Fiat 124 car - review, specifications and reviews

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

Italy is famous for its automakers, producing some of the best vehicles in the world. Produced from 1966 to 1974, the Fiat 124 is considered a cult car; in the territory of the former USSR and CIS countries, it was the prototype of the "penny" or VAZ-2101.

History

The company started developing the Fiat 124 in the early 1960s. The first prototype of the model was demonstrated to the whole world in 1964. The presentation of the first generation of the Fiat 124 sedan was carried out in 1966 at the Paris Motor Show after some improvements over the course of two years. A year later, the sedan received the title of "Car of the Year" - the model turned out to be so successful.

Exterior

Fiat 124 has a classic body design: a massive grille, round head optics, large direction indicators, a protruding bumper, an almost square hood and smooth fender lines.

The design of the car profile is monolithic, discreet and calm. All elements are adjusted and proportional, do not stand out against the general background. The roof of the Fiat 124 is almost flat.

The rear of the body is modest, rectangular in shape. The trunk lid is neat, the bumper is in many ways similar to the front bumper. The body structure has a large number of chrome elements - a radiator grille, door handles, bumpers, turn signal edging, headlights, door sills, moldings, windshield wipers and other details.

Fiat 124 engines

The model's first power unit featured a longitudinal arrangement under the hood and a four-cylinder in-line design. Engine displacement 1.2 liters, there was an eight-valve liquid-cooled OHV gas distribution mechanism and a carburetor.

The power characteristics of the Fiat 124 were 60 horsepower, which is a very good indicator for those years. In 1973, the model was upgraded, as a result of which the engine was redesigned and received a power of 65 horsepower, which was achieved by increasing the piston stroke and cylinder diameter.

In the 1970s, a limited series of engines was produced with a displacement of 1.4 to 1.6 liters and a power of 70 to 95 horsepower.

Transmission

The gearbox was installed classic for that time - a four-speed manual, which is great for the proposed engine.

Interior

The interior of the Fiat 124 was quite functional and spacious. The torpedo did not have large dimensions and was finished in wood. The dashboard with a large speedometer was in front of the driver. Temperature and fuel level sensors were located on the sides.

The steering wheel is two-spoke, with a very thin section. On the left side was the ignition switch, the gearshift lever was quite long and fit comfortably in the palm of your hand. The interior of the Fiat also featured a lot of chrome detailing.

The seats of the car did not have proper lateral support and head restraints: the pillows were often too slippery and flat. The visibility level of the Fiat 124 Speciale is not bad, despite the fact that the windshield was small, as were the side mirrors - the A-pillars do not interfere with the driver, and the rear view is not blocked by the headrests of the seats.

Appearance in Russia

When choosing a mass civilian model, the leadership of the Soviet Union settled on the Fiat 124, despite the fact that Renault cars and the domestic hatchback Izh-13 were offered as alternatives, which, by the way, was significantly superior in its characteristics to the Italian competitor.

This choice was made for several reasons:

• A simple and fairly modern car design.
• Support for the Italian Communist Party.
• Spacious interior.
• Popularity in European countries.
• Cheap production.
• Classic layout.

Car recycling

After testing at US, the Fiat 124 destined for the USSR has undergone significant changes: the total number of adjustments madedesigners in the layout of the car, exceeded eight hundred.

The rear end was almost completely redesigned despite the fact that the spring-lever layout was preserved. Disc rear brakes have been replaced by drum brakes.

The engine with a lower camshaft has been replaced by an analog with an overhead camshaft. The clearance increased by 30 millimeters (up to 170 millimeters), the strength of the body's power elements increased. Salon got a more powerful stove. The Soviet analogue of the Fiat 124 received an additional towing eye and two separate places for jacking.

Criticism of the model

Many experts already at that time spoke out against the Fiat 124 Coupe, holding the opinion that the rear-wheel drive design was outliving its last days, and in the case of this car, there was no room for further improvement.

