Showing posts with label roadster. Show all posts
Showing posts with label roadster. Show all posts

Monday, September 30, 2019

GT SPORT: How the Mazda Roadster progressed

2019 marks the 30th anniversary of the Mazda Roadster (known in the world market as the MX-5 Miata) and here at GT SPORT, it's time to experiment the first and the latest generation of Mazda's lightweight, open-top, sportscar that impressed the speedo boys worldwide with its accessible dynamics that made it unique.



How about a quick history lesson, shall we? The first Roadster (designated as NA) debuted in 1989 under the name, Eunos Roadster. which of course, Eunos is one of the brands from Mazda aside from Efini and Autozam back then. Sold worldwide as the MX-5 Miata, the Eunos Roadster was hugely popular among enthusiasts because of such lightweight chassis. The Eunos Roadster is powered with either a B6-ZE 1597cc 4-cylinder DOHC engine that produces 120ps/6500rpm of power or the BP-ZE 1839cc 4-cylinder DOHC engine that produces 130ps/6500rpm of power. There are so many special editions of the NA Roadster, including the S-Special, V-Special, or the J Limited.

The latest Roadster (designated as ND) still retains the same Roadster legacy while gaining its new look and new features. The ND is a hundred kilograms lighter than the previous NC model and it is powered by a SKYACTIV-G 1.5L petrol engine developing a reasonable 131PS of power and 150Nm of torque while mated with either a Toyota-derived 6-speed automatic or a newly-developed SKYACTIV-MT 6-speed gearbox developed specifically for the new Roadster.

Now that we know about the first and the latest Roadsters, how about a little experiment at Tsukuba Circuit, the venue of a popular one-make race series for Mazda Roadsters?



By taking the past and the present Roadsters for a spin round Tsukuba, you can really feel how much the Roadster recipe has improved over the past three decades. The NA Roadster is all about being a driver-focused sportscar with a no-nonsense point of view that lets drivers do the talking rather than the car itself. The ND Roadster, meanwhile, may be more poshed-up compared to the first one but despite having luxury stuff onto it, it still feels like a Roadster. It just is.

To see how much the Roadster has improved from the NA to the ND, it's time for a quick lap attack round Tsukuba.


After a quick lap round Tsukuba, here are the lap times;

NA - 1:16.703
ND - 1:13.344

So, three decades of Roadster history, it took about three seconds to improve the recipe, which is rather obvious but I'll take it into consideration.



For three decades, the Mazda Roadster has been the prime example of what a proper sportscar should be; focusing solely on dynamics rather than the performance itself and while it is not as fast and powerful as today's sportscars, its fun-to-drive character can't be beaten out cold and let's hope the Mazda Roadster will continue to soldier on for several years even though in this ever changing world where sportscars are continue to rule out in favor of bigger ones that don't do dirty things.

Never change, please.

Tuesday, April 30, 2019

GT SPORT: The modern Heisei JDMs

Earlier, after a little game at Tsukuba on GT SPORT, I crowned the R34 Skyline GT-R as the best Japanese sportscar to emerge from the early years of the Heisei era. Continuing on our farewell tribute to the Heisei era on GT SPORT, it's time to bring in the modern Heisei JDMs. Before you ask, no, you won't see the GR Supra in here because that one hasn't been on sale yet.







As the Heisei era tips to the climax here's how the Japanese car industry progressed so far. For Mazda, the only sporty offering in the SKYACTIV era is basically the ND Roadster, which celebrates its 30th birthday this year, the Lancer Evolution X is the last Lancer Evolution ever made and its reign ended in 2015 with a Final Edition, today's WRX STi is all about conquering the Nurburgring rather than rallying, Toyota wowed us with the 86 (which is made in cooperation with Subaru), Lexus continues to upset the luxury car market with their flagship LC grand tourer, and today's NSX is a hybrid supercar. Out of the modern Heisei JDMs, the R35 Nissan GT-R reigns supreme or is it?



To find out, I'm using the Tsukuba Circuit again to see which one of the modern Heisei-era Japanese sportscars is the top star and I got a little something for it later on so ladies and gentlemen, let's get this show on the track.



After the time of their lives at Tsukuba, here come the results...

