Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ stillborn Mazda Miata-based Alfa Romeo Spider could come to life under an iconic Fiat nameplate, a new trademark filing has revealed.
According to AutoGuide, FCA’s Fiat division filed a trademark application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on December 12 that covers the 124 and 124 Spider names for “automobiles and their structural parts and motors and engines.” As you might recall, the Fiat 124 Spider was a droptop sports car not unlike the modern Mazda MX-5 Miata.
According to AutoGuide, FCA’s Fiat division filed a trademark application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on December 12 that covers the 124 and 124 Spider names for “automobiles and their structural parts and motors and engines.” As you might recall, the Fiat 124 Spider was a droptop sports car not unlike the modern Mazda MX-5 Miata.
A new-age Fiat 124 Spider would make sense for FCA as it recently squashed plans to build an Alfa Romeo sports car based on the latest version of the Miata. FCA still has a production contract with Mazda for a Miata-based sports car, so it needs to find some place for that vehicle within its lineup.
Fiat’s plans for the 124 nameplate are a little less clear, however. The 124 was sold as a four-door sedan during the 1960s and 70s, so the Miata is out as a donor vehicle. Of course it’s possible that Fiat applied for 124 just as added protection for the upcoming 124 Spider.
No firm timetable for the new Fiat 124 Spider has been given, but the Mazda cousin should arrive within the next 2-3 years.
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