Alfa Romeo’s gorgeous looking 4C Spider has just made its public debut at the ongoing 2015 Detroit Motor Show. Combining scintillating driving dynamics with open-top thrills, this new model is the convertible version of Alfa’s famed mid-engined sports car.
Like its coupe sibling, the 4C Spider is built around an ultra-lightweight monocoque chassis, comprising of carbon fibre layers that are three-times stronger and seven-times lighter than steel. Because of its inherent rigidity, Alfa Romeo says its engineers were able to minimise structural differences between the 4C Spider and the 4C Coupe.
The 4C Spider shares much of its exterior design with the standard 4C. The changes are focussed purely on the metamorphosis from fixed to open-top. The Coupe’s glazed engine cover gives way to a more traditional spider form, with pronounced buttresses and a body-coloured engine deck-lid with three functional heat extractors and an aerodynamically tuned spoiler.
Other new features to debut on the 4C Spider include a titanium exhaust system, mounted centrally with switchable modes which can be altered.
The 4C Spider is powered by the same all-aluminium, 240bhp, 1750cc engine as the coupe. Performance, as a result, is on par with the standard model with a top speed of over 250kmph and a zero to 100kmph time of around 4.1 seconds. For the North American market, the car is designed with stiffer springs, larger front and rear-anti-roll, and re-tuned shock absorbers. Alfa says the technical specification of European models will be announced closer to its launch later in the year.
