The Fiat 124 Spider unveiled at the LA Auto Show last night is a little polarizing, to say the least: the roadster, based on Mazda's lauded new Miata, has some odd design elements that seem to leave it hanging somewhere between Italy and Japan. But even if you don't love the way it looks, there's reason to be excited, because the 124 is shipping with the same turbocharged mill as the 500 Abarth — a great little car that sounds wonderful and knows how to move.

We had a chance to get up close with the Fiat 124 on the floor of the show, so check it out and decide for yourself — if you're in the market for a small, light, inexpensive convertible, you might have to decide between this and the Miata when it's in dealerships next year.