Abarth, just the other day, revealed an updated variant of the little rear-wheel drive, turbo-charged ±130kW (180bhp) sports car. Now sporting a little GT badge, the adequately named Abarth 124 GT should start rolling off the production line pretty soon.
What has the Italian-tuner added to the little grumbler to warrant a GT badge? Increase in power? Added luxuries for those longer cross-country trips? Reworked suspension? All pretty obvious suggestions and all pretty much just assumptions for now.
What we do know is that Abarth has manufactured a lightweight (±15kg) carbon fibre detachable roof. Being Italian, this little addition should take 5 minutes to assemble and remove, well it should.
The addition of the carbon fibre roof adds a little more rigidity to the 124 chassis which should damper any body-roll and increase overall stability.
There are hints that there might be a few additional performance tweaks to the little roadster when Abarth revealed also released news on yet another 500 variation - the 500 Abarth "695 Rivale". The two-tone, Riva Blue and grey paintwork which is a nod to the Italian boatbuilder Riva. Again without any power increases, they have however added an Akrapovic exhaust, Brembo-brakes, 17" light-weight wheels and fancy "Frequency-Selective Damping" Koni suspension.
If Abarth adds those little extras to the 124 GT - these may just be what the little roaster needs to step into the sports cars category.
Also worth a look: the Abarth and Stellantis Unveil New Electric Powerhouse and the Six Decades of Abarth, delivering performance and style.
FAQ
Q: What does the Abarth 124 GT cost in South Africa?
The Abarth 124 GT pricing hasn't been officially announced for South Africa yet, but expect it to sit around R650,000 to R700,000 based on the current 124 Spider's positioning and the added carbon fibre roof and GT upgrades.
Q: Is the Abarth 124 GT worth buying over the regular 124 Spider?
The 124 GT is worth considering if you want the extra chassis rigidity from the carbon fibre roof and potential performance upgrades like the Akrapovic exhaust and Koni suspension, but wait for official specs before making the jump from the standard model.
Q: What's the difference between the Abarth 124 GT and the standard 124 Spider?
The main difference is the lightweight carbon fibre detachable roof that saves around 15kg and adds chassis rigidity, plus hints at additional performance tweaks similar to the 695 Rivale including upgraded suspension and exhaust systems.
Q: How much power does the Abarth 124 GT produce?
The 124 GT still produces around 130kW from its turbocharged engine, with no official power increases announced yet, though Abarth may have added performance tweaks to justify the GT badge.
Should You Buy It?
The Abarth 124 GT is a maybe buy at this stage. While the carbon fibre roof is a nice touch that adds rigidity and saves weight, we're still waiting on official confirmation of the performance upgrades that would truly justify the GT badge and expected R650,000 to R700,000 price tag. If you're after a proper rear-wheel drive sports car under R700,000 in SA, hold off until Abarth reveals the full spec sheet, because right now you might be paying GT money for what's essentially a roof upgrade.