Roadster S (ND) '15 - 1:14.018
86 GT '15 - 1:11.302
WRX STi Type S '14 - 1:07.100
Lancer Evo.Final '15 - 1:06.282
LC500 '17 - 1:06.129
NSX '17 - 1:03.377
GT-R '17 - 1:01.974



Here you are, ladies and gentlemen. The R35 is, without a shadow of a doubt, the best modern Heisei-era Japanese sportscar ever made but the question now is, is it really the best Heisei-era car? Check back for the big finish of this Heisei-ending tribute.

Thursday, October 11, 2018

Mitsuoka Rock Star

Let's be honest, the C2 Chevrolet Corvette is hands down one of the best-looking cars of all time and because the design is nothing but legendary, the people from Mitsuoka hatched a brainwave to make their own rendition of the C2 Corvette, only if you are prepared to sacrifice your Mazda Roadster ND for that matter.

2019 Mitsuoka Rock Star
2019 Mitsuoka Rock Star

This is Mitsuoka Motor's 50th anniversary present to them, it's called the Rock Star and by first glance, it really is a modernized take of the C2 Chevrolet Corvette, one of the best-looking cars of all time, but don't pray that it sounds like and drives like one because like I said, this is just a Mazda Roadster ND underneath by the time you realized that the striking looks of today's Mazda Roadster just too ugly to your line of sights.

Similar to today's ND Roadster based Himiko which looks like a rendition of the classic Morgan Roadster, the Rock Star blends the drivability of a good, honest, Japanese sports car with the looks of a classic American muscle car and remember this; this is the kind of car for car enthusiasts who don't want to experience the wrath of customs for smuggling a C2 Corvette to Japanese roads and with the prices start at 4,688,200 Japanese Yen (around $47,000), it can easily fool everyone thinking that you're driving a second-generation Corvette except the truth is, you're driving an ND Roadster disguised as a C2 Corvette. What are the odds?

Thanks to the fact that it was based on the Roadster, the Rock Star is powered by a SKYACTIV-G 1.5L petrol engine producing 131PS of power and 150Nm of torque, mated with either a 6-speed AT or MT. Of course, it maybe short on power but because it weighs a ton, it's basically nimble and agile just like what a proper low-power roadster should be. It's got rack and pinion steering, front double wishbones, rear multilink suspension, ventilated disc brakes, and so on, meaning that this is an easy-to-drive car that you can cruise it around the Yoko Yokohama Yokosuka without letting the customs yell at you.

Because this is a special model commemorating Mitsuoka's 50th birthday, the Rock Star is available in a strictly limited basis so you better get this Roadster disguised as a C2 Corvette while you still can.

Available colors: Los Angeles Blue, Chicago Red, New York Black, San Francisco Orange, Washington White, and Arizona Yellow.

Source: Mitsuoka Motor Co., Ltd.

Friday, February 23, 2018

Mitsuoka -ALL NEW- Himiko (DBA-ND5RC改)

For car enthusiasts who want a Mazda Roadster ND but don't like the way it looks, don't fret because Mitsuoka, known for turning everyday cars look like classics like the Corolla-based Ryugi, the Teana-based Galue, and the March-based Viewt, brings back the Himiko roadster and because this is an all-new Himiko we're talking about, the Mazda Roadster ND you're familiar with is now donning the identity of a Morgan roadster just like the previous model.

2018 Mitsuoka Himiko
2018 Mitsuoka Himiko

Just like the original Himiko, Mitsuoka retained the look of the Morgan roadster from start to finish while taking precious man hours converting the sporty Mazda Roadster ND into a neo-classic masterpiece for the gentlemen who want to try pass out a JDM sportscar as a vintage English cruiser in all the wrong barrels. You got to give 'em credit for that and on the inside, it's pretty much like the Roadster ND but it was festooned with Alcantara-ish dashboard and steering wheel as well as its handcrafted leather seats that will make the regular Roadster jealous because this is all about fancy living.

Because it was based on the Mazda Roadster ND, the new Himiko is powered by a SKYACTIV-G 1.5L petrol engine producing 131PS of power and 150Nm of torque, mated with either a 6-speed AT or MT. Of course, it maybe short on power but because it weighs a ton, it's basically nimble and agile just like what a proper low-power roadster should be. It's got rack and pinion steering, front double wishbones, rear multilink suspension, ventilated disc brakes, and so on, keeping the new Himiko's driving experience is as delicate as sipping rose tea after dark.

