You may think it is mad to bring you a review of a new Italian sports convertible considering we have just changed the clocks, ready for the onslaught of winter, but the 124 Spider from Fiat is an important car.

The original Fiat 124 Spider was launched in 1966 and enjoyed many years of great success, especially in the United States. Fiat have had fantastic mass market success in the UK with the rebirth of the 500, and it feels the right time for the iconic Italian brand to bring another classic from their past back to life.

The Italian design flair shines through
When thinking about building the Fiat 124 Spider, the Italian manufacturer decided to partner up with Mazda, who gave them their well-honed MX5 platform as a base. The 124 Spider, however, does not share a single body panel with the Mazda MX5 and this is where the Italian design flair shines through. The 124 Spider feels much longer than the MX5 – not a snub-nosed sports car, but a cruising roadster. The bonnet sits out long in front of you and gives a feeling of grandeur as you are driving along. Nice touches such as the swallowtail rear wings nod to the vintage 124.

A versatile package
Engine-wise, Fiat has placed a turbocharged 1.4-litre Multiair in the 124 Spider, pushing out 138bhp and it provides a versatile package. On the motorway, the turbo allows the engine to become a comfortable cruiser, but when pushed on a twisty road it also gives out plenty of power where it is needed. The economic engine (44.1mpg combined) is mated to a fine six speed manual box with an automatic option being available in 2017.

I tested the Fiat 124 Spider with a friend of mine who is also a Motoring Journalist. He is a “spirited” driver and the grip the car had was fantastic. No flex in the chassis due to the MX5 DNA, and when the traction control was switched off it turned into a sportster that was very happy to slide the back end around.

An intuitive design
The interior of the Fiat does share a few elements with the MX5, such as the infotainment software, but the 124 Spider does still have an Italian feel. It’s a nice place to be with body hugging leather seats and an intuitive design. Cabin storage is a little limited, but, as you have a soft top roof on the 124 Spider, the boot is really generous at 140 litres.

Mentioning about the roof, the 124 Spider inherits the same fantastically simple roof mechanism as the Mazda MX5, which can be put up and down literally in seconds. The fabric is also insulated so wind noise when speeding down the motorway is very limited.

All the essential driver aids you may require
Prices for the Fiat 124 Spider start at £19,545 for the entry level Classica spec, but I would recommend going for the Lusso spec at £22,295, which upgrades the seats to plush Italian leather and gives you all the essential driver aids you may require.