Abarth 124 GT revealed with carbon-fibre hard-top roof
Sports car gains a removable hard-top unit, with the new version of the roadster due to make its first public appearance at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show
Since its introduction in 2016, the Abarth 124 has only been available in Spider form with a soft-top canvas roof – but that’s all set to change. Introducing the 124 GT: the first hard-top version of the Italian sports car…
The sister car of the 124, the Mazda MX-5, received a retractable hard-top option with the RF in 2016 but this one is a bit different. In fact, there’s no folding here at all, with the carbon-fibre roof a moulded unit that needs fitting and removing manually and has a separate stowing space.
That may sound like a pain but the result is a stiffer and lighter car – meaning better performance. This isn’t just down to removing the roof’s folding mechanism but also because of the hard top itself, which only weighs 16 kilograms thanks to its carbon-fibre construction.
Further distinguishing the GT from the Spider is the addition of 17-inch OZ alloy wheels, which also help reduce the unsprung weight of the car, boasting a three-kilogram loss on the standard 124′s alloys. There’s also the model-exclusive Alpi Orientali Grey livery, which can be finished with red or carbon-fibre wing mirror caps.
Carried over from the regular Abarth 124 Spider is a 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine, producing 168bhp and 250Nm of torque, which can take the car from 0-60mph in 6.6 seconds and up to a 144mph top speed. Giving the engine its distinctive sound is the standard inclusion of the Record Monza exhaust, which Abarth says delivers “a satisfying, deep roar”.
Expect pricing and availability to be announced following the Abarth 124 GT’s debut at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show, taking place from March 8 to 18, where it will appear alongside the Abarth 695 Rivale convertible hot hatchback.
