More on the new spider....

[toplessexpat]

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/fiat/90395 ... fiats-mx-5

Mrs Topless has already suggested we put down the $ and choose a color as soon as possible

[KevAndAndi]

It doesn't look like a Fiat Spider. Isn't the whole point of reintroducing a model that you pay homage to the earlier version? Otherwise, why not just give it some other name?

[Tobi]

It doesn't look like a Fiat Spider. Isn't the whole point of reintroducing a model that you pay homage to the earlier version? Otherwise, why not just give it some other name?

Agreed, they could call it Mazda MX 5. This is disappointing after seeing all the other previews over the years.

[bradartigue]

Looks like a Japanese car. Oh, it is. I can't wait to see all the rubes putting huge exhausts on them (sigh).

Most people who have a memory of the 124 Spider don't have a very good memory of it; I'm not sure what nostalgia they are marketing to. I guess if you enjoyed having the engine fall out because the dealer never followed the service procedures is nostalgia then they'll corner a market.

Then again they managed to market the FIAT 500 - a car no one remembers to begin with - into a car some people buy.

[mscafide]

I think if they were going to pay homage to the 124 Spider they would have made it resemble the original as they did with the 500. Not many in the U.S. would remember the 500 because they didn't sell many here and it was only available for a few years in the U.S. The new Spider will probably have good sales. Marketing, marketing and more marketing.

More of us remembered the 500 than I would have expected and it has sold far better than many of us thought. Good marketing and not a bad product. I bought one of the first (still like it) and I own a nice 1964 500 and had owned a 1937 Topolino, the original 500.

My 124 Spider is more rare in these parts than my old 500.

I've never heard of an engine falling out of a 124, that was just tongue in cheek, right Brad?

[pluktv]

I'm a wee bit short sighted, and without my glasses on it looks just like an updated Miata. The rendition of the red one that was posted on here a while back, that's what a new Spider SHOULD look like. (I'm crap at putting on pics on this site, could someone help me out?)

The new 500 WAS a good remake, it epitomized, modernized and paid homage to the old 500 - looks like a new, fresh design that the younger generation loves but still is unmistakable as a Fiat 500.

[SunnySideUp]

As far as styling goes - I really like this one...


This one is definitely a contender...


Um, NO...

[pluktv]

Aaah thank you Sunnyside, the top one IS the one I was thinking of. As far as modern sportster type cars go I think the bodywork is hard to beat. Think of 200hp as well, it could be car of the year...

[SunnySideUp]

Here is a side-by-side (or top/bottom) comparison:

2015 Miata:


Proposed 124 Spider:


For further comparison - 2006 Miata


Ugh. (Just my opinion.)

[spidernut]

Agreed...UGH!

[RRoller123]

Horrible

[divace73]

I don't want to say this but the Mx-5 version looks better than the fiat version.....
They need to give it to Pininfarina for a bit of styling or at least get Tom Tjaarda back on the job

[btoran]

i prefer the red version above. if it looks like the blue one, they should change the name to FIATA.

[riverdadd]

In my eyes, the grill on the red one resembles the spider the most. That chrome surround along the lower edge........

[KevAndAndi]

Love the red one. They would almost have to pay some sort of royalty to Pininfarina.

Don't love the wheels, but maybe that's just me. Not a big fan of such low-profile tires, nor of blingy wheels.