IT MAY have seemed an unlikely pairing when it was announced, but the cross-continental collaboration between Mazda and Fiat that has birthed the Abarth 124 Spider, gives customers another option for an affordable and fun drop-top roadster.

Built in Mazda’s Hiroshima plant alongside the fourth-generation MX-5 – upon which it is based – Abarth has replaced the powerplant with a 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder, butched up the styling, added bigger brakes and tweaked the suspension to deliver an wholly different two-seat convertible.

Add a limited-slip differential to the rear-drive, two-seat formula and the Abarth 124 Spider promises plenty of thrills and excitement, but can the Italian roadster deliver on what is promised on paper?

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