Will the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata-based Fiat be an Abarth, a Spyder or an Abarth Spyder?
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The blogosphere is all a titter with speculation around the next 2016 Fiat sport car model. The 2016 Fiat will be based on the chassis and most of the running gear of the new 2015 Mazda MX-5 Miata, which is built exclusively in Hiroshima Japan. Fans of the Fiat brand who are looking for a higher-end, possibly faster version of Mazda’s convertible roadster can’t wait to find out more about their dream car.
Sergio Marchionne Stirs the Pot in March
Back in March Fiat's CEO and all-around auto industry stud, told the media that Fiat didn’t necessarily have to create a copy-cat Miata and rebadge it a Fiat Spyder. Looking closely at what he said, this did not mean the project was dead, just that the final details had not yet been worked out. Nor need they be. The Mazda MX-5 at that point was a rolling chassis and not much more. No drivetrain details had been finalized. With the donor car at this stage, why would Fiat really need to firm up its final product?
2016 Fiat Abarth vs. Spyder Debate
This month, Alfa Romeo brand boss Harald Wester told he media "As far as the Spider goes, the final version is of course no longer the two-seater FCA co-developed with Mazda but a derivative of Project Giorgio.” He went on to say "The Far East import will probably find a new home with Fiat-Abarth.” Fiat lovers took this to mean that the Mazda-derived vehicle may be an Abarth model. This would normally mean that it would be a pure performance vehicle rather than a GT-roadster. However, in this ever-changing world where a Chrysler is now the most powerful pony-car, the Charger is the world’s fastest sedan, Ferrari is about to be split off of Fiat and made a public company, and Fiat in America changes its name every year, who can really say what the Miata-Fiat will be?
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Note - Image is the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata courtesy of Mazda
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