Fiat has unveiled the new 124 Spider at the Los Angeles Motor Show, paying homage to the original car that was released almost 50 years ago. The all new Fiat 124 Spider brings classic Italian styling and pure driving pleasure to a new generation, with its powerful turbocharged petrol engine, sophisticated suspension and traditional rear-wheel drive layout.

Taking inspiration from the 1966 original, not only in terms of its proportions and stance but also in terms of its detailing, a horizontal line emerges from the new 124 Spider's front wing, kicking up over the rear haunch and flowing towards the tail lamps.

The style and position of the LED headlamps, and the hexagonal upper grille, also draw heavily from the details of the classic roadster. The interior of the new Fiat 124 Spider, in keeping with the exterior, mixes Italian style with the classic ingredients of a driver-focused roadster.

The low-slung seats are comprised of a lightweight net structure with a unique foam shape and are trimmed in premium upholstery.

The three-gauge instrument cluster features a central rev counter, while soft-touch materials and unique detailing set it apart as a high-quality and elegant roadster in the tradition of its best Italian predecessors.

Under the bonnet lies a 1.4-litre MultiAir Turbo engine producing 140bhp and 240Nm of torque, driving the rear wheels for the first time via a lightweight, quick-shifting six-speed manual transmission, specially optimised for this high torque output. Key to the dynamic abilities is the lightweight body structure, achieved using aluminium, high-tensile steel and precision engineering.

The suspension is comprised of a double-wishbone front and multilink rear arrangement, with a rear set up engineered to increase toe-in under high cornering forces for improved stability.

The Fiat 124 Spider will go on sale in the U.K. during the second half of 2016 with pricing and final specifications announced at a later date.