The Fiat 124 Spider is now official

AutoExpress said:

When asked directly by Auto Express at the Geneva Motor Show if the new model would indeed be badged 124 Spider, Marchionne checked with his execs if the name had been revealed yet, before asking: “Do we want to do it now?”. A brand exec confirmed the 124 Spider name before Marchionne added: “There you go – a world class premiere right in this room!”.

He declined to confirm whether that model would be a Fiat or Abarth, but Auto Express understands that there will be versions wearing both badges.

Fiat 124 Spider: what do we know so far?

As part of the joint venture agreement with Mazda, both the Fiat 124 Spider and the Mazda MX-5 are to be made at Mazda’s factory in Hiroshima, Japan. According to our source, the agreement between Fiat and Mazda is that the MX-5 will launch first and take centre stage in 2015, with Fiat’s alternative offering coming 12 months in 2016.

Being based on the MX-5, the new Fiat Spider will, of course, share certain key components such as the wheelbase and chassis with its Mazda stablemate. However, another insider hinted that the 124 Spider’s styling will be more retro than the Mazda’s, with elements inspired by the Fiat 124 of the sixties.

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