Fiat News: Rumorpile: A Fiat 124 Coupe Is Said To Be In the Works

[William Maley]

Fiat is possibly adding another derivative of its Miata-based 124. Autocar has learned from sources that the Italian automaker is working a coupe variant. Unlike the retractable hardtop used on the MX-5 Miata RF, Fiat is keeping it simple by designing a regular coupe. It would also give a bit more differentiation between the 124 and Miata.

We have a possible idea of where Fiat could go with the 124 coupe by looking at Abarth 124 Rally concept that appears to have a hardtop fitted permanently. Some sources say Fiat could change the design of the rear to better integrate the coupe roofline. 

Power is currently undecided at the moment. Certain markets could get a 1.4L four-cylinder with 138 horsepower, while others may get the turbocharged 1.4L with 158 horsepower. There is talk about an Abarth model with 178 horsepower and limited-slip differential.

Autocar says the 124 Coupe could be shown as soon as next year. 

Source: Autocar

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[Drew Dowdell]

I look forward to driving the convertible next month.

[G. David Felt]

 That is one ugly car.

[Drew Dowdell]

12 minutes ago, dfelt said:

 That is one ugly car.

Well, that's the racer... it's supposed to win on speed, not beauty...

I find the civilian version to actually be rather fetching. 

[G. David Felt]

9 minutes ago, Drew Dowdell said:

Well, that's the racer... it's supposed to win on speed, not beauty...

I find the civilian version to actually be rather fetching. 

@Drew Dowdell Help me understand what is in the design that you find fetching? I grew up building Mustang and Camaro racers and have loved race cars, but the Miata is one auto I just could never find appealing and I hear from you and others about the Fiat and just do not see what draws the attention and I want to understand at least what I am missing about the design language of this auto. 

I do not see masculine wheel wells, the front end and back end are to me just average. I honestly just see a rebadge of the Miata with the Fiat logo.

Appreciate you telling me what strikes your fancy on this car. Thank you

[Drew Dowdell]

Just now, dfelt said:

@Drew Dowdell Help me understand what is in the design that you find fetching? I grew up building Mustang and Camaro racers and have loved race cars, but the Miata is one auto I just could never find appealing and I hear from you and others about the Fiat and just do not see what draws the attention and I want to understand at least what I am missing about the design language of this auto. 

I do not see masculine wheel wells, the front end and back end are to me just average. I honestly just see a rebadge of the Miata with the Fiat logo.

Appreciate you telling me what strikes your fancy on this car. Thank you

I'm not that big a fan of the Miata.  It's okay, inoffensive, but doesn't really light my fire (few cars without "faces" do).

The 124:

1. Has a face. The Mazda only recently gained a face, but it's not one that I care for much. 

2. They extended the nose up and out about 3 to 4 inches over the Miata giving it a longer looking hood.  As you can see in my signature, I like the long hood look. 

3. It somewhat reminds me of the older british roadsters like the MG and Triumph, which I like. I know it's supposed to remind me of the old Fiat 124, but I never really had any experience with them growing up like I did with the MG and Triumph. 

4. It's built by Mazda rather than Fiat, so I don't have to worry too much about reliability. 

5. I'm not hung up on masculinity in my vehicles.  I drive a white Grandma's car and a little black egg of a Buick.

 

[G. David Felt]

@Drew Dowdell You Rock!  Appreciate the points and I see what you mean when I look at the photo you included about the longer hood. That does look better than the Miata.

Thank you,

[oldshurst442]

I think the Fiat 124 looks plenty masculine in itself.
 Because of the little differences that Fiat did over the Miata as Drew pointed out.

Let us not forget that Fiat put some Italian flair to it. And we all know that sometimes, Italians know how to beautify things. Yes. Yes. Sometimes those designs are not masculine at all and very feminine with all kinds of curves. Its still sexy.

Very masuline this is:

 

Or is it?

Its got very curvaceous body work... Yes....the open gaping mouth, little hood vent,  side pipes and 427 under the hood make it macho....remember...the less version of this car looks like this:

The aggressive paint job on the abarth minimizes the curvaceousness of the front fenders, not that they are imposing to begin with, but that paint job is very macho.

Alls it takes to make the Fiat 124 into a "427 Cobra" is an LS swap, bulgier front and rear fenders, open gaping mouth and side pipes....

 

Then we will probably end up with something like this....(with a LS rather than a V10)

Besides, most European sports cars are designed with a more  feminine sexiness in mind rather than agressive masculine ruggedness of American sports cars. 

