The stunning Alfa Romeo 4C Spider will go on sale in Australia in November from $99,000, the local arm has just confirmed. It comes in as the only convertible Alfa in the showroom.
Based on the 4C coupe, the Spider features a lightweight soft-top roof which can be retracted at virtually any speed. It isn’t an electric system, but going for a manual unit has saved weight and storage space. Alfa says it can be removed by one person, and it fits neatly in the boot in a special bag.
Like the coupe, the 4C Spider is all about lightness and pure driving enjoyment. The monocoque chassis is made from carbon fibre and weighs just 73kg. All up, the whole car tips the scales at 1035kg – just 10kg heavier than the coupe.
As a result the 1.75-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine is able to propel the Italian thoroughbred from 0-100km/h in just 4.5 seconds. The engine produces 177kW and 350Nm, and is matched to a six-speed dual-clutch transmission with rear-wheel drive.
To provide exceptional handling, the 4C uses a mechanical non-power-assisted steering system that offers a very quick gearing ratio of 16.2. There’s also wishbone suspension like a racing car, staggered wheel and tyre sizes front and back, and Alfa Romeo’s DNA driving mode toggle with Dynamic, Natural, All-weather, and Race settings.
Inside it is fairly basic and stripped back. Passengers get a basic audio head unit with multimedia compatibility, while the driver gets a 7.0-inch LCD display and a sporty flat-bottom steering wheel with paddle shifters to play with.
The local arm says the 4C Spider can be ordered now through dealerships, with deliveries scheduled to commence in November. It’s priced $10,000 above the current coupe version.
