2015 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider

The Alfa Romeo 4C Spider has just been revealed prior to the Detroit Motor Show 2015 getting underway. As expected, the 4C Spider remains almost mechanically identical to the 4C coupe but with the implementation of a folding roof.
When the Alfa Romeo 4C was being developed, its carbon fibre monocoque was engineered to support the removal of the roof with very few tweaks. As a result, the 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider only needs the addition of a carbon fibre roll hoop, a new crossbeam in the engine compartment as well as beefed up upper body brackets to support the soft top.

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Interestingly, the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider will be available with a carbon fibre hardtop after it launches but that will come at a premium over the fabric roof. Despite the further strengthening required to create the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, it is just 10 kg heavier than the coupe.
Beneath the skin, the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider uses the same 1.75-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine as the coupe delivering 237 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque 80 per cent of which is available at a mere 1700 rpm. As a result, it can reach 96 km/h (60 mph) in a brisk 4.1 seconds while recording 1.1 g of lateral acceleration as well as 1.25 g of maximum braking deceleration. Three different exhaust systems are available for the 4C Spider with the range-topping Akrapovic dual-mode exhaust providing the rawest and most all-encompassing soundtrack. Elsewhere, the standard exhaust system is available alongside a racing exhaust from the factory.

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Mated to the engine is a paddle-shift dual-clutch transmission which can pump through gear changes in a brisk 130 milliseconds at full throttle. The transmission also offers a selection of different driving modes with ‘Race’ mode being the most hardcore as it optimises the engine, transmission, electronic differential and electronic stability control system.

Visually, the 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider is available