Fiat News: Rumorpile: Fiat Spider To Have A Hot Abarth Edition

[William Maley]

We know that Fiat will be getting a new Spider courtesy of the folks from Mazda and might be shown later this year at either Frankfurt of LA. Now some new information shines a light on a possible performance version.

 

Speaking with Auto Express, Fiat's COO Alfredo Altavilla said there will be two variations of the Fiat Spider - a 'comfortable' Fiat version and a “extreme” Abarth version.

 

“You like performance? There will be an Abarth version,” said Altavilla.

 

The Abarth version will get more aggressive styling, retuned suspension, and a set of larger brakes. Power is expected to come from a detuned version of the Alfa Romeo 4C producing 200 horsepower.

 

Source: Auto Express

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[G. David Felt]

While nothing wrong with performance versions and this sounds like a cool little car, I STRONGLY believe they are wasting money on this when so many other QUALITY issues exist in the over all company that should be addressed first and getting new models out to drive profits on existing lines before trying to expand FIAT.

[G. David Felt]

I know this should have minimal cost but I still see them wasting money when they need to focus on the existing quality of products they have that have serious issues like the transmissions, etc.

[smk4565]

Who cares about quality, it will have passion and soul because it is Italian.  I think Fiat needs more models, obviously they need a 500L convertible, a 500X 4-door crossover coupe Abarth and a 500L-XL that is a long wheelbase, 3 row 500L, better make a coupe version of that too.

[El Kabong]

I know this should have minimal cost but I still see them wasting money when they need to focus on the existing quality of products they have that have serious issues like the transmissions, etc.

Mazda is doing the heavy lifting in this one. Mopar will be getting lots of (almost certainly) good press for next to nothing. Which is good, because now they've gotta get that Giulia platform spread around.

[G. David Felt]

 

I know this should have minimal cost but I still see them wasting money when they need to focus on the existing quality of products they have that have serious issues like the transmissions, etc.

Mazda is doing the heavy lifting in this one. Mopar will be getting lots of (almost certainly) good press for next to nothing. Which is good, because now they've gotta get that Giulia platform spread around.

 

I still see poor mgmt and leadership. Build the best with the model lines they have and then with quality expand the model line. Sadly FCA is being ruined by the Italian idiots at the top. Would have been better to let Chrysler go to an American investment group who could focus on what they have then let Fiat buy them.

[smk4565]

Oh yeah, Chrysler quality was industry leading when they were owned by Cerebus.  And the Dart, Cherokee, Renegade and 200 are on Fiat platforms, the Ram and Jeep V6 turbodiesel is because of Fiat.  I think FCA is a bit of a mess as well, but Chrysler would be out of business right now with Fiat.  And Fiat might be out of business by now without Chrysler, somehow they are keeping each other alive.

[oldshurst442]

Fiat Spider Abarth Edition...with the Fiat Spider coming from a Mazda via the MX5...aka Miata...

 

Mazda...Miata...FCA...Fiat Spider...ABARTH...MOPAR...VIPER...

 

Why is it that I keep on thinking about a Monster Miata...but in crazy MOPAR SRT8 fashion where the MOPAR boys take that Fiat Spider and create another Viper roadster....

 

Id rather an SRT8 Fiat Spider than an Abarth one I think...

 

PS: No need to go crazy....no need for a 6.1 or 6.4, just the regualr 5.7 Hemi would do, I guess.

[smk4565]

Can't put a V8 in a car that small.  Remember the Miata is 1,000 lbs lighter than a Corvette.  Even if a V8 fit under the hood, which I'd doubt it does, then the weight would have to go way up, the price would go way up, because you need bigger brakes, bigger transmission, structural enhancements, etc.

 

Interestingly enough, the Hemi V8 doesn't even fit in the Viper. 

[oldshurst442]

It could be done...

It HAS been done...with Ford 302s and Chevy LS swaps...

 

Not sure with a 5.7 Hemi...and that is where I may have hit a snag...but suspensions systems and cooling and transmissions and rear ends and motor mounts that fit oil pans so there are virtually no issues with clearances of any kind all have been solved a  long time ago allowing FORD 302s and GM LS engines to be swapped quite easily...

 

So yeah...Id welcome a SRT8 version of a Fiat Spider... an Italian version of a Viper....which in turn is a Mopar spiritual version of a Shelby Cobra....which ironically Shelby himself had a say  in the Viper while being with Chrysler in the 1980s....because he got the boot from Ford...and the Cobra was based on a British Roadster....which the Fiat is based on the Miata...which is a spiritual successor to the British Roadster....can you say this crazy thing I just dreamt up has "come full circle"?

 

I think its a neat way of seeing things...

And I definitely think its a neat thing to want...

[G. David Felt]

Had a friend growing up we put in a Chevy V8 into his 75 Luv Truck. That thing roared. I can see a 305 in a Miata.

[smk4565]

Maybe they'll put a 700 hp Ferrari V12 in it, and it will weigh 2,500 lbs, cost $40,000 and go 0-60 in 2.5 seconds.

[G. David Felt]

Maybe they'll put a 700 hp Ferrari V12 in it, and it will weigh 2,500 lbs, cost $40,000 and go 0-60 in 2.5 seconds.

LOL, that will happen only when Unicorns are real!

[oldshurst442]

Maybe they will just stick to real Mopar SRT engines and just deal with the Viper's own V10...

 

Listen SMK...it has been done...with LS swaps and Ford 302s...and...its not as if Mopar's 5.7 liter V8 HEMI is a super expensive exotic motor...

 

No...a car like that wont be like a nimble AC Ace....nor like a 289 Cobra...it'll be more like a 427 Cobra...

 

Yes...front heavy...but V8...

Some of us like that kind of...muscle car formula...some of us dont...

 

But...to argue with a dream of a post that I made...its kinda ridiculous...dont you think?

 

That post was made in jest...pointing out some very eerie similarities between a AC Ace, a Miata...a Cobra...a Viper...a Fiat Spider....Carrol Shelby...FCA...MOPAR and Abarth...

[El Kabong]

I know this should have minimal cost but I still see them wasting money when they need to focus on the existing quality of products they have that have serious issues like the transmissions, etc.

Mazda is doing the heavy lifting in this one. Mopar will be getting lots of (almost certainly) good press for next to nothing. Which is good, because now they've gotta get that Giulia platform spread around.

I still see poor mgmt and leadership. Build the best with the model lines they have and then with quality expand the model line. Sadly FCA is being ruined by the Italian idiots at the top. Would have been better to let Chrysler go to an American investment group who could focus on what they have then let Fiat buy them.

There was no such American suitor in '08. And as someone else mentioned, Cerberus wasn't exactly a kindly overseer. I'm not drinking Sergio's Kool-Aid by any means, but he's pretty clever with being able to get inexpensive attention.

[frogger]

Looking forward to the commercials