This latest Miata is most definitely more macho than all other Miatas before it...

That is my take on it anyway...

 

 

 

 

 

 

[oldshurst442]

Oh....I dont know how I feel for a coupe version....

I think if I was in the market for a Miata or a Fiat 124, I think Id buy the roadster and Fiat 124...

[G. David Felt]

Fiat 124 is far more feminine than the very Macho Cobra!

[oldshurst442]

I dont know why, but I laughed hard on your last post Mr. DFELT!

[Drew Dowdell]

1 hour ago, oldshurst442 said:

Oh....I dont know how I feel for a coupe version....

I think if I was in the market for a Miata or a Fiat 124, I think Id buy the roadster and Fiat 124...

See, I've long wanted one of those old British roadsters for me and my partner to go touring in, but I don't want the headache of keeping an old British roadster running, having to buy special tools, etc.  I just want it to be a car to enjoy, not a car to wrench on.

The Miata is supposed to deliver that sort of experience, however its looks just leave me limp.   If I ever do this, it will be the 124 or a used Saturn Sky, or a BMW Z3.

[oldshurst442]

@Drew

Saturn Sky or even the Pontiac Solstice are nicely sculpted cars, yes.

I can never do a BMW Z3. The Z8 is my style.  That Fiat 124 really hits my buttons though, as much as the A/C Shelby Cobra, Pontiac Solstice, BMW Z8 have.  (I really really love the BMW Z8)

Come to think of it, the perfect Fiat 124 Abarth for me to emulate a British Roadster with guts under the hood (like an A/C Shelby Cobra) would be that 3.9 liter V8 engine from the BMW M5/Z8.

I just saw a dream  fantasy car being born right before me.

I would love to buy a Fiat 124 roadster and engine swap it and drop in that BMW "4.0" V8....

 

 

I TRIED DOING THAT "@ name" THINGY AND IT DID NOT WORK. MAYBE ITS BECAUSE I DONT KNOW HOW TO DO IT....Hmmmmm.

Edited August 24, 2016 by oldshurst442

[surreal1272]

8 hours ago, Drew Dowdell said:

I'm not that big a fan of the Miata.  It's okay, inoffensive, but doesn't really light my fire (few cars without "faces" do).

The 124:

1. Has a face. The Mazda only recently gained a face, but it's not one that I care for much. 

2. They extended the nose up and out about 3 to 4 inches over the Miata giving it a longer looking hood.  As you can see in my signature, I like the long hood look. 

3. It somewhat reminds me of the older british roadsters like the MG and Triumph, which I like. I know it's supposed to remind me of the old Fiat 124, but I never really had any experience with them growing up like I did with the MG and Triumph. 

4. It's built by Mazda rather than Fiat, so I don't have to worry too much about reliability. 

5. I'm not hung up on masculinity in my vehicles.  I drive a white Grandma's car and a little black egg of a Buick.

 

Isn't the 124 using a Fiat tranny and motor? If so, I'm not sure how that makes it as reliable as the Miata. It actually does look better in person though. I pass by a Fiat dealership everyday and see four or five of those by the road and they have actually grown on me. I still wouldn't have one (or the Miata for that matter) but it is definitely the nicest looking Fiat out there. 

[Drew Dowdell]

The 1.4T from Fiat is actually one of the bright spots in the FCA 4-cylinder lineup.  I doubt they're using a Fiat 6-speed manual.... what other RWD manual transmission cars in this size class does Fiat have.... no, they're probably just putting the Mazda unit in there. 

edit: confirmed, the 6-speed manual is a Mazda unit.  I don't know what the automatic is, but I don't care because I would never buy it that way. 

edit 2: The automatic is a mazda unit as well. 

[G. David Felt]

6 hours ago, oldshurst442 said:

@Drew

Saturn Sky or even the Pontiac Solstice are nicely sculpted cars, yes.

I can never do a BMW Z3. The Z8 is my style.  That Fiat 124 really hits my buttons though, as much as the A/C Shelby Cobra, Pontiac Solstice, BMW Z8 have.  (I really really love the BMW Z8)

Come to think of it, the perfect Fiat 124 Abarth for me to emulate a British Roadster with guts under the hood (like an A/C Shelby Cobra) would be that 3.9 liter V8 engine from the BMW M5/Z8.

I just saw a dream  fantasy car being born right before me.

