Fiat turned the regular 2017 Fiat 124 Spider into an Abarth 124 Spider with 170 horsepower, a mechanical LSD, Brembo brakes, Bilstein dampers and a loud exhaust, and while they were at it, the performance brand also rolled out a rally version for Geneva. Oh hell yeah.
Ten extra horsepower with 184 pound-feet of torque, better brakes, upgraded suspension, a more liberal exhaust, a six-speed manual and a limited-slip differential as standard. That’s how Fiat turned everybody’s favorite Japanese roadster into something very Italian.
Of course you can also get it with an automatic (in Europe for now), but honestly, why would you? Turn off the nannies completely, try getting to sixty in the claimed 6.8 seconds and enjoy that your Miata can do 143mph. Mostly because your Miata is a 2017 Abarth 124 Spider.
Sweet, isn’t it?
But in case that’s still not fast enough, go 124 Rally with Abarth’s FIA R-GT spec wonder. With a 300 HP 1.8-liter motor mounted further back and all the extra stuff you need for racing, it’s just like in the original 124 Rally, only way faster.
Where do I sign? Because I’ll need both. Plus spares, because rally car.
Contact the author at mate@jalopnik.com.