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So, just how different are the Fiat 124 Spider and Mazda MX-5 Miata?

"We leveraged a great platform." That's how Bob Broderdorf, Jr., Fiat's North American director, summarizes the creation of the 124 Spider. We all know Fiat's new roadster shares its underpinnings with the fourth-generation Mazda MX-5 Miata, but there are a lot of key differences to keep them separate in the eyes of consumers. Mazda may have engineered the platform, but Fiat added many of its own touches. Here, we'll take a closer look at the spec sheets of the two cars, and summarize the major differences between the Japanese and Italian roadsters. If you need a refresher, read our full First Drive of the 2016 MX-5 Miata, and glance at all the Fiat 124 Spider details in this post. Design Fiat Chrysler design lead Ralph Gilles is super excited about this car. "I think it's going to change lives," he told the assembled media at an event in Auburn Hills, MI, earlier this month. Yes, it's definitely exciting to add a small roadster to any lineup, especially one that uses such a proven platform. But we're not sure people are going to get all that jazzed about it from a design standpoint. You'll either love it or hate it, and we're kind of leaning toward the latter. Every single body panel is new, and the design is "100 percent Italian." There are a number of creases and angles throughout the exterior, with a squared-off rear end and rectangular taillamps. Fiat trusts you'll be able to spot the similarities between the new 124 Spider and the original, but we're not so sure. We can see a bit of the old car's grille on the new car's face, and the dual hood blisters are a nice throwback touch, but that's about it. Trust us when we say that this car looks way better in photos. In person, it really didn't wow us. Of course, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. One colleague told us his wife, a long-time Miata owner, hates the look of the new one but will absolutely adore the Fiat. Good for her, and good for Fiat. But based on design alone, we'll take the Mazda every single time. What about you? Dimensions When Broderdorf said Fiat leveraged the Miata's platform, that means the Italians took it as-is. The two cars ride on an identical, 90.9-inch wheelbase. The front and rear tracks lengths are the same, at 58.9 and 59.1 inches, respectively. But that's where the similarities end.

Fiat 500X teased ahead of Paris debut

One of the expected debuts at next month's Paris Motor Show will be the alleged platform-mate to the upcoming Jeep Renegade. That car, the Fiat 500X, has been subject to a fair share of speculation and spy photos, but Fiat has been mostly quiet on the matter. That is, until now.
The Italian manufacturer has released this 39-second teaser video which provides a first, fleeting glimpse of the new mini-CUV, allowing us to determine a few styling features.
First, the styling appears to be a rather significant departure from the polarizing looks of the 500L, with the rear end looking more akin to the standard 500. The front fascia is tweaked and looks ruggedized, with what looks like a protective treatment under the lower intake. The profile features a more dramatic greenhouse, with a significantly larger, aggressively raked D-pillar. The body rides noticeably higher, as well.

Fiat says all Abarth models to be electric from 2024

Fiat didn’t have the big, bold product announcements in Stellantis EV Day that Ram, Dodge and Jeep did, but the Italian company still gave us a little something to chew on.  For starters, Fiat says all future Abarth products will be electric from 2024 and onward. There are currently no Fiat Abarth products sold in the U.S., but the news could still be relevant to us as it concerns future Abarths. News that future Abarths will be electric by a certain time is essentially confirmation that such a vehicle or vehicles are on the way, so expect an electric Abarth sometime around 2024. Consider the 500 Abarth and 124 Abarth to be the last two gasoline-powered Abarth-branded vehicles to be sold in the U.S. Seeing the closeness of the 2024 cutoff, theyÂ’ll also likely be the last gasoline Abarth models sold globally, too. The EV promise extends further than just Abarth models, though. Fiat previously said it would become an EV-only brand by 2030, but the transition was laid out with greater specificity today. By 2024, every model line in FiatÂ’s lineup will have a full-BEV option. Fiat doesnÂ’t have a massive lineup, but it means the company will need to electrify models beyond the new 500 that is already electric. Lastly, Fiat promises that all of its commercial vehicles will offer an electric option starting in 2022, and the company is counting fuel cell vehicles as part of this lineup. The commitment to go all-EV by 2030 still stands, though Fiat now says it could get there any time between 2025-2030. Fiat says the switchover will be made whenever it can sell EVs for the same price as their combustion engine equivalents, as it wants to keep costs in a place where your typical Fiat owner can still buy its vehicles. Stellantis EV Day coverage: Dodge will launch the 'world's first electric muscle car' in 2024 Fully electric Ram 1500 will begin production in 2024 Jeep will have 4xe plug-in hybrid models across the lineup by 2025 Stellantis teases mystery electric Chrysler concept Stellantis previews 4 electric platforms: Here's how they'll be used Fiat says all Abarth models to be electric from 2024 Opel Manta E will be the electric revival of the classic German coupe Stellantis says its 2021 performance has been better than expected Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.