I would love to buy a Fiat 124 roadster and engine swap it and drop in that BMW "4.0" V8....

 

 

I TRIED DOING THAT "@ name" THINGY AND IT DID NOT WORK. MAYBE ITS BECAUSE I DONT KNOW HOW TO DO IT....Hmmmmm.

@oldshurst442 You need to use the @ sign and start typing the handle of the person, You will see a pop up window and you then click on the persons handle. This puts in the @ blue box. If you do not see the popup window, then you have popup blocker turned on in your browser and you need to add C&G to your safe site list to allow popups.

[oldshurst442]

Thanx for treating me like a dumb-ass with the over explained visuals...you know, with the red circles and the pointer as if I dont know my own handle...

Just kidding!

Well what do you know??!!!

IT WORKS!!!

@dfelt  you rock!

 

 

 

Edited August 25, 2016 by oldshurst442

[G. David Felt]

11 minutes ago, oldshurst442 said:

Thanx for treating me like a dumb-ass with the over explained visuals...you know, with the red circles and the pointer as if I dont know my own handle...

Just kidding!

Well what do you know??!!!

IT WORKS!!!

@dfelt  you rock!

 

 

 

 Sorry do not mean to treat anyone like a dumbass. As a computer engineer who builds virtual setups to train people worldwide on Enterprise Storage, I am in the habit of clearly marking up the screen to make sure everyone including english as a second language know what to do.

At 6'6" tall 280lbs you can pound on me all you want as I can take it.  After all, I am built like a Rock!, American Strong, Like a timex, take a licken and keeps on ticken!  

Will always try my best to help. Glad you got it figured out now.  

[oldshurst442]

@dfelt 

Quote

Glad you got it figured out now. 

Thanx alot for being condescending  you arrogant piece of...

 

Yes. Yes. I took the liberty to do some creative editing in your post for the humor effect. You being 6'6''/280, and I at 5'6.5"/170ish, I wont be being too mouthy with you buddy!

 

OK, back to the Fiat 124 coupe.

Serious question:

Does Fiat have the engineering plans and intellectual materials and access to the production facilities to do this on their own or will Mazda be doing it for them?

 

 

[Drew Dowdell]

I'm sure Mazda will be doing the actual work. FCA seems to be content to outsource most of this car to Mazda.

[G. David Felt]

9 hours ago, oldshurst442 said:

You being 6'6''/280, and I at 5'6.5"/170ish, I wont be being too mouthy with you buddy!

@oldshurst442 I think you have the need, the need for some speed!

Time to take your car out for a serious drive and let the wind in your hair, tunes blasting and think back to those awesome ALF episodes!

Need another cat?

[surreal1272]

12 hours ago, Drew Dowdell said:

The 1.4T from Fiat is actually one of the bright spots in the FCA 4-cylinder lineup.  I doubt they're using a Fiat 6-speed manual.... what other RWD manual transmission cars in this size class does Fiat have.... no, they're probably just putting the Mazda unit in there. 

edit: confirmed, the 6-speed manual is a Mazda unit.  I don't know what the automatic is, but I don't care because I would never buy it that way. 

edit 2: The automatic is a mazda unit as well. 

That's good about the tranny but I'm very old school with Fiat. I remember why they had to stop selling in the country three decades ago. I just don't trust their motors at all. If the 1.4L changes that, then that is a good start for them. Now if they could just stop screwing everything else up. 

[Drew Dowdell]

39 minutes ago, surreal1272 said:

That's good about the tranny but I'm very old school with Fiat. I remember why they had to stop selling in the country three decades ago. I just don't trust their motors at all. If the 1.4L changes that, then that is a good start for them. Now if they could just stop screwing everything else up. 

The 1.4T is in many Jeep Renegades and Dodge Darts..... it's the engine that people don't complain about.... the 2.4 is the awful one, but that came from a Chrysler/Hyundai/Mitsubishi collaboration, so it's hardly surprising. 

[FordCosworth]

1 hour ago, Drew Dowdell said:

The 1.4T is in many Jeep Renegades and Dodge Darts..... it's the engine that people don't complain about.... the 2.4 is the awful one, but that came from a Chrysler/Hyundai/Mitsubishi collaboration, so it's hardly surprising. 

C&D don't seem all that fond of the 1.4L T in the 124 Roadster.

