Although it was announced back in May that Mazda and Fiat had agreed for the former to build a new Alfa Romeo roadster on the same platform as the next-generation MX-5, it's only now that the final agreement has been signed between the two automakers. A new Alfa Romeo roadster (possibly to be named Spider) for the global market will be built at Mazda's Hiroshima plant in Japan alongside the next MX-5, whose rear-wheel-drive platform will serve as the basis for the car.

No specific timeline was given as to when production will begin, but more than likely we'll be seeing this new Alfa roll off the assembly line sometime in 2015. What we do know about the new Alfa, other than its platform, is that it'll have its own unique design and engine in order to properly differentiate it from its Mazda MX-5 cousin. It'll probably cost more too but we'll have to wait some time until Fiat provides more precise information. However, don't mistake this new Alfa for the upcoming mid-engine 4C, which will be larger, more powerful and more expensive. The 4C is a competitor to the likes of the Porsche Boxster/Cayman.