WHEN Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) announced it would launch a sportscar based on the accomplished Mazda MX-5 it caused as much trepidation as it did excitement.

If handled tactfully, the resulting model could be a perfect balance of Japanese engineering and MX-5 fun coupled with Italian charm, but in the wrong hands the project could spoil the MX-5’s delicate balance with too much emphasis on performance.

In place of naturally aspirated engines, the Abarth 124 Spider uses a smaller turbo unit along with a number of high-performance upgrades wrapped up in a shell that could not be further removed from the Mazda’s aesthetics.

Add a starting price of $43,500 driveaway to that package of looks and kit and you are looking at a compelling proposition that appears to offer even better value than the equivalent 2.0-litre MX-5, but it’s a long way from the glossy catalogue to the open road.

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