Fiat Says 124 Spider May Be On The Chopping Block Despite Being Profitable

Another example amongst many of car manufacturers who drop into the world of sports cars to create some buzz for the brand then drop out only to return years later repeating the cycle but bewildered why their efforts rarely succeed. You need a sustained market presence and development program to build brand loyalty in sports cars. Fiat roadsters we will see ya when we see ya until we don't see ya again.

No one buys them, so why build it?

Fiat had an opportunity to build a better MX5. However they chose to simply build a different MX5 in terms of driving dynamics. Its not a bad car. However Fiat needed to tweek its 1.4 turbo to put out 200 HP. It should have gone with a slightly wider track. It should have come standard with a Monza exhaust. You can do all those things to a spider if you buy aftermarket parts. So now Mazda has improved its powertrain and Mazda offers a folding hardtop that looks like a coupe. Fiat offers a hardtop shell with an optional sport suspension option in Europe. It called the 124 Abarth GT. It should be offered here. Its a classic case of Fiat simply not putting in the effort to distinguish themselves.Then they wonder why they don't sell enough cars.

As long as it is profitable, keep it going. Toyota doesn't care it is offering a fake FT86 and a fake Supra. Lipstick on a pig. If you don't care about your heritage and it is just a business, then sell as many as you can.

But the reality is that its only making a profit because it shares its construction with Mazda. That should not be a formula for selling cars. If they threw just a bit more money at it other than styling to distinguish it more from the Miata, Fiat might have had more sales. They charge 37K for a 124 Abarth loaded with options and they wonder why the car doesn't sell. For 37K the car should have at least 200 HP and a 1/2 inch wider track. Instead they offer stupid cross traffic alert and a rear backup camera and lane assist. Yes I know the backup camera is a federal requirement now but who really needs all that other crap in a 2dr little sports car. Ridiculous!

Mazdas with turbos and AWD reskinned as Alfa Romeos would have been a brilliant move for Sergio the Moron. Mazda was good for Ford and they could have been brilliant for FCA.