The high season for convertibles is fast approaching, and now’s the time to start dreaming of your possible new summer ride. Need inspiration? Check out this video, which accompanies the Fiat 124 Spider - dubbed by its manufacturer the “diva of open-top vehicles” - on a 235-km journey along the Road of the Impressionists between Paris and Deauville, in France.
Starting right at the Rond-Point des Champs-Elysées in Paris, 15 of the iconic 124 Spiders gave themselves up to an enchanting route that took them along the Seine River and by some of the gorgeous sites that inspired Impressionist masters like Van Gogh, Renoir, Pissarro and Monet. The itinerary included La Roche-Guyon (one of the prettiest of all French villages, whose highlight is a medieval castle transformed into an exclusive resort), Claude Monet’s home in Giverny (now a national monument), the magnificent Les Andelys district and the marina at Honfleur, before arriving at the town of Deauville on the Côte Fleurie, with its beaches, casino and attendant jet-set. The journey’s endpoint was the nearby Château de Breuil, a striking example of the Lower Normandy region’s architectural heritage.
A car that rends homage to its beloved 1966 original edition, the new 2017 Fiat 124 Spider comes in three different versions: the Classica ($33,495), the Lusso ($36,495) and the Abarth ($37,995). Its 1.4L MultiAir turbo engine produces up to 160 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque using a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission.
Take a moment to see some captivating images of the iconic model’s evolution over time, read our review of the new edition and consult a comparison of the 124 Spider and the Mazda MX-5.