Launched in 2018, the Abarth 124 GT keeps the bones of the Mazda MX-5 but adds the 170 hp 1.4 MultiAir turbo and, above all, a removable carbon hardtop. It is not just a styling spin-off: the engine delivers earlier shove than a naturally aspirated Japanese roadster, the sound is thicker, and the car ends up with a rare double personality, half open roadster and half weekend coupe.
The 124 GT keeps the playful rear axle and low seating position of the 124 Spider, yet its real appeal lies in that unusual balance between lightness and versatility. The manual gearbox suits the MultiAir's torque better, while the Aisin automatic is more about brisk touring. Bilstein dampers, the limited-slip differential and the Record Monza exhaust are exactly the parts that make this version feel far more serious than a fashionable convertible.