Fiat will discontinue the 124 Spider in the US due to slow sales and instead focus on the Fiat 500X crossover.
It really seems like the public doesn’t want fun sports cars anymore. The Fiat 124 Spider was a nimble roadster with flare, but apparently, people seem to prefer boring crossovers and SUVs these days.
The news comes from Fiat itself, so it’s pretty much official. Along with the 124 Spider, the Fiat 500L will also stop selling in the US. And, the worst thing is, FCA doesn’t seem to care much:
“The Fiat 124 Spider and the Fiat 500L will be discontinued after the 2020 model year.”
Hey, but at least they will continue selling the Fiat 500X. Because, you know, crossovers.
Well, at least this time, the US market isn’t alone. Fiat already stopped selling the 124 Spider in Europe, where it also came across lukewarm reception. And it’s not like the roadster is old – the Italian manufacturer had just introduced it back in 2017.
Regardless, a quick look at the numbers tells the whole story. Fiat sold just 1,385 124 Spider while Mazda sold 7500 Miatas.
We compared the two roadsters because they share the same platform. The 124 Spider uses the underpinnings and pretty much the same interior as the MX-5 Miata.
However, instead of the NA engine used in the Japanese counterpart, Fiat used its 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder producing 160 HP and 184 lb-ft of torque – not bad for 124’s lightweight body. It also looks slightly different than the MX-5 Miata. A little more Italian, if you want.
Consequently, the 2021 500X will be the only Fiat vehicle selling in the US. It starts from $26,335, including $1,495 destination fees. Interestingly, Fiat sold only 1,130 units this year.
Nonetheless, the company introduced some upgrades, like adding the $3,400 Sport Value Package. It might help, but we wouldn’t bet our money on it.
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