The new Alfa Romeo 4C Spider will make its European debut alongside the latest Alfa Romeo 4C Coupé at the upcoming 2015 Geneva Motor Show next month, and folks, it’s an absolute stunner!
Sharing much of its exterior design with its award-winning sibling, the 4C Coupé , the 4C Spider is most noticeably different when viewed from behind, where its pronounced ‘buttresses’ and body-coloured engine cover, complete with 3 heat extractors and a subtle rear spoiler. There are changes at the front, too, with new, covered, projector-style xenon headlamps as standard and rounding out the aesthetic appeal of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider is a new Giallo (yellow) paint scheme as seen on the picture above.
Built around an ultra-lightweight carbon fibre monocoque, weighing just 107kg, minimal structural enhancements were required to transform a Coupé into a Spider. The main developments include a new aluminium rollover structure, which is nestled underneath the black “halo” (a carbon fibre halo is optional), a specially-developed carbon fibre windscreen frame and an engine compartment cross-member made from high-strength steel. Special attention has been paid to the aerodynamic characteristics of the Spider to ensure minimal wind and noise intrusion, while a removable and stowable cloth roof can be installed to protect occupants from the elements. An optional carbon fibre hardtop will also be available.
New performance features to debut on the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider include the optional Akrapovič titanium exhaust system, finished with carbon fibre bezels and offers switchable modes which can be selected depending on the driving environment and driver inclination. A new carbon-fibre air intake system, engineered to provide additional transmission cooling for track-focussed drivers, also joins the options list, while a number of all-new wheel designs debut on the 4C Spider too, either in 17/18-inch (front/rear) or 18/19-inch sizes and in silver or dark finishes.
Inside, a new audio system is now available with wide-ranging device connectivity including Bluetooth phone calling and music streaming. The Spider’s cabin can also be trimmed in premium leather with accent stitching and carbon fibre vent surrounds. A traditional tan leather interior is also offered as an option for the first time.
The 4C Spider is powered by the familiar 1.75-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine that churns out 237 bhp and 350Nm of torque channeled to the rear axle through a twin-clutch transmission (TCT). It’s enough muscle for a 0-100km/h sprint in less than 4.5 seconds and a 258 km/h top speed.
The Alfa Romeo 4C Spider was designed by Alfa Romeo Centro Stile and will be produced at the Maserati plant in Modena, Italy, alongside the Alfa Romeo 4C Coupé. In the UK, the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider will be priced from £59,500 (RM333,546 before taxes).