 

" Fiat’s biggest misstep—adding power—actually seems like a good idea on paper. The reality is that the 1.4-liter turbo is a lag-filled look at the pitfalls of turbocharging. Below 2500 rpm, the engine appears to run on Sleepytime tea. A saunter from 30 to 50 mph in sixth gear takes 13.6 seconds, almost three seconds longer than the ­Miata’s time, and only a half-second quicker than a manual Ford Focus with the 1.0-liter three-cylinder. Waiting this long is usually accompanied by an old issue of People ­magazine or Highlights for Children. And yes, we realize that any sentient driver would downshift when faced with such a delay, but our top-gear acceleration test does highlight the car’s complete lack of motivation before the turbo wakes up. "

" When the boost finally makes an appearance, it comes on all of a sudden. And that surge of acceleration tapers off quickly past the 5500-rpm power peak. Launched with a 4400-rpm clutch drop, the Spider will arrive at 60 mph in 6.7 seconds, a significant half-second behind the Mazda. "

 

2017 Fiat 124 Spider Abarth

[Drew Dowdell]

So wait, test it in a manner that no sane driver would drive... And it fails... Go figure..

[FordCosworth]

One could say that about damn near any test then.

 

 

 

[ccap41]

34 minutes ago, Drew Dowdell said:

So wait, test it in a manner that no sane driver would drive... And it fails... Go figure..

If this wasn't a sports car and one of the tests was a very realistic 30-50mph run I would agree with you. But as a sporty car it should be able to hoon fairly well.

I personally enjoy the looks of the Fiat quite a bit. I like the longer body than the Miata. When this was first shown I thought it looked hideous but it's grown on me really quick. I just wouldn't want the Fiat brand on the hood of my car over Mazda. It looks good but not that much better to buy it over a Mazda..let alone trying to find a dealership for it.

[Drew Dowdell]

10 minutes ago, ccap41 said:

If this wasn't a sports car and one of the tests was a very realistic 30-50mph run I would agree with you. But as a sporty car it should be able to hoon fairly well.

I personally enjoy the looks of the Fiat quite a bit. I like the longer body than the Miata. When this was first shown I thought it looked hideous but it's grown on me really quick. I just wouldn't want the Fiat brand on the hood of my car over Mazda. It looks good but not that much better to buy it over a Mazda..let alone trying to find a dealership for it.

Sure... and when you do so, you downshift, not leave it in an upper gear.

[FordCosworth]

" Below 2500 rpm, the engine appears to run on Sleepytime tea"

" When the boost finally makes an appearance, it comes on all of a sudden. And that surge of acceleration tapers off quickly past the 5500-rpm power peak "

IMHO, it doesn't sound like an ideal Sports Car Power Plant. 

[Drew Dowdell]

5 minutes ago, FordCosworth said:

" Below 2500 rpm, the engine appears to run on Sleepytime tea"

" When the boost finally makes an appearance, it comes on all of a sudden. And that surge of acceleration tapers off quickly past the 5500-rpm power peak "

IMHO, it doesn't sound like an ideal Sports Car Power Plant. 

I'll let you know when I drive it next month.  That said, I've driven the same engine in the Renegade and I felt it was actually the better choice over the 2.4 Tigershark.  In the 500 Abarth, it's louder, but plenty sporty.

If you're going to drive it like a grandma and barely hit the gas, then it's going to react like a grandma....

Spin the thing up... that's what sports cars are for... not loafing around at 1,700 rpm. 

[A Horse With No Name]

On 8/24/2016 at 10:08 AM, Drew Dowdell said:

Well, that's the racer... it's supposed to win on speed, not beauty...

I find the civilian version to actually be rather fetching. 

Actually, it is.  you and Albert could use one for a weekend toy....

[A Horse With No Name]

On 8/25/2016 at 5:30 PM, Drew Dowdell said:

I'll let you know when I drive it next month.  That said, I've driven the same engine in the Renegade and I felt it was actually the better choice over the 2.4 Tigershark.  In the 500 Abarth, it's louder, but plenty sporty.

If you're going to drive it like a grandma and barely hit the gas, then it's going to react like a grandma....

Spin the thing up... that's what sports cars are for... not loafing around at 1,700 rpm. 

The Renegade with that Powertrain combo would just be the bees knees!  I love the Fiat mill...and the Renegade is my current favorite Chrysler/Fiat product.

[A Horse With No Name]

On 8/25/2016 at 4:18 PM, ccap41 said:

If this wasn't a sports car and one of the tests was a very realistic 30-50mph run I would agree with you. But as a sporty car it should be able to hoon fairly well.

