By now you’ve probably seen the odd Alfa Romeo 4C driving around the streets in Australia. Well, from November you can expect to see the 4C Spider as well.
If nothing else the Spider is better that its hardtop counterpart because it has headlights that weren’t sent from Mars.
Full press details on the 4C Spider announcement can be found below. Of course, pricing is yet to be released, but it’ll no doubt send the cost of your 4C experience into the six-figure bracket, or very close to it.
Here, now in full high resolution detail, is the all-new Alfa Romeo 4C Spider. Looks pretty nice, don’t you think!
It’s powered by the same 1750cc turbocharged four cylinder from the hardtop, which means it has a peak power figure of 177kW (240hp). Torque has been beefed up a little, now up to 380Nm, up from 350Nm.
In race mode and with its 6-speed dual clutch transmission the 4C Spider can reach 100km/h in 4.1 seconds.
Alfa Romeo hasn’t declared the weight of the 4C Spider, at least, not in the material we have seen. So it will be interesting to see how much heavier this model is compared with the 895kg kerbweight of the regular 4C.
Of course, you’re going to want your 4C Spider with the special Track Package, which means you’ll get special forged aluminium wheels (18×7″ front, 19×8.5″ rear), uprated suspension, grippy Pirelli P Zero tyres, a flat bottomed steering wheel and a few carbon fibre highlights around the cabin.
You can read all about that and more after the break.
Alfa Romeo is expected to unveil the production-ready 4C Spider in Detroit this week. We’re guessing the hero colour is going to be bright yellow after these leaked images appeared online.
We got a pretty preview of the 4C Spider at last year’s Geneva show, when it was white. The production model, which will feature the same drivetrain as the regular 4C, is due for release later this year.
[Source: Carscoops]
The Alfa Romeo 4C Spider is a very cool car. This we can all agree. A short while ago Alfa released this video animation of the 4C Spider, starting with exploded parts which come together to form the completed car. This is also very cool.
There’s no words or trite voiceover. In every way, this is a case of less is more.
The Alfa Romeo 4C is universally admired for its flowing curves and general good looks. That is until you get to the batshit crazy headlight cluster of the coupé. It’s the pimple on the nose of the 4C and, of course, there’s two of the bloody things!
When Alfa released the 4C Spider the world was pleased to learn that a more conventional headlight treatment was included. We’re not usually beacons for conservatism here at AUSmotive, but this new old approach to the headlights on the Spider does offer a more pleasing result that, finally, allows the eyes to pore over every gorgeous detail of the 4C without that last moment gasp of horror.
Thankfully, that new headlight treatment will also be made available on the 4C coupé as well as the Spider. But, if you’re one of the few who prefers the batshit crazy look—and there will be some of you, bless—you’ll be pleased to know the original lights will remain standard equipment and the conventional lights from the Spider will be optional.
The Spider will only be offered with the lights it debuted with in Geneva.
[Source: Autocar]
When I was a young lad my mum had a white Alfa Spider. One of the first car memories I have is sitting on her lap holding the steering wheel as we drove along, turning on the indicators and just having a fun time.
So for more reasons than this new 4C Spider “design preview” looks fantastic, I really like this car. I think my mum would too.
For the less sentimental among you, you’ll be pleased to learn the 4C Spider will go into production early next year and will feature a lightweight soft-top closing roof.
Of course, a low kerb weight is the party trick of the regular 4C and Alfa has obviously not wanted to undo all that good work with the Spider. Just when you got used to the CFRP acronym we’re introduced to a new one here, low-density SMC or Sheet Moulding Compound. More fancy plastic, in other words.
The SMC is used around the rear window area and is topped off by carbon fibre rollover hoop. Carbon fibre has been used to strengthen to the top of the windscreen as well. All up Alfa says the Spider is “approximately 60kg” heavier than the hardtop.
This design study features a dual stage titanium exhaust from Akropovic with carbon fibre tips for added bling. You get the same 1750 turbo four cylinder from the coupé and with the 6-speed dual clutch ‘box the Spider Alfa says it can reach 100km/h in 4.5 seconds, just like the coupé.
The other major change with the Spider is the introduction of a new and more conventional headlight design. It’s a much cleaner result, too.
Word on the street says Alfa Romeo will be bringing a 4C Spider to the Geneva Motor Show. It’s expected to have a removable roof panel, much like an old-skool 911 Targa, with carbon fibre rollover hoops behind the seats.
One of the rare weak points of the mostly very sexy 4C is the headlight design and it’s predicted that will be addressed on the Spider version as well. We call that a win, win!