Bellissima: Alfa’s new droptop hits UK

Alfa Romeo’s seductive Spider convertible is now on sale in the UK.

The new Alfa Spider, the latest open-topped Alfa Romeo to be offered by the company, has just gone on sale in the UK. Derived from Giorgetto Giugiaro’s award-winning Alfa Brera design, the new Alfa Spider was developed by Pininfarina in collaboration with Alfa Romeo Centro Stile.

The Spider will be available in four versions and a choice of three engines. In the petrol variety, a 2.2-litre 185bhp 4-cylinder unit developing 170 lb.ft of twist at 4500rpm will be joined by a 3.2-litre 260bhp V6 with 237lb.ft twist. A 2.4-litre 20v five-cylinder MultiJet (JTDM) turbodiesel, claimed to be good for 200bhp and 295 lb.ft of torque at 2000rpm completes the range.

The 2.4-litre diesel is said to achieve a top speed of 142mph and complete a 0-62mph run in 8.2 seconds. The all-wheel drive 3.2 V6 will reach 62mph from not in 7 seconds and top out at 149mph, while the 2.2-litre four manages 138mph and 0-62mph stints in 8.8 seconds. All powerplants will be mated to six-speed manual gearbox, whilst the 3.2 JTS V6 unit can be specified with Alfa Romeo’s QTRONIC six-speed automatic transmission, featuring a manual sequential-shift override capability and optional gearshift ‘paddles’.

Sharing a platform and components with the Alfa Brera, the Spider is 17mm shorter and 23mm lower but has an identical 2528mm wheelbase. The suspension setup of the Spider combines a double wishbone system at the front with a multilink rear configuration; said to promote smooth, accurate steering response, exceptional stability and body control, allied to remarkable comfort over all road surfaces.

The 2.2 JTS Alfa Spider’s braking system comprises 305mm ventilated front discs and 278mm solid discs at the rear. Versions powered by the 3.2 JTS petrol and 2.4 JTDM turbodiesel engines feature larger, 330mm ventilated discs and Brembo four-piston monobloc aluminium callipers at the front, with 292mm ventilated discs at the rear.

The Alfa Spider is fitted with an automatic, double-layer fabric roof which can be retracted in less than 25 seconds via a dashboard mounted switch. A separate dedicated roof storage compartment is claimed to not compromise stowage space, and the luggage compartment offers a 200-litre capacity even with the roof in the down position. The storage compartment is concealed beneath a flush-fitting body panel which incorporates aerodynamic ‘blisters’ resembling roll-over bars, fitted with a transparent wind break to reduce air turbulence within the cabin.

Inside, the Spider features driver-orientated ergonomics and an instrument binnacle with large, deeply hooded speedometer and tachometer dials joined by subsidiary fuel and temperature gauges. A brushed aluminium-faced centre console incorporates an electronic key-activated engine start button, and standard equipment includes automatic Dual Zone climate control, cruise control, rear parking sensors, a multi-function display and trip computer, and a six-speaker audio system with CD. A leather interior is standard on V6 versions.

Pricing for the new Alfa Spider starts at £25,995 OTR for the 2.2 JTS and climbs to £32,700 OTR for the 3.2 JTS V6 Q4 automatic.