Abarth 124 Spider 2016 review - pictures

Aiming to combine simple old-school sports car charm with serious performance, Abarth has gone for a full body makeover on this faster version of the Fiat 124 Spider.

<p class="p1">The partnership with Mazda can be seen on the interior, with the same dash, controls and infotainment system being seen in both the Fiat and Abarth 124 Spiders. However, there is more of an upmarket feel in the Abarth wit

<p class="p1">The first thing you notice when you press the starter button is the noise. Touch the throttle and you'll hear a deep-bowled engine noise, compared to the almost wheezy-sounding start-up of the MX-5 and the Fiat 124 Spider

<p class="p1">The price for the Abarth 124 Spider starts at £29,565, and features the same 1.4-litre turbo petrol that can be found in the Fiat, although the Abarth has 168bhp with a top speed of 143 mph.&nbsp;</p>

<p class="p1">With performance figures of 0-62 mph in 6.7 seconds, the Abarth 12 Spider is one second quicker than the 2.0 MX-5 and eight tenths faster than the Fiat.</p>

<p class="p1">Compared to the MX-5, the steering gets revised mapping, and offers plenty of feedback with pin-point accuracy. There is good grip, and if you're brave enough there's plenty of fun to be had, although the rear wheels can

<p class="p1">The six-speed manual which comes as standard fits with the Abarth 124 Spider's fun character.&nbsp;</p>

The six-speed paddle-shift auto lets the Abarth down as the gearbox takes its time to switch ratios when changing up or down, and especially when making multiple down changes during a brake for a tight corner.

<p class="p1">The new meaner-looking front and rear bumpers, 17-inch alloys and the no-cost option of the Heritage Look pack, make the Abarth 124 Spider look retro and arguably more attractive than the Fiat version.</p>