD adjusts front and rear brake force distribution so as to optimise braking distances and control in all load conditions of the car.

The three-point seat belts, with pretensioners, fit Constant-Force Retractors (CFR) to control the degree of force applied by the belt onto the occupant and then gradually release it in a controlled manner. What's more, the active load limiters optimise chest protection depending on the weight in the case of impact.

The body is made with high-tensile materials, with dedicated structural elements designed specifically to warp and absorb energy in the event of impact, thereby improving protection for the occupants. The steering columns is designed for energy absorption, and the brake pedal is non-intrusive: all these solutions help reduce the extent of injuries in the event of an accident.

Other features make the driving experience at the wheel of the new Fiat 124 Spider truly comfortable. These include, for instance, the rear parking assistance system, ParkSense, which detects any objects at a standstill during reverse parking at low speed, and the rear camera, which provides a wide-angle view of the area immediately behind the vehicle. There are also systems available, such as Keyless Entry designed to open the car and start the engine while keeping your car keys in your pocket, as well as light and rain sensors.

Lastly, you can also order a voice-controlled infotainment system that allows the driver to use a Bluetooth-compatible phone while keeping their hands firmly on the steering wheel and without taking their eyes off the road. The first time the Bluetooth and phone are paired, the phone directory is downloaded automatically and synchronised. Subsequently, contacts can simply be selected by saying the corresponding name out loud. The system also allows the driver to select one of the radio modes available, and to tune in to AM/FM stations and digital radio.

124 Spider

The 124 Spider trim level includes a double exhaust pipe, roll-bar with black finish, in addition to body-coloured pillar and door handles. The car comes standard with 16" alloy wheel rims, as well as black fabric seat upholstery, halogen headlights, LED rear light clusters and cruise control. Inside, the soft-touch materials used on the dashboard are embellished by a silver-finish trim.

Lusso

The Lusso trim level adds the following extras to the 124 Spider version: 17" alloy wheel rims, silver-coloured front pillar and roll-bar, chrome-plated double exhaust pipe and fog lights as standard. The exclusive interior includes black or tobacco coloured leather seat upholstery, upholstered lower dashboard and dashboard lip with visible stitching and automatic climate control.

Both trim levels include 4 airbags, MP3 radio with USB port and four speakers, leather steering wheel, cruise control, start button and Keyless Go function.