The all-new Himiko starts at 4,978,800 Japanese Yen (around $50,000) so it's basically more expensive than the Mazda Roadster ND it was based on but look at this way, the new Himiko is for those who wanted an ND-spec Roadster but don't like the styling and because it has everything you'd expect from the sportscar it was based on but wrapped in vintage car looks, it's all about blending the past and the present in a rather amusing way and I think they're onto something here.

Photo: Mitsuoka Motor Co., Ltd.

Sunday, December 10, 2017

Forza Motorsport 7: Italian Lessons

A few moments ago, I get to try out the new Fiat 124 Spider Abarth, which is part of the Samsung QLED TV Car Pack of Forza Motorsport 7, and I was amazed that it has a lot to live up being the modern-day successor to the original Fiat 124 Spider from the distant past. Now, let's get to the interesting part about what if the 124 and the Roadster clash each other. Let's get this show on the road.





What better way to settle this showdown than taking it to the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Hence the name, this is how America's top motoring magazines test the latest cars here. It was also the perfect venue for the Best Driver's Car every year and now, it will be my playground for the main event I've lined up for the two open-top roadsters.





Every gearhead is familiar with the Laguna Seca raceway ever since they were nine years old so they are familiar with the breakneck twists and turns as well as the dreaded Corkscrew corner that trips even the best drivers due to the tricky elevation. It's best to be careful when you're out there but because all of you are familiar with Laguna Seca, this should be a walk in the park for you.





Of course, the MX-5/Roadster ND and the 124 Spider are built in the same factory but what differs between then are the dynamics because Fiat engineered the 124 by themselves, meaning most of the components are different than the MX-5 and in the 124 Spider Abarth, the 1.4L MultiAir engine produces slightly more power than the MX-5's SKYACTIV-G 2.0L petrol engine, the engine that is not available in Japan but only offered on the RF variant. Yes, it maybe slightly more powerful but the MX-5 is shockingly lighter than the 124 Spider, meaning these two byproduct of the Axis Powers are on equal footing and equal is kinda boring for me so to spice things up, I've added a little wild card to this showdown.





Surprise! It's an Alfa Romeo 4C and it has the pricing equivalent of these two mentioned above, which is rather expensive for a man with exquisite taste but the 1750cc turbocharged 4-cylinder engine produces 240HP of power while mated with a 6-speed Alfa TCT Dual Dry Clutch Transmission, resulting to a 0-100kph time of 4.5 seconds and top speed of 258kph. Yes, I know this is faster than these two but the 4C's not important here because this is the battle of the relatives, although I can use it as a benchmark.



With the 4C set a 1:51.122 lap time, the goal is for these two is to get as close to the time set by it, but sadly, none of them can match the 4C's because it's too darn quick for its own. Still, I can get on with the main event where two Hiroshima-born relatives will settle the score once and for all at the Laguna Seca. This will be a match between power and lightness and because the 124 and the MX-5 are on equal footing, this could be very one-sided.

Time to get this show on the roll...


And now, the moment of truth...

124 - 1:58.495
MX-5 ND - 1:58.799

I called it. It really is a close call for these two because with the 124's grunt and the MX-5 lightness, the result is as close as the Senate majority and I am very shocked that even in the most powerful 124 Abarth, the driving experience is as same as the less powerful but light top-spec variant of the MX-5 and I will never forget this kind of experience.



No matter how many Italian lessons this Japan-born roadster has learn, it still behaves like a lightweight Japanese car and in the case of the most powerful 124 variant, the Abarth, it still behaves like the top-spec MX-5 variant and because of such close result, it's hard to decide which one is the victor, although I had to admit that it was a hollow victory for the 124 Spider Abarth, but a pinch on the result really makes a big difference between the two byproducts of the Axis Powers. Looks like I'm quaking my sitting muscle right about now but I'm glad I put these two for a close match. Speaking of which, I had a little surprise for the 124...







Italian lessons really payed off!

Friday, October 27, 2017

GT SPORT: Be a driver.

