Under the leadership of Sergio Marchionne Fiat is always good for a surprise. Usually one catches oneself to refuse the most recent, but must correct one's own opinion a little bit at a second glance. We now want to list not all the ideas, but the currently latest, if it is really of him, exactly fits into this series.

What an idea? The worldwide probably most gifted company for small sporty cars after the UK , convertibles in any case, takes license at the Japanese manufacturer Mazda. It delivers its engines to Japan, where they replace the engine of the MX5 and appear along with significantly changed front/rear end and the bonnet on the local market also.

But let us consider once the facts. The performance is given in SAE HP. Fiat is indeed represented by Chrysler in the US market, but at present only by a special version of the 500s and crossover, partly with the latest Jeep technology introduced by Fiat. But Fiat itself appears still not very often in USA.

The Mazda MX 5 is by far the most popular sports car in its class, repeatedly invoked successor of British post-war classic cars. To set in contrast, a convertible with front drive, almost hopeless. To develop an own platform with front engine and rear-wheel drive, much too expensive, because this would be to share with no model like at Mazda.

Time is pressing, if you want duly implement in advertising success the fiftieth anniversary of the launch of the last Fiat convertible next year. Also seen from the MX5 side the time is favourable. For the latest model has again returned a little bit to its roots and became significantly slimmer.

Even the engine is expected to be the better choice, because compared to the skyaktive naturally aspirated engine of Mazda it has, after all, down below considerably more power. And 103 kW (140 hp SAE) possibly may be a test start because the Abarth 595 version brings it with this engine in Biposto at least to 140 kW (190 hp DIN). Of course, the entire substructure has very little in common with the 124 with rigid axle at that time.

And the design? One may not say it loud, but it could be that it attract some viewers more than the Mazda, its manufacturer would have scored a classic own goal. 11/15