2017 Fiat 124 Spider

[spidernut]

There has been lots of hype about the 2017 Fiat 124. Spy shots have been posted along with several ideas of what others think it might look like. I am impatient and wanted to at least try to get close the real design of the car based upon the spy shots.

So, I took Top Gear's concept art and modified it to fit the body lines of the spy shots. I know the front is a guess due to the heavy masks on the car, but it's my interpretation based upon what I can see in the photos. I left off the odd bump on the hood.

Spy shot



My rendering



Top Gear's original art that doesn't match the lines of the spy shots, but has many of the features as if they got a preview.

[GeorgeT]

It would be interesting to see the 2017 Mazda MX5 next to the 124.

[bradartigue]

Please move this to the appropriate forum "New FIAT Spider" - the other discussion areas are for Italian cars.

[spidernut]

How do you move it to another section?

[TX82FIAT]

the other discussion areas are for Italian cars

Ha, LOL.

I read someplace the Abarth version of the Spider might use the Alfa 4C engine. At this point we are better off waiting to see exactly what Fiat will produce. We know they fumbled the marketing of the 500 for a couple years before getting sexy and Italian with a good add campaign. I'm not getting my hopes up in an attempt to be pleasantly surprised by what they bring to market.

[spidernut]

I'm really hoping that the real thing looks better than any of the concepts shown so far (including my own). It would be very exciting to see something very Italian looking and sexy!

[AndyS]

this was my favorite " artist rendition"--with many retro cues from the original 124 cars. I know it will not look anything like this, which is too bad IMO.

[kenncarp]

I know most of you wont believe me, but my tour with the CEO at the time, Alfredo Altavilla, showed me the prototype of the car. it was the April of 2014, and it was amazing. we got a tour through the design center, where the 124 was, and at the time it was just the body with pinstripe lines for the hood etc. the reason i got to get the tour and see the car, is because about 8 months before that, i sent a letter explaining that they should bring back the 124, and this was shortly after i started rebuilding mine. He, The CEO, Invited me to Turino italy to view the design center, and i also got to see the Maserati factory. I want to believe i gave them the idea to bring it back, but it couldve already been in the plans, and it just happened i sent the letter early. My trip to italy, and meeting the CEO of my favorite car brand was an unreal experience. I also got to meet the head alfa Romeo designer, and the current Abarth head designer. I got to sit in the origional alfa 4c prototype, and this was all the weekend it was being showed at the New York car show! It was such an unbelivable experience being only 14 at the time, and seeing my dreams right there. Because of my mechanical engineering knowledge, he offered me a 4 year internship at there school in Turino after i graduate High Sschool. I am a sophmore now, and have just started all the body work on my car, and am planning to paint soon! feel free to ask me any questions about the car, or what i saw. i would love to tell the story more in depth . Attached is a picture of me and the Ceo, and this was in their design center in Turino.



Anyways ive kept this secret for little over a year now, and it feels nice to be able to share it to the world!

[cormac]

I know most of you wont believe me, but my tour with the CEO at the time, Alfredo Altavilla, showed me the prototype of the car. it was the April of 2014, and it was amazing. we got a tour through the design center, where the 124 was, and at the time it was just the body with pinstripe lines for the hood etc. the reason i got to get the tour and see the car, is because about 8 months before that, i sent a letter explaining that they should bring back the 124, and this was shortly after i started rebuilding mine. He, The CEO, Invited me to Turino italy to view the design center, and i also got to see the Maserati factory. I want to believe i gave them the idea to bring it back, but it couldve already been in the plans, and it just happened i sent the letter early. My trip to italy, and meeting the CEO of my favorite car brand was an unreal experience. I also got to meet the head alfa Romeo designer, and the current Abarth head designer. I got to sit in the origional alfa 4c prototype, and this was all the weekend it was being showed at the New York car show! It was such an unbelivable experience being only 14 at the time, and seeing my dreams right there. Because of my mechanical engineering knowledge, he offered me a 4 year internship at there school in Turino after i graduate High Sschool. I am a sophmore now, and have just started all the body work on my car, and am planning to paint soon! feel free to ask me any questions about the car, or what i saw. i would love to tell the story more in depth . Attached is a picture of me and the Ceo, and this was in their design center in Turino.



Anyways ive kept this secret for little over a year now, and it feels nice to be able to share it to the world!

Ken, you are my new hero

[spidernut]

It would be great to hear more about the car, but I'm not sure that they were planning the Fiat/Mazda deal at that time. Were they? How did it compare to the spy shots?

[kenncarp]

It would be great to hear more about the car, but I'm not sure that they were planning the Fiat/Mazda deal at that time. Were they? How did it compare to the spy shots?

Like i said, they started planning the idea shortly after i sent my lettet. Quoted from the CEO himself. The car did look similar to the spy shots, but all there really was was the body and a couple of body lines. No wheels or mechanics or anything yet. I also got to aee the origianal fiat 500l wooden size replica from the 50's. They nade them out of wood to get the most precise measurements for when they made a car. It was all very amazing

[opus10583]

It would be great to hear more about the car, but I'm not sure that they were planning the Fiat/Mazda deal at that time. Were they? How did it compare to the spy shots?

The FIAT/Mazda cooperation dates back much further than a year ago; a year ago it was going to be an Alfa:

May 23, 2012: http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB100014240 ... 2661079014

"Each company will take charge of the body design and the engine for their respective versions of the new model. Production of the car is expected to start at Mazda's Hiroshima plant in Japan in 2015. "

http://autoweek.com/article/car-news/al ... r-due-2015

http://jalopnik.com/alfa-romeo-is-doing ... 1673128062

http://www.automobilemag.com/features/n ... ps-abarth/

It should be here in 2016, btw.

Ciao,
Mark

[pwilliam]

I'm personally very disappointed with the remake. Not only does it bear minimal resemblance to the original, it is being producing in Japan - hence Brad's comment. This is possibly worse than when Ford produced the 4 cyl. Mustang. No doubt it will handle well and have quite a bit of zip, but the T in FIAT stands for Turin, not Tokyo (technically Hiroshima but you get my point!).

[opus10583]

I'm personally very disappointed with the remake. Not only does it bear minimal resemblance to the original, it is being producing in Japan - hence Brad's comment. This is possibly worse than when Ford produced the 4 cyl. Mustang. No doubt it will handle well and have quite a bit of zip, but the T in FIAT stands for Turin, not Tokyo (technically Hiroshima but you get my point!).

Hi,

The 2016/'17 Spider has yet to be revealed, other than in heavy camouflage and drapery, so keep hope alive.

As to the domicile of manufacture; I don't think FIAT make much of anything in Turin anymore, and what does that really matter? They are, and were from the start, involved in the design and engineering of the underlying shared platform and are handling styling and running gear for themselves.

By all accounts the '16 MX-5 is a resounding success as a modern incarnation of what the FIAT 124 Spider was in its day; a light, agile, engaged, and engaging sports car: If the actual final styling evokes classical Italian design and styling, and they get the engine and chassis tuning right, they could have a hit on their hands.

Their criminal dealer network will, of course, continue to undermine any lasting commercial success in this country.

Ciao,
Mark

[TX82FIAT]

My sister works for Chrysler and saw the new 124 spider last week in Vegas. The security was tight and no pictures allowed. She said I would not be disappointed. There were two versions of the spider on display with one lower and more sport "Abarth". She said they had the classic double bump hood!

I'm with Opus10583 lets keep hope alive. It is likely if the car is a hit the values of our cars will rise with the tide.