Mazda is known for making some of the liveliest vehicles on the road that combine thought-provoking design, impressive fuel efficiency, and rewarding driving pleasure courtesy of the Japanese car company's SKYACTIV Technology which blends the ideal balance of performance and efficiency at the same time. In a game like GT SPORT, there are two SKYACTIV Mazdas you can try in the game such as the third-generation Mazda Atenza (Mazda6) saloon and the fourth-generation Mazda Roadster (MX-5).

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First, let's begin with the Atenza, known to the world market as the Mazda6. The third-generation Atenza was launched in late 2012 and the exterior design draws inspiration from the Takeri Concept as seen on the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show. One of the most interesting bits about the third-generation Atenza is that it comes with a choice of a 2.0L SKYACTIV-G engine (PE-VPR) and this, a 2.2L SKYACTIV-D (SH-VPTR) clean diesel engine lifted from the CX-5 crossover, producing 175PS of power and fuel economy by JC08 standards of 20km/L (22.4km/L with the all new SKYACTIV-MT transmission), making it one of the most efficient midsize saloons on the market. It is the first to introduce a new kind of Regenerative Braking System called i-ELOOP and i-ACTIVSENSE, which is a series of Mazda's advanced safety technologies designed to aid the driver in recognizing hazards, avoiding collisions, and reducing the severity of accidents when they cannot be avoided.

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This particular Atenza is not the Atenza we fell in love with in 2012. In fact, this is the facelifted version that was launched in Japan in early 2015. It's been given a refreshed exterior design, and a new interior featuring Mazda Connect, and that's it. What it still retains is the choice of engines, especially the strong-selling diesel variant that I'm driving now, and even with a different face, it's still the Atenza we fell in love with since 2012. Just by experiencing how the SKYACTIV magic feels in this midsize saloon, it's surprisingly lively even for a cheesy oil burner like this one and it feels so easy to drive even for newcomers to GT SPORT.

For a car garnering so many awards and accolades, the third-generation Mazda Atenza really woos the drivers with its perfect balance of style, efficiency, and performance, nothing that you can really expect for a midsize saloon of this magnitude.

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Now, what about the fourth-generation Roadster? Launched in 2015, the ND-spec Mazda Roadster (MX-5) continues the predecessors' tradition of valuing aerodynamics over performance, something that draws inspiration from British sports cars of the past. With the lighter bodywork, smaller engine, and rear-wheel drive, the Roadster continues to impress numerous car enthusiasts worldwide and with this latest generation, the ND Roadster still impresses the new wave of car enthusiasts.

Weighing 100kg less than the previous model, the new Roadster is as light as the first-ever Eunos Roadster of 1989, courtesy of their "gram strategy", involving the extensive use of lightweight aluminum materials. In true Roadster tradition, it's powered by a smaller SKYACTIV-G 1.5L petrol engine developing a reasonable 131PS of power and 150Nm of torque while mated with either a 6-speed automatic or a newly-developed SKYACTIV-MT 6-speed gearbox developed specifically for the new Roadster.

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Because of the classic Roadster recipe that has been around for two and a half decades, the Mazda Roadster ND really is a celebration of the past rather than a vision of the future and you can tell from its unique dynamics that makes anyone new to the driving genre a courtesy call to be part of this ever-growing trend. It can be a bit bitey because it's rear-wheel drive but when it comes to understanding how to drive a car in GT SPORT, the Roadster is all about welcoming new drivers with open arms.

So, now that we get to know about the SKYACTIV-powered Mazdas in GT SPORT, how about getting to know these cars better by sending them on a lap around the Indy Circuit layout of Brands Hatch? This should be interesting and scientific because a certain Mazda fan forced me to do so after all that jamming down those Mazda-related articles to his Mazda files. Let's see if he can jam this one.

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As you may know, the Roadster is much more enjoyable to drive than the Atenza because it's lighter but because the Atenza's SKYACTIV-D engine that powers it produces more power than the Roadster, this is going to be a one-sided comparison between the two Mazdas. Anyway, no time for fast talk because it's time to put these two into action.


Both these Mazdas benefit from their SKYACTIV Technology, making them very rewarding to drive from start to finish, but even though the Roadster is very easy to drive, the Atenza's diesel engine gave it a lot of oomph and a lot of aah to go through the extra mile. With the dust settled, time for the results;

Atenza - 1:02.853
Roadster - 1:05.5

The businessman's saloon has beaten the sportscar by about two and a half seconds and that sounds uncanny but worth the shot driving two Mazdas benefitting the ideal balance SKYACTIV Technology possesses.

