Fiat has officially launched the 124 Spider in the UK. This new Mazda MX-5-based sports car has been introduced nearly half a century after the original 124 was announced. Prices for the 124 Spider start at £19,545 (Rs 18.87 lakh) for the Classica version, with the Lusso model priced at £22,295 (Rs 21.47 lakh) and the top-spec Lusso Plus trim £1,000 more at £23,295 (Rs 22.44 lakh).
The 124 Spider takes inspiration from the original model in looks and detailing. In profile, its a classic roadster, with its long wheelbase, a cockpit hunkered low near the rear axle and a long bonnet.
The long bonnet has a bulge in the centre with power domes on both sides. The nose is inspired from the original model with the positioning of the LED headlamps and the hexagonal upper grille.
The rear-end is defined by two main features: the rear wings, the upper surface of which flows inward toward the deck-lid, and the sharp horizontal tail lamps with their distinctive ring shape.
Inside, the steering wheel is wrapped with high-quality leather while the door panels are trimmed with soft-touch materials with satin-chrome elements.
Three trim levels will be offered in the UK with the base car getting four airbags, air conditioning, cruise control, 16-inch alloy wheels, keyless engine start and infotainment system with Bluetooth connectivity.
The top-spec variant, on the other hand, gets rear parking camera, 17-inch alloy wheels, fog lamps, keyless entry, chrome exhaust tips, adaptive LED headlamps and a 9-speaker sound system.
Under the 124 Spider’s long bonnet sits a 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 140hp and 240Nm of torque to the rear wheels via six-speed manual gearbox and compact rear differential.
The 124 Spider accelerates from 0-100kmph in 7.5 seconds and has a top speed of 215kmph. The MX-5, on the other hand, gets 1.6 and 2-litre engine options.
Now that its officially launched, the Fiat 124 Spider competes with other performance-focused two-door models like Mazda MX-5 and the Toyota GT-86.
