The Fiat 124 Spider Rewrites The Rules On How Share A Platform With Out Looking Like You Did

The Fiat 124 Spider is a rare car. Not just because its U.S. sales (so far) are miniscule, but because it’s better than the car that spawned it, the Mazda MX-5 Miata.

I recently put more than 500 miles on a Spider from the press fleet, and I have also tested the Miata this year.

Can you think of another “badge-engineered” car quite like the 124 Spider? Usually, when automakers build cars for a partner, such as the Mazda2/Toyota Yaris or the Subaru BRZ/Scion FR-S, the changes are limited to different badges and perhaps a new front fascia and not much else.

The Fiat 124 is very different, and the changes could be the blueprint for a different type of car-sharing among automakers. Here’s why I think Fiat nailed the Spider:

TheSteve - 10/26/2016 11:56:22 AM

0 Boost

It's a Fiat. Not too many North Americans will care. But good news for Fiat, though.

mini22 - 10/26/2016 1:34:53 PM

+2 Boost

Well right now the 124 is outselling the Miata. So I think North Americans do care.

MDarringer - 10/26/2016 7:05:43 PM

0 Boost

The Miata is a terrible seller. If we could get 300 horsepower under the hood of the Fiat, we'd be singing its praises even more.