Fiat 124 Spider May Not Get a Second Life

The future looks bleak for the Fiat 124 Spider.

Speaking with British magazine Autocar, Fiat CEO Olivier François hinted that a new generation of the Italian roadster is unlikely at this point.

In this niche segment, he said, the 124 Spider is only profitable due to Fiat's partnership with Mazda. The car is built in Hiroshima, Japan alongside the platform-sharing MX-5.

François did recognize the benefits of having a little sports car that's fun to drive for the image of the company.

Photo: Fiat

Let's remind you that the Fiat 124 Spider debuted in 2017. Under the hood is a turbocharged 1.4-litre four-cylinder engine that puts out 160 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. Customers can specify a six-speed manual or automatic transmission.

A sportier Abarth model is also available, though with a modest power increase (164 hp).

For 2020, the 124 Spider will remain part of the FCA portfolio in North America.

Share on Facebook

More on the subject

Test Drives2017 Fiat 124 Spider: the Brand’s Supermodel
Fiat’s sales numbers in Canada and in the U.S. speak for themselves. Consumers went all crazy with the cheeky 500 hatchback when it launched here in 2011, but since then, traffic in Fiat dealerships—er, Fiat Studios—hasn’t been fantastic. In fact, sales in Canada have nosedived by 57% in 2016 compared …