Abarth 124 GT4: we saw this one-of-a-kind prototype

In 2016, Abarth shook up the automotive world with the unveiling of a new model: the Abarth 124 Spider, a "sporty" version of the Fiat 124 Spider, which had seen the light of day a year earlier. This model was designed on the Mazda MX-5 platform, but with Abarth's distinctive touch: a 170 hp Fiat 1.4L engine, accompanied by a Recond Monza 4-pipe exhaust system. The result was a car with a playful attitude and a sound reminiscent of Abarth's greatest creations.

Unfortunately, despite its features, the model was not as successful as had been hoped. Perhaps priced too high at €40,000 at the time, or perhaps a poorly targeted market, production of the 124 Spider Abarth ended in 2019.

However, before this premature end, Abarth had already prepared a more extreme version dedicated to motor racing: the Abarth 124 GT4. This model was to mark the brand's entry into professional competition, notably in the Italian GT4 Championship and the GT4 European Series. 2018 saw the appearance of a prototype of this car, observed during circuit testing. This vehicle sported an impressive aerodynamic body kit, with a wide diffuser and large rear spoiler. These features suggested that the car would deliver interesting performance.

Videos and testimonials circulating around the prototype revealed that the Abarth 124 GT4 may have swapped its Fiat 1.4L engine for a 1.75L one, borrowed from the Alfa Romeo 4C of the time. This engine would have enabled the Abarth 124 GT4 to develop an impressive amount of power, far superior to that of the production model, with rumours suggesting a power output approaching 380 hp!

Unfortunately, despite promising development, the project never saw the light of day. Despite advanced testing and the presence of the prototype at events, the car will disappear into anonymity, probably the victim of an internal FCA decision that will put an end to many projects.

Recently, during my visit to the Stellantis Heritage Hub, after a the Alfa Romeo 4C QuadrifoglioI had the chance to see this Abarth 124 GT4 in detail. The prototype was still hidden under camouflage, with a wide diffuser and a large rear spoiler, an exhaust outlet just behind the front wheel on the driver's side, and an interior dedicated to competition: a Sabelt seat, roll bar and Plexiglas side windows. Next to the car, a mock-up showed what the final body of this aborted project might have looked like.

The Abarth 124 GT4 will probably be remembered as a project that could have made a name for itself in motor racing, but was stopped in its tracks, leaving enthusiasts to imagine what this racing machine could have been. A model on display at the Stellantis Heritage Hub.