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Fiat 124 Abarth Spider spied, may get Alfa 4C power

We've long been excited to see, hear, and drive the car that results from the in-process Fiat-Mazda partnership. The Italian brand has had access to the excellent 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata on which to base its own roadster, and the fruits of that labor will soon ripen. Spied here is not only the ensuing Fiat 124, but a hotter Abarth tuned version of the spider. At least, that's what we're hoping. Our spy shooters indicated that the car seen here not only sounded more aggressive than 'standard' 124 mules seen previously, but that it also accelerated away from their long lenses with a smartness. The 124 Spider is already rumored to make use of the 1.4-liter turbo I4 that makes 160 horsepower in the Fiat 500 Abarth, and this version may have a still-more-powerful engine. Another tell about the added output are the quad tailpipes in place of the lesser car's set of two. There's no hard evidence to support exactly which engine might be under the 124's hood, however. It's possible that the 1.7-liter turbo from Alfa Romeo 4C could be in play – with its 237-hp output – as the 124 was originally going to wear an Alfa badge. If that were to happen, however, the Fiat would almost certainly get a dual-clutch transmission instead of the purer manual box. In any event, more details about the car will no doubt crop up closer to the expected reveal this fall. Related Video:

Teen Miata enthusiast and friend of Autoblog passes away

When Thomas' illness made it impossible for him to drive, he relied on friends to do it for him.
Attending the reveal of the 2016 MX-5 Miata and the subsequent 25th anniversary celebration at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca confirmed that the little roadster maintains broad appeal, one not limited to the elderly or a certain gender as detractors might have you believe. In fact, the assembled crowd was surprisingly youthful, particularly amongst the club racer set and tuners. But one young Miata owner and superfan unfortunately wasn't in attendance - Thomas Jost, 19, was busy fighting for his life in a Maryland hospital.

Perk up your Mazda Miata with BBR's new 248-horsepower turbo kit

For three decades, enthusiasts have argued whether the Mazda MX-5 Miata needs more power. For its part, Mazda seems fine with leaving the Miata as is, even reducing the horsepower from the third- to fourth-generation models, though the car lost a little weight. That's where tuners like BBR in the UK and Flyin' Miata here in the US step in, offering aftermarket solutions for those that crave a little more grunt. BBR announced today that its new 248-horsepower Stage 1 turbo kit is ready and waiting for the new 2.0-liter-powered ND Miatas, including the new Miata RF. BBR's first Miata turbo kit was released all the way back in 1990. Since then, the shop has been tuning and honing its craft, releasing ever-more potent variations its comprehensive power kit. This new version, like the previous ones, focuses not only on adding more power but maintaining the level of drivability and refinement you expect from all Miatas. The Mazda electronic safety features are retained, and the team is working on CARB emissions approval. That said, with BBR tune an ND Miata will hit 60 mph in just 5.0 seconds, roughly two seconds quicker than stock. To get the peak 248 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque, BBR does more than simply slap on a big turbo. In 2014, BBR began using a Mazda3 as a development vehicle in preparation for the new Miata's launch. A twin-scroll turbocharger is mounted onto a custom cast-iron manifold. A front-mounted aluminum intercooler keep things cool and doesn't require cutting up the bodywork. The engine breathes in through a K&N air filter and exhales through a stainless steel downpipe. The whole thing is controlled by BBR's Starchip / EcuTek RaceRom ECU software package. Other upgrades include silicone turbo pipes, an aluminum battery tray, a recirculating piston type dump valve, a carbon-fiber heat shield, and stainless steel oil and water lines. BBR is offering extended warranties from 12 to 36 months. In the US, the sole distributor is Flyin' Miata in Colorado. At $5,695, it's not a cheap proposition, but it is less expensive than one of Flyin' Miata's V8 swap kits. Less expensive (and less potent) performance kits are also available. Related Video: News Source: BBR Aftermarket Mazda Convertible Performance turbo tuner tuning