Abarth Edition

When Americans think of Fiats, they think most often of the Pininfarina-designed roadsters that represented the brand from the mid-1960s into the 1980s. In 2017, Fiat resumed manufacture of the 124 Spider in an updated guise.

The outcome was a joint project with Mazda. The interior and many components of the Fiat are shared with the Miata/MX-5, and both are built in Japan. The Fiat, however, has styling reminiscent of its namesake and a Fiat turbocharged engine built in Italy. There is a base, a lusso (luxury) edition, and the Fiat 124 Spider Abarth, with mild sport tuning, 168 hp, and aggressive looks.  One big difference in the new car: while the vintage Fiat had back seats suitable for kids, the new car is a pure two-seater.

In March of 2017, I took my Fiat 500 Abarth in to Safford Fiat of Tysons Corner for service, and this Spider was coming off the truck, having been at the DC Auto show that weekend. The staff teased me that I really should trade up. I returned on a rainy last day of the month and accepted their offer on my beloved little hatchback. I have found this car to be a delightful daily driver over the past 35,000 miles, very easy to live with and inexpensive to run (it frequently gets above 40 MPG in sport mode on the highway, and well into the 30s around town). It has the easiest top to put up and down ever -- you can do it with one hand at 10 mph. Since the Abarth model has Abarth badges, and no Fiat ones, people ask often what it is. I was saddened to learn recently that Fiat is discontinuing the Spider 124 after the 2021 model year. With a short five-year run, this unusual international auto should be a solid future collectible.