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With the Atenza and the Roadster, Mazda sure knows how to make cars that can liven up the drivers' sense as if they know how to put the drivers' interests first before everything else. Even on the wrong path, Mazdas remain very engaging to drive and live it to the slogan, these cars make you want to "be a driver." And that is the bottom line.

Thursday, November 10, 2016

Mazda Roadster (ND) RF

Last year, Mazda introduced us the fourth-generation Roadster/MX-5 and this new model implements Mazda's revolutionary SKYACTIV Technology which balances fuel efficiency and performance at a same pace. Even though it's all-new, the Roadster formula still remains; light body, small engine, rear-wheel drive, and its fun-to-drive character. Following the success of the latest Roadster, Mazda introduced us a brand new variant that is a fitting present for the speedo boys for the holiday season.

2017 Mazda Roadster RF

At first glance, it looks vaguely similar to the current-generation Roadster, except for one major difference; a retractable hardtop targa roof to resemble a coupe-like silhouette. That, ladies and gentlemen, is the first-ever Mazda Roadster RF. RF means Retractable Fastback and true to its name, the new retractable hardtop delivers a coupe-like silhouette from every angle while delivering the classic Roadster feeling speedo boys enjoyed.

2017 Mazda Roadster RF interior
2017 Mazda Roadster RF

Apparently, because of the roof, the RF weighs a hundred more than the softop equivalent but despite its added weight from the hardtop roof, it's still a light car that values aerodynamics over performance. Classic Roadster mandarin. The lighter bodywork, smaller engine, and rear-wheel drive is what makes the Roadster great and for the new RF model, it's still a great performer that really gets you in the groove.

Exclusive to the RF and for the first time in the ND Roadster, since the rest of the world got one in their softtops, is a SKYACTIV-G 2.0L petrol engine. This engine, made specifically for this variant, produces 158PS of power and 200Nm of torque. It can be mated to either a 6-speed automatic or manual gearbox, which is great by us but we can rest our case in having a open-top car with a two-litre petrol engine for keeps. Because the Roadster RF, like its softtop equivalent, comes with SKYACTIV-CHASSIS and SKYACTIV-BODY, it feels as accessible as the softtop equivalent, making it an easy car to drive on the road and on the track, despite the added weight from the roof that questioned yourself in the process. Spend a lot of time and energy with this machine and you'll starting to fall in love with it all the time.

2017 Mazda Roadster RF

The new Mazda Roadster RF starts at 3,240,000 Japanese Yen, which is almost 800,000 Yen more than the soft-top Roadster, but despite its expensive pricing, it's still a fun sportscar if you can't afford the luxury open-top cars and it doesn't matter if you're not concentrating. Because this is the only Roadster in the stable to have a 2.0L engine in it, those looking for some grunt had no choice but to be indulged by the retractable fastback Roadster. You have a choice now, speedo boys.

Available colors: Soul Red Premium Metallic, Ceramic Metallic, Jet Black Mica, Machine Grey Premium Metallic, Blue Reflex Mica, and Crystal White Pearl Mica.

Photo: Mazda Motor Corporation

Sunday, October 2, 2016

Fiat 124 Spider Abarth

The Abarth lineup is currently filled with beefed-up versions of the 500 and it's time for a change. Perhaps a Fiat 124 Spider-based model should come to the mix and enjoyment couldn't come any hairier than this with the first-ever, open-top, rear-wheel drive Abarth based on the new Fiat 124 Spider.

2017 Fiat 124 Spider Abarth

The 124 Spider Abarth is the high-performance version of the Fiat 124 Spider, which is based on the fourth-generation Mazda Roadster, and judging by its performance, it will make not just owners of the normal 124 Spider but also owners of the latest Mazda Roadster the remorse they will regret having an lightweight open-top roadster that delivers a potential track-day talent some may call it "accessible".