Despite the rather controversial reviews, in the USSR the car was quite highly appreciated by both specialists and ordinary motorists, especially given the fact that the domestic auto industry was not a strong enough competitor for the Italian one.

Fiat 124 lineup

The Fiat 125 was launched in 1967 with an improved version of the large-size version: the car was almost identical to the 124, but equipped with a leaf spring suspension and a 90 horsepower engine. At the same time, an improved Fiat 124 Speciale began to be produced, equipped with an overhead power unit with a capacity of 70 horsepower. It was this version that was used as a prototype for the VAZ-2103, despite the fact that the domestic car was originally supposed to be created according to the Fiat 125 patterns.

Two-shaft engines were installed by the Italian concern on the Fiat 124 Sport Spider and Coupe, the development of the body for which was carried out by the Pininfarina studio. It is difficult to call them direct descendants of the original 124 model: both cars were produced in limited series on special orders.

In the station wagon body, a more versatile cargo-passenger version of the car was produced - the Fiat 124 Familiare, which was used as a prototype for the VAZ-2102.

Sport Coupe Model

In 1967, the public debut of the Fiat 124 Sport Coupe, based on a three-volume model, took place. Serial production of the car was launched in Turin and continued until 1975, giving way to Fiat 131.

The Fiat 124 sports coupe was a five-seat, two-door C-Class. The body length was 4115 mm with a wheelbase of 2421 mm, width - 1669 mm, height - 1339 mm, ground clearance - 121 mm. Depending on the chosen modification, the weight of the model ranged from 960 to 1070 kilograms.

Specifications

The Sport Coupe was powered by a range of in-line V4 naturally aspirated petrol engines equipped with either central injection or carburetor fuel injection. The working volume of the units varied from 1.4 to 1.8 liters, power - from 90 to 120 horsepower. The engines were equipped with foureither a five-speed manual or three-speed automatic transmission.

The Italian coupe was built on the basis of a rear-wheel drive platform with a load-bearing body structure and a power plant with a longitudinal placement. The front suspension of the car is an independent cross-section with double levers, the rear one is a dependent spring-lever type. The steering of the two-door model was rack and pinion, the braking system was represented by disc brakes.

In Russia, the Fiat 124 Sport Coupe is an exclusive car and is extremely rare.

The advantages of this model are a roomy and spacious interior, a reliable and spacious body structure, excellent handling and aesthetic design. Disadvantages - a rather high cost without discounts for a decent age, high fuel consumption and expensive maintenance due to the need to order parts from the US or Europe.

Resurrection of the 124th family

In 2015, Fiat decided to resume production of the 124 family, presenting to the automotive community a new, sporty version of the Fiat 124 Spider, developed on the basis of the Mazda ND. The car was produced in a limited series on special orders.

Before the success of the debut of the Fiat 124 Sport Spider roadster had died down, the Italian concern demonstrated a special version of the car - the Abarth model, which premiered in 2016 as part of the Geneva Motor Show.

Unlike the previous Spider model, the new Abarth has received significant changes asexterior and interior, reconfigured suspension, aimed at improving the behavior of the car on the track and its handling. The developers of the car set themselves the main goal - to create the perfect car with excellent dynamics and excellent handling.

Exterior

Fiat 124 Abarth is a stylish, bright, incredibly aesthetic and even sexy car that attracts attention. Compared to the classic Spider, you can see that the front of the body received a more aggressive bumper design, a redesigned false radiator grille and air intake, a new fog optics design and the Abarth logo placed on the hood.

The profile of the car is made in the best traditions of sports cars: the windshield is folded back, the cockpit is shifted to the rear wheels, and the hood is extended. Design innovations include sporty skirts, bright red side mirrors, exclusive wheels and Abarth logo badges placed behind the front wheel arches.

The rear of the Fiat 124 Spider Abarth has also been redesigned with a more aggressive bumper, aerodynamic diffuser and integrated exhaust pipes.

Spider Abarth body is made in the following dimensions:

• Length - 4054 mm.
• Height - 1233 mm.
• Width - 1740 millimeters.
• Wheelbase - 2310 mm.

