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A classic Roadster: Long hood, short rear, Spartan features, a bone-dry chassis and above all one - Rear-wheel drive! In addition, a crisp manual gear and a sound that makes it immediately clear that this is a real fun mobile. Well, the Abart 124 Spider fulfills almost all of these attributes. Only with the crisp manual transmission is not far away: Although the small Italian Roadster comes in war paint as standard with a great hand control box, but the test car had an automatic. "FAIL!", Many will scream. But is this really the case in times of the popular DSG and almost perfectly working machines?
Design - Little Rambo
Well that the Fiat 124 Spider - So the basis for the Abarth 124 Spider - vom Mazda MX-5 has been explained many times. What is the name Abarth all about? That is quite simple: The particularly sporty models from Fiat obey these traditionally sporty names. It's the same with Abarth 595 the case. Accordingly, the sporty Italian roadster is called Abarth 124 Spider.
And you can see this sportiness right away - even in spite of the gray paint that covers most of the body parts. Before the test car arrived, the image of a white spider was imprinted in the head, which was refined with red and black elements. But then F-PR 8215 rolled up and with it a gray Abarth 124 Spider. Not bad, as the “Portogallo” gray looks great on the roadster. It's just a shame that the test car drove up without the matt black bonnet, which also looks good on it and is a pleasant reminiscence of its forefather, the Fiat Abarth 124 Sport Spider. But even without it, the little roadster turns the heads of people in the immediate vicinity. There is no traffic light at which you don't get the looks of pedestrians or the occupants of an average station wagon driver. And when you then step through the gas when the green light comes on…. More on that later.
Further in the design context: The war paint looks attention-grabbing, but it suits the Abarth 124 Spider. The middle part of the front spoiler lip, the exterior mirror housings and the tow hook cover are kept in eye-catching red and promise right from the start that there are a little more Cavallos slumbering under the hood than on the not at all slow brother Fiat 124 Spider. On the sidelines, the color motif is used less often, only to be found on the pistons of the Brembo brake system. You are slumbering behind gray-painted 17-inch rims, which could easily be a size larger to the eye. In general: The optics would add a little more depth, since the so-called "wheel gap" is definitely present. But tastes are known to be different.
The tail section is also a bit more subdued: you will not find any splashes of color here in vain. Only the four-pipe exhaust system promises what kind of sounds the Abart 124 Spider is capable of spitting. Nice highlight, which unfortunately goes down a bit in the cool gray: The painted in body color panels, which are attached to the grim taillights. And the Spider looks grimly not only from behind, but also at the front: The pointed headlights look like aggressive eyes fought to fight. Especially when the LED daytime running lights shine - Gorgeous!
Interior: The Abarth 124 Spider fits like a tight leather glove
Anyone who has ever sat in a Mazda MX-5, will also be in the Fiat 124 Spider - pardon - find your way in the Abarth 124 Spider. Especially as the controls have been deliberately reduced. Except for a steering wheel, gear knob and a few pedals, there is not much. You look at two pretty, pleasant analogue, instruments and has everything under control. The central arrangement of the tachometer, which is highlighted in red, emphasizes the athletic claim of the Italian with Japanese roots. It takes some getting used to the speedometer in 30er steps - but there are worse God knows.
Such as the equipment with shelves, which are sparsely sown in the Spider. Door shelves? No, scusi! A glove box? Niente! You have to see where to put your belongings. For example, there is the problem of whether to place his sunglasses case - an important item in a Spider - or his smartphone in the small compartment of the center console. Sure, there is a small, lockable compartment between the backrests. To achieve this, you have to be acrobatic. And the compartment under the center armrest, which is nicely decorated with Alcantara and evil scorpion embossing, is negligible. At the very most, the vehicle documents fit in here.
It is a good keyword at all. With a height of 1,91 m and the figure that does not exactly correspond to that of an elf, one can worry whether getting in and taking a seat will not be an ordeal. And a joke for outsiders. But nothing there. Sure, the door cutout is small with the roof closed. But God, we're talking about a puristic roadster! So throw the roof back with one swing of the arm, rejoice in the space you have to board and just throw it into the crunchy sports seats. They nestle well against stronger natures, offer pleasant lateral support and can be retracted far enough so that the legs can be stretched out. At least on the driver's side. And so you are happy that everything is as appropriate as if it were built around the pilot. The steering wheel is full in the hand (... and could have been covered with Alcantara ...), the gear knob finds its way into the hand and the start button is just waiting to be pressed. Infotainment? Yes, there is also. It works. Well, actually. But who cares, after all, this is about a small driving machine!