I personally enjoy the looks of the Fiat quite a bit. I like the longer body than the Miata. When this was first shown I thought it looked hideous but it's grown on me really quick. I just wouldn't want the Fiat brand on the hood of my car over Mazda. It looks good but not that much better to buy it over a Mazda..let alone trying to find a dealership for it.

The Miata is the sportier of the two and on my short list for a new car.  Previous Miata wore out....probably a thousand Bonsai autocross runs, a dozen Ohio winters, three teenage drivers in the house, a few people not paying attention that ran into it....Miata before that sold to a Lawyer in Cincinnati.  I have owned gen one and two, woudl love to own gen four.

[A Horse With No Name]

On 8/24/2016 at 10:21 AM, dfelt said:

@Drew Dowdell Help me understand what is in the design that you find fetching? I grew up building Mustang and Camaro racers and have loved race cars, but the Miata is one auto I just could never find appealing and I hear from you and others about the Fiat and just do not see what draws the attention and I want to understand at least what I am missing about the design language of this auto. 

I do not see masculine wheel wells, the front end and back end are to me just average. I honestly just see a rebadge of the Miata with the Fiat logo.

Appreciate you telling me what strikes your fancy on this car. Thank you

Interesting that you and I often have the same thoughts about the auto industry but our taste in cars is a polar opposite.  I would take a decent Miata of any generation over an Escalade, or over any SUV on the planet, even a range Rover or luxury Benz.

[A Horse With No Name]

On 8/24/2016 at 10:32 AM, Drew Dowdell said:

I'm not that big a fan of the Miata.  It's okay, inoffensive, but doesn't really light my fire (few cars without "faces" do).

The 124:

1. Has a face. The Mazda only recently gained a face, but it's not one that I care for much. 

2. They extended the nose up and out about 3 to 4 inches over the Miata giving it a longer looking hood.  As you can see in my signature, I like the long hood look. 

3. It somewhat reminds me of the older british roadsters like the MG and Triumph, which I like. I know it's supposed to remind me of the old Fiat 124, but I never really had any experience with them growing up like I did with the MG and Triumph. 

4. It's built by Mazda rather than Fiat, so I don't have to worry too much about reliability. 

5. I'm not hung up on masculinity in my vehicles.  I drive a white Grandma's car and a little black egg of a Buick.

 

The design does look better in person than in photographs.  And as to what car you should drive...people have negative comments on every car.  My son drives a Ford escape and people say that is a feminine car also.  I want a WRX but people say I should not drive one because I am not Asian and I am over thirty.  Drive what you want, I say....

[G. David Felt]

2 minutes ago, A Horse With No Name said:

The design does look better in person than in photographs.  And as to what car you should drive...people have negative comments on every car.  My son drives a Ford escape and people say that is a feminine car also.  I want a WRX but people say I should not drive one because I am not Asian and I am over thirty.  Drive what you want, I say....

 I have to say your post really got me to laughing as last night I was having dinner with some folks and both couples asked me for input on non-american awd auto's, I mentioned subaru and both wifes said they are not driving a Lesbo sedan. Talk about shocking. I asked them why and their reasoning just went south of the ignorance line. Amazing the stupidity of people. After all they both said all they see at work is their lesbian coworkers driving the subaru auto's and they do not want others to think they are lesbian. 

I told them they were being ignorant and childish about that assumption they have made. I also told them that I have been told the same thing kind as I have also heard that I should not drive it cause I am not asian.

I agree, drive what you want and like, not what other narrow minded or closed minded individuals say.

[A Horse With No Name]

1 minute ago, dfelt said:

 I have to say your post really got me to laughing as last night I was having dinner with some folks and both couples asked me for input on non-american awd auto's, I mentioned subaru and both wifes said they are not driving a Lesbo sedan. Talk about shocking. I asked them why and their reasoning just went south of the ignorance line. Amazing the stupidity of people. After all they both said all they see at work is their lesbian coworkers driving the subaru auto's and they do not want others to think they are lesbian. 

I told them they were being ignorant and childish about that assumption they have made. I also told them that I have been told the same thing kind as I have also heard that I should not drive it cause I am not asian.

I agree, drive what you want and like, not what other narrow minded or closed minded individuals say.

...they could bring home a second lesbo sedan to share with their husbands and everyone would be happy!