Exclusive car is equipped with light-alloy wheels with a unique design and a diameter of 18 inches. Roadthe clearance of the sports car is 135 millimeters, which is very, very small for Russian roads.

Abarth Interior

The architecture of the dashboard is almost identical to that of the standard Spider and Mazda MX-5 except for some elements. The three-spoke multifunction steering wheel is adorned with the Abarth logo in the center and the zero position mark. The instrument panel is divided into three sections and features a red-trimmed speedometer. In the central part of the instrument panel there is a seven-inch display of the multimedia system and an ergonomic climate control unit. The pedals feature metal pads and the interior is made using Alcantara, one of the most sought-after materials in supercar interiors.

The range of adjustment of the front seats is huge, which allows a person of any height and build to fit comfortably and comfortably.

The massive central tunnel, located between the seats, is equipped with a gearshift lever, controls for the Fiat Connect 7 system and a small box. The usual glove box in the cabin is missing, and there are not enough separate pockets and niches. Interior decoration is made at the highest level using exclusive materials - Alcantara, soft plastic, aluminum and genuine leather.

The luggage compartment offers 140 liters of usable space and is covered along with the interior by a mechanically folding soft roof.

Sports car specifications

The standard Fiat 124 Spider is equipped with 1,A 140-horsepower 4-liter turbocharged petrol engine, which in the exclusive version of Abarth was replaced by a 1.4-liter turbocharged MultiAir engine with 170 horsepower. The maximum speed as a result of this change increased to 230 km / h, and the acceleration time to the first hundred was 6.8 seconds.

Surprisingly, such an increase in power had almost no effect on fuel consumption: in combined mode, the sports car consumes 6-6.5 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers.

Paired with a turbocharged engine, a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission is installed. The gearshift of the Sequenziale Sportivo is carried out using the paddles on the steering wheel.

The top version of the Abarth is based on the well-known rear-wheel drive bogie previously used in the Mazda MX-5. The curb weight of the car is 1060 kilograms, while a well-thought-out layout made it possible to distribute it along the axes in a ratio of 50:50. The Italian concern Fiat said that the Abarth chassis was completely reconfigured, which, coupled with the installation of a Bilstein suspension kit, made it possible to achieve incredible handling. The charged version of the Spider Abarth also comes with a Brembo braking system, a sports exhaust system and a self-locking differential.

Compared to the Japanese counterpart Mazda MX-5, Fiat's steering is heavier due to the electric power steering. As a result, on the track, the sports car behaves much more predictably and accurately, giving the driver a trueenjoyment of the driving process. Numerous reviews of car owners confirm this.

Security system

The Fiat 124 Abarth hasn't seen any significant safety changes. Despite this, the programmed crumple zones, a large number of assistant systems and a special protective frame provide a high level of protection and safety for both driver and passenger. Security systems offered include:

• Four airbags.
• Cruise control.
• Stability control system and four-channel ABS.
• Torque control system.
• Tire pressure sensors.
• Efficient Brembo braking system.
• System of control and distribution of braking force.
• Parking assistant.
• Running and fog LED lights.
• Reverse camera.
• Hill Assist.
• Three-point seat belts and other systems.

In terms of safety and reliability, the compact sports car Fiat 124 Spider Abarth is almost as good as its larger competitors. This is noted by many motorists.

Packages and current prices

A special version of the Fiat 124 Spider Abarth in European car markets is sold by official dealers at a minimum price of 40 thousand euros (approximately 2.8 million rubles), while for American markets a sports car is offered at a price of 28.2 thousand dollars.

Unfortunately, in Russia, a sports carThe Spider Abarth is not officially introduced, nor is the standard Fiat 124 Spider. The probability of both models entering the domestic market tends to zero, which is explained not only by the extremely high cost, but also by the low popularity of Fiat cars among Russian motorists. However, you can also buy an exclusive car from European dealers with its subsequent distillation in Russia.