2017 Abarth 124 Spider road test review

Think of this as a cover version of a hit song.

While there's nothing quite like the original, from time to time an artist manages to take another's work and lend it a new dimension, not necessarily for better or worse, but simply as a means of expression - to put their stamp on an established theme.

Few cars can claim to be as successful as Mazda's MX-5, an iconic car that has found more than one million customers around the world. The recipe is simple; a lightweight structure, classic rear-wheel-drive architecture and willing but by no means overpowered engine wrapped in a delicate and stylish package.

The fourth-generation MX-5 represents not only a return to form for Mazda, but a new opportunity for Fiat, which offers its own take on the roadster package. Built in Hiroshima alongside the MX-5, the new Abarth 124 Spider brings retro-themed styling, a more powerful engine and tauter underpinnings that create a point of difference for the Italian brand.

What you get

That said, this roadster is about as Italian as Australian F1 star Daniel Ricciardo. While its Latin heritage extends beyond the name into its turbocharged heart, the Abarth is fundamentally Japanese. And that's a good thing, particularly if you factor in Fiat Chrysler's patchy record for quality.

The current-generation MX-5 is an impressive car, a return to the badge's iconic roots and an excellent value proposition with a price kept in check by the minimalist ethos of its creators.

Unlike its Japanese cousin, which is available in two trim lines and with a choice of 1.5 or 2.0-litre engines, the Abarth is available as one model with a 1.4-litre engine in one relatively well-specified trim.

Based on the upper-level MX-5 GT, the Abarth is priced from $41,990 plus on-road costs in manual form, though early adopters benefit from sharper launch pricing pegged at $43,500 drive-away.

That money brings 17-inch alloy wheels, a 7-inch touchscreen display, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gearknob, climate and cruise control systems and more.

Enthusiasts will be pleased to see large monoblock Brembo brake calipers up front, as well as Bilstein sports suspension, a raspy sports exhaust and the standard fitment of a limited slip differential in manual and automatic models, something the MX-5 can't match.

Safety is accounted for by a fairly basic set of four airbags and electronic stability control, but more modern aids such as cross traffic detection and blind spot monitoring are available as a new Vision Pack. A six-speed automatic transmission is available for a further $2000, while sporty Recaro seats are also an optional extra.

What's inside

There's little wrong with the standard seats, which help mould you into a purposefully sporty driving posture few convertibles can match. The steering wheel sits high in front of you, and while there's a disappointing dearth of adjustment in the steering column, the basics are spot on. This is a car built for drivers, by drivers, with well-sorted pedal placement and one of the best gearshift mechanisms on the road.

That said, the Abarth's cabin is not for everyone. While some may welcome the cacooning, cockpit-like environment offered here, others may find it claustrophobic, particularly if they are more than six feet tall.

Fiat's design team also seem to have exhausted their budget on the car's heritage-themed exterior, as the inside of the car is almost identical to its Japanese cousin - save for an Abarth scorpion badge on the steering wheel's airbag cover. Like the MX-5, there are clever little touches such as removable cupholders that can be positioned near the driver's left hand or elbow, a nine-speaker Bose stereo that includes speakers set within headrests - a convenience when taking phone calls on the road - and an elegantly simple manual roof mechanism that can be operated with one hand.

Mazda's MZD Connect infotainment system makes another appearance here, and though it's better than the UConnect unit normally offered by the Fiat Chrysler clan, it's not quite as impressive as rival displays that feature Apple CarPlay connectivity.

Under the bonnet

The main point of difference between the Mazda and Fiat lies under the bonnet, where Fiat has tossed aside the Japanese marque's naturally aspirated four-cylinder engines normally found in the Mazda2 and Mazda3 in favour of a turbocharged engine that usually does duty for the Fiat 500-based Abarth 595 hatchback.

Offering up 125kW and 250Nm - 7kW and 44Nm than the 2.0-litre Mazda - Abarth's 1.4-litre motor has punchy mid-range torque that makes it feel much stronger than the MX-5 in everyday driving.

Able to hit 0-100km/h in 6.8 seconds, the Abarth doesn't feel that much quicker than the Mazda when you work it hard, as the little 1.4-litre engine gives its best at just 5500rpm - well before the Mazda reaches its peak power.

Some drivers will prefer the zinging, free-revving nature of the MX-5, while others will gravitate toward the comparatively effortless torque of the Abarth. There's no right or wrong choice here, except to say that the introduction of a turbocharged engine hasn't transformed the roadster experience as much as we expected.

We tested the Abarth in manual form, where its beefed-up gearbox needed just a tad more muscle than the buttery shift of Mazda's alternative. Abarth's claimed 6.7L/100km fuel figure proved tricky to match in the real world, where - as with many turbo engines - making the most of its performance returned fuel figures closer to 10.0L/100km.

How it drives

That's not surprising, as this is a car that makes you want to drive.

Tiresome in traffic thanks to its low off-boost torque and overbearing exhaust note, the Abarth is not the sort of car we would recommend for the everyday grind.

But the little roadster is sensational when given its head, offering playful dynamics that represent a return to the lightweight, rear-wheel-drive dynamics of old.

It has a tauter suspension tune than the Mazda, with less body roll to telegraph exactly how much you are asking of its tyres. The steering feels a touch meatier too, lending a blokier driving experience that feels more like a performance car than the softer, comparatively delicate Mazda.

Beautifully balanced, the Abarth leans toward oversteer when pushed, bringing its tail into play in a similar fashion to the praiseworthy Toyota 86 coupe. It's a joy on the right roads, and our day spent filming the roadster on greasy country roads won't be forgotten easily.

This is the best driver's Fiat in many years, one that should prove to be a rewarding companion for enthusiasts in years to come.

Verdict

The Abarth 124 Spider is not a Mazda MX-5, and that's fine by us. The Italian-branded version has a character of its own, an element of edgy charm and naughtiness not present in its Japanese cousin.

It's not better or worse than the MX-5 - in my opinion, at least - just different. It's a cover version that takes you on a different journey to the original recording, yet is one that somehow leads you to a very similar destination.

2017 Abarth 124 Spider pricing and specifications:

Price: From $43,500 drive-away

Engine: 1.4-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol   

Power: 125kW at 5500rpm

Torque: 250Nm at 2500rpm

Transmission: Six-speed manual, rear-wheel-drive

Fuel use: 6.7L/100km