Driving impressions - roof off and have fun!
The way to a permanent grin is very easy: open the roof, ignite the engine, accelerate! So, one after the other. The roof is easily unlocked using a handle above the interior mirror and is open within three seconds. By the way, it closes just as quickly if it unexpectedly rains. Step two could take a little longer: Igniting the engine. It could be that simple. You press the start button and that's it. But the goose bumps and the almost debilitating grin that lingers on the face, especially after a cold start, need time to subside. Of the small 1.4 liter turbo engine roars so loudly that the pretty Leonardo glasses fall out of the showcase of the elderly neighbor. How Abarth managed to get this nasty exhaust system through the TÜV - a mystery. But whatever, the Abarth 124 Spider spits so badly that you have no choice but to give it up.
And that works amazingly well! The automatic converter shifts quickly and cleanly, it just gets a bit hectic at times. With the paddle shifters on the steering wheel, you always have them under control, albeit with a slightly longer reaction time. So far everything is ok. Only this type of circuit does not fit the character of the wild Italian at all. But Fiat submitted to the cooperation with Chrysler, so that the small, radical roadster is also spreading in the USA. And the USA is - as we all know - an automatic country. For our realms, the six-speed gearbox is the one with Fiat 124 Spider already so nice and crisp and direct, so clearly the recommendation.
By the way, you can also recommend getting up early. Best for the sunrise. Only then are the streets still empty and you can give the Abarth 124 Spider really the spurs, as it demands of one. And he does it all the time. The roof always finds its way behind the head restraints, even at seven degrees outside temperature, so that you can listen to the bubbling of the four-pipe exhaust system unfiltered. The throttle response is direct, the automatic shifts down quickly to keep the boost of the small 1.4er turbos high and the creamy steering splits curves making it a glory.
The suspension is not even overly dry, but springs - especially at higher tempi - coarse out well. At slow speeds, the vote is happy to share more details of the flooring, but just to the extent that one is surprised that no more blows. So you can indeed award the Abarth 124 Spider everyday practicality. And when you duck something with 1,91 m, the wind simply fly over your head, without causing too much turbulence.
If you let it rattle and - we remember - that wants the Italian bully, then like to pull a storm through the interior. Up to 100 km / h, which can be reached in 6,9 seconds when needed, turbulence is limited. And even at low motorway speeds, up to about 130 km / h, you do not have to resort directly to the headgear. But woe, if he let go. At the specified maximum speed of 222 km / h, such a hurricane pulls through the interior, causing the eyes to tears. This speed can only be achieved with a little start. Up to 210 km / h, the little Abarth has no problem, after all, he is a lightweight. But it gets very tough - and loud. But we also speak of a 1.4 liter Motörchen. And the main application of the Abarth 124 is not the highway. No, it's the small, winding country roads whose curves you've known for decades. Their radius is always trying to perfect. That's why this spider is a good tool.
Conclusion - a laughing, a crying eye
At the end of the trial, there remains an ambiguous impression of the Abarth 124 Spider. First, it is the automatic, which does not quite fit the unwavering character of the roadster. On the other hand, he could well tolerate a little more power - chassis and chassis are loosely suited for it. And the tank should be bigger. With a test consumption of absolutely adequate 8,5 liters on 100 km - with brisk gait - the Tank ratz fatz empties empty. And otherwise? The crisp steering, the well-balanced suspension and the bubbling sound remain in the marrow. There are few cars that manage to spray so much open-mindedness. So few people who get out of bed on Sundays at six o'clock, in order to "just take bread rolls". And so few people get excited about the traffic lights, like the Abarth 124 Spider. Unfortunately, his price of about 40.000 Euro in the base is pretty steep, so he will probably remain a rare candidate on our roads. A pity, Bello! Arrivederci, you aggressive scorpion!
