Mazda MX-5 vs Fiat 124 Spider: exactly how do these unlikely siblings differ?

The 2017 Fiat 124 Spider draws its roadster inspiration from two distinct sources.

The first, of course, is the most obvious. The revival of the nameplate takes us back to the original Pininfarina-designed Fiat 124 Sport Spider 2+2 convertible sports-car, which the Italian brand built from as early as 1966.

Nearly 200 000 units were sold over a lengthy production run, making it a tremendously popular offering, particularly in the United States. Fitting, then, that the new model — which doffs its cap at the original with a handful of smart styling cues — was unveiled at the 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show.