Car & Driver: Tin-Top Talk: A Fiat 124 Coupe Could Be a Thing

Does the world need another lightweight, affordably priced rear-wheel-drive coupe? We say yes. That’s why we’re stoked by rumors that a Fiat 124 coupe is in the works.

Autocar claims Fiat wants to build a genuine coupe that’s all-new from the A-pillars back, not a hardtop convertible like the Abarth 124 Spider Rally (pictured) or a retractable Porsche-style targa like the MX-5 Miata RF. If that’s what it takes to distance the Mazda-built 124 Spider from the Miata and inject more sport into this plusher, heavier car, we’re for it. Our recent comparison of the two cars left us smitten with the Miata and lukewarm for the 124 for exactly that reason.

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• 2017 Fiat 124 Spider Abarth vs. 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata Club -
• 2017 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF: The Fastback You’ve Been Waiting For, Only Better -
• Fiat 124 Spider Research: Everything You Need to Know About the Miata-Based Italian-

Even if it happens, $30,000 coupes don’t sell in big numbers after the first model year, as evidenced by the Subaru BRZ and Scion FR-S (now Toyota 86). But if Fiat can add significantly more power—something Subaru and Toyota have refused to do—it may have a gem that could be more compelling than costlier premium coupes like the BMW 228i.

Now maybe we can convince Toyota to build the 86 Shooting Brake concept.

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