Actually it sound to me like a sound decision. Let Mazda do most of the design and development and then step in and adapt their design. The FIAT Multiair turbo engine should provide enough of a difference over the Mazda N/A motors and the previous MX-5s have been almost legendary in their handling and roadholding.
I've only driven a MX-5 once, and that was an early model at moderate speeds, but it reminded me of a Triumph Spitfire in as much as you were sitting almost on the rear axle and the car seemed to pivot around the driver which gave a great feeling as to what the car was doing.
My fervent hope is, that after some brief "First impression" type drives in the Press that seemed to be universally good (one report placed the 124 above its MX-5 cousin) that they don't resort to Halfords type tuning when the Abarth model comes along.
In other words, lower, stiffer springs, lower, wider tyres and a bigger turbo. It