Is that a sports car in its own right,
or just a Mazda with a different badge on?
Well, before we find out,
let's look a bit more closely at the badge.
Because you'll notice it says Abarth.
Abarth are Fiat's go- to people
when they want to light a fire under one of their cars.
Not light an actual fire, but give what's already there
some extra zest and zing and fire.
For starters, Abarth has tuned the 1.4 litre turbo- charged engine,
so that this, the hottest 124, is faster than any MX- 5.
0- 60 takes 6.8 seconds.
And the top speed is 145mph.
But in a car like this that feels like 145 million.
Certainly bundles for me.
And it's not just performance where the 124 has the edge
over its Japanese half- brother.
I have to admit, and this comes from someone
who struggles to find fault with the MX- 5,
the 124 does sound better.
Abarth have given it something called the Record Monza exhaust system.
What it does is make a small car produce a big- car noise.
(ENGINE ROARS)
It's like a cat in a lion suit
and that's exactly the sort of panto you want.
What I'm saying here is that this car does its own thing.
It has its own personality. And that's important.
But on the next point, the 124 does take a bit of a body blow.
You see, there's a price to pay for all this Abarth- ness.
And that price is £30,000.
£5,000 more than the top MX- 5.
That said, the 124 does give you more under the skin,
most notably in the handling department.
The thing is, Abarth have given this car a limited- slip diff...
which makes sliding something you command.
(TYRES SCREECH)
The MX- 5 doesn't have that.
Neither does it have this sport button here,
which relaxes the stability control.
Quite a lot.
So, what we have here is a car that's fast,
sounds good and is great fun in the corners.
But there's something else very important about the 124.
I don't know that there's really a million miles of difference
between this and the MX- 5.
But everything I do in this car I'm doing in an Italian sports car.
And it is impossible for that not to put you in a good mood.
It does feel so good to be in a small, Italian roadster again.
It's about time.
Everything about this little Fiat is designed to stir the emotions.
And make you smile like a child.
Right down to the retro black bonnet.
God, I love a black bonnet!
It just... Ooh!
It's just...a black bonnet.
Only cool cars have black bonnets. Fact!
I really like the MX- 5.
But the 124 has taken those Japanese foundations
and added some Italian showmanship.
That's why I'd have it over the Mazda.
I don't just like it, I love it.