We don’t know if you should be surprised or not, but Fiat’s new 124 Spider has roughly the same starting price as the car it’s based on, the Mazda MX-5 in the USA, at $24,995, excluding a $995 destination for the manual model.
In comparison, Mazda’s base 2016 MX-5 Sport with a 155hp 2.0-liter engine and 6sp manual starts at $24,915 plus an $820 destination fee, while the range-topping Grand Touring model with the same engine and gearbox is priced from $30,065.
Fiat’s Italian interpretation of the Japanese roadster comes with a 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder Multiair engine that produces 160hp and 184 lb.-ft. of torque on the Classica and Lusso models, and 165hp and 184 lb.-ft. of torque on the Abarth, with all models offering a standard 6sp manual and an $1,350 optional 6sp automatic transmission.
With the entry level $24,995 (plus $995 destination) Spider Classica you get 16-inch alloy wheels, Nero (black) cloth seats, Halogen front lights and LED tail lamps along with all the usual comfort and safety amenities.
The $27,495, plus $995 destination, Spider Lusso gives you 17-inch wheels, leather seats in Nero (black) or Saddle, a leatherette-wrapped cluster brow and lower instrument panel, plus Piano Black accents throughout.
For a little bit more, at $28,195, plus $995 destination, you can jump in the sportier tuned Spider Abarth, which besides an extra 5hp, adds front and rear Bilstein sport suspension, mechanical limited-slip differential, front strut tower bar, Sport Mode selector and sport-tuned chrome quad-tip exhaust, plus unique front and rear fascia, 17-inch wheels and Gun Metal exterior accents. The Abarth edition also offers the option of a Brembo braking system and Recaro seats.
Finally, for a limited time only, Fiat will offer 124 examples of the $35,000, plus $995 destination, Spider Prima Edizione Lusso, each individually numbered with a commemorative badge and available in the exclusive to this edition, Azzurro Italia (Blue) exterior paint with premium leather seats in Saddle. You also get a matching blue leather bag, journal with pen and a poster showcasing original design illustration with vehicle dimensions, but still, that $7,000 price jump over the Lusso and Abarth is a hard pill to swallow…