L.A. Auto Show 2015: 2017 Fiat 124 Spider

Nov. 18, 2015 1:50 PM PT

What is it:

Bringing back a beloved if eccentric crowd-pleaser from the '60s and '70s, Fiat is reintroducing this classic, stripped-down, two-door, convertible roadster. Luckily, for those concerned about Fiat reliability, the engine and power train are mostly made by Mazda: This is a Miata, in other words, in Italian clothes.

(Webb Bland / Fiat)

Why it matters:

The Fiat brand was once associated with affordable fun and European flair. This convertible could make that happen again. Americans have become accustomed to the quirky Fiat 500s, and might be ready to embrace a sprightly soft top.

UPDATES: Get live updates from the floor of the L.A. Auto Show

What's new:

Stylistically in some ways to the Fiat 124 Spiders of the '60s and '70s, this is the first sexy Fiat to come off the line in quite a while.

The competition:

The landscape isn’t exactly crowded with two-seat sports cars. Fiat will fall somewhere between the highly affordable Mazda MX-5, on which its platform is based, and the expensive but exciting Alfa Romeo 4C Spider – also just introduced, and hoping to catch the same rag-top wave.

PHOTOS: See the best of the L.A. Auto Show

(Webb Bland / Fiat)

The details:

Powertrain: 1.4 liter turbocharged 4-cylinder

Transmission: Six-speed manual or six-speed automatic

Fuel economy: N/A

Horsepower: 160

Torque: 184

Autos

Charles Fleming

Charles Fleming writes about automobiles and motorcycles for the Los Angeles Times’ Business section. He also writes the urban hiking column LA Walks. A former staff writer for Newsweek, Variety and the Los Angeles Herald Examiner, he is the author of the Los Angeles Times bestseller “High Concept: Don Simpson and the Hollywood Culture of Excess,” the New York Times bestseller “My Lobotomy,” and “Secret Stairs, A Walking Guide to the Historic Staircases of Los Angeles” and its sequel, “Secret Walks: A Walking Guide to the Hidden Trails of Los Angeles.”