New Mazda Mx5 To Be Badged As A Fiat 124 Spider For Italian Market

By Author: Sara Gibson
Total Articles: 12
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The new Mazda MX 5 has been highly anticipated around the world and it has been recently confirmed that the model will even play a key role in the Italian market, as the Fiat 124 Spider. According to CEO for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Sergio Marchionne, at a European motoring press question and answer session, the fourth generation MX5 for sale, will be branded for the Italian market as a joint venture. When a cooperation agreement was first announced back in 2012, the plan was that the all new Mazda MX5 would be wearing an Alfa Romeo badge.

When FCA made the decision to rejuvenate the Alfa as a rear wheel drive, made in Italy brand, it was determined that Alfa will develop its own convertible model from a rear wheel drive platform, which will underpin the upcoming BMW 3 Series. At this point it was determined that the FCA version of the new Mazda MX5 would be either an Abarth or a Fiat. However, with this recent announcement that the base vehicle will be a Fiat model, it has been reported that an Abarth more powerful model could still be a possibility.

The last Fiat 124 Spider was sold between 1966 and 1982. ...
... There was also a Pininfarina model available until 1985. This Spider Sport model 124 was a rear wheel drive, front engine model which featured a number of engine options including a 1.4 litre 66 kilowatt engine and a 2.0 litre 99 kilowatt engine. The new 124 Spider is expected to be launched in 2016 and is likely to feature the engine used in the new Mazda MX5 2015 model, a direct injection 1.5 litre engine, which offers 96 kilowatts of power.

The 1.5 litre engine is derived from the Mazda2 engine but it has been specially tuned for the all new Mazda MX 5 roadster. For the new Mazda MX 5 the SkyActiv G engine offers 150 Nm torque at 4800 rpm, with 96 kilowatts of power at 7000 rpm. This compares very favourably to the most powerful engine version used in the higher spec Mazda2 models. The Mazda2 engine offers a maximum of 81 kilowatts power at 6000 rpm, with 141 Nm torque at 4000 rpm.
The 1.5 litre six speed manual transmission new Mazda MX5 2015 model has a target weight set at 1000 kilograms. There will also be a six speed automatic transmission model available. The current MX 5 features a 2.0 litre engine which offers 118 kilowatts of power at 7000 rpm with 188 Nm torque at 5000 rpm. However, some of the benefit provided by this extra torque and power is wasted due to the higher model weight of the outgoing model. The Anniversary edition recently released for the 25th year celebration of the model weighed in at 1167 kilograms.

Mazda Australia confirmed last year that the all new Mazda MX 5 will be available in a 1.5 litre and a 2.0 litre engine. Mazda has not yet released the torque and power output information for the 2.0 litre engine. However, some markets including the United States and Europe will be restricted to one of these engine options.

If you would like to know more about the new Mazda MX5, contact us. Our sales team would be delighted to answer any questions you may have or arrange for your test drive.