Just how accessible is the 124 Spider Abarth? Well, with looks inspired from the 1972 Abarth 124 Spider, you can tell that this car has heritage from the legendary breed that became a talk-of-a-town when it battled fiercely though rally stages and numerous race feats, but that's just the half of the story. Under the hood lies a smaller, yet powerful 1.4L four-cylinder turbocharged engine producing 170HP of power and 250Nm of torque. With this output, it will go from zero to 100kph in 6.8 seconds and onwards to 232km/h, which is very quick for a nippy little open-top sportscar with some shouty exterior design fit for the fashionable car enthusiasts. It also makes a not-so-bad noise from its exhaust as well.

Apart from the engine, the dynamics is what makes the 124 Spider Abarth very accessible, thanks to its perfect weight distribution and lightweight design, making it a new gold standard in the roadster segment. With a class-leading power-to-weight ratio, and weighing less than a Ford Fiesta, not to mention some track-honed handling, the 124 Spider Abarth can be as swift as swinging a wrecking ball with all the strength and force you can wield at and make some lava holes but living in a day-to-day basis can be somewhat challenging, that is when parallel parking on reverse is like climbing up a mountain.

Although not what you call a daily driver's car, the new 124 Spider Abarth, with its 40,000 Euro price tag, may sound expensive to own but it's a start for buyers looking for high-performance open-top rear-wheel drive roadster who believe that owning an Alfa 4C Spider or a Lotus Elise can be a costly experience. Nevertheless, the 124 Spider Abarth will make anyone's decision making a hard one choosing between a car inspired from and a car originated from. The Fiat 124-Mazda Roadster decision-making experience couldn't get even more complicating.

Photo: FIAT

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Fiat 124 Spider

For the first time since...um...forever...there is now a rear-wheel drive Fiat that we can all enjoy for and this rear-wheel drive Fiat marks the return of the legendary 124 nameplate in honor of the original 124's 50th anniversary since 1966. Heritage aside, the newly revived 124 Spider is just one of the biggest contributions in the axis powers (read: Japan-Germany-Italy collaboration) in the history of automobiles. Why?

2017 Fiat 124 Spider

There's a big reason why because the new 124 Spider is basically a fourth-generation Mazda Roadster underneath it but despite most of the stuff comes from Mazda, its performance is what differs it because the 124 has a little spark of Fiat on its Mazda-wrapped backbone. Under the hood is a 1.4L turbocharged MultiAir petrol engine which produces around 138 horsepower, which sounds like more than the Roadster's 1.5L petrol engine produces, meaning it can go 0-100kph in seven and a half seconds and onwards to 215kph. Even when they both have the same 6-speed gearbox and the same driving feel, the 124 is the better bet because it can do things that the Roadster can't in terms of speed, power, and everything else.

2017 Fiat 124 Spider

In context, those who did enjoyed the latest Roadster had the impression that this car still retains the classic Roadster formula, valuing aerodynamics over performance, as well as delivering its nimble and yet accessible dynamics everyone can master. For the Roadster-based Fiat 124 Spider, though, while it promises to hark back the legendary 124 fifty years ago, it still acts and behaves just like the Roadster. It's nimble, it's easy to drive, and very accessible if you're sure enough to drive one on the open roads but driving one on the cities can get too tricky because while this is mated only with a 6-speed gearbox, parking this car can get messy but whatever it is, feels like this day will never end.

2017 Fiat 124 Spider interior

While this is purely a Mazda Roadster underneath with a different engine from Fiat, the new 124 feels very gorgeous to look at from day to night, however it can still be overshadowed when the open-top car you've encountered is another Italian car. Specifically, an Alfa Romeo 4C Spider. While the 4C is strikingly gorgeous to look at and drives better than the 124, best to know that the 124's starting price of 27,500 Euros, meaning that you can buy two of these (and some) for the price of the 4C Spider. Now that's a bargain good enough for a poor man's 4C Spider, though.

2017 Fiat 124 Spider

So, would you rather have this than the Mazda Roadster it was based upon? Well, since the new 124 behaves like the Roadster, the only difference you will notice is the performance due to its turbocharged petrol engine made by Fiat and once you notice how it works, you have a clear judgment on which would you pick.

Available colors: Rosso Passione, Bianco Gelato, Grigio Argento, Grigio Moda, Azzurro Italia, Bronzo Magnetico, Nero Vesuvio, and Bianco Ghiaccio.

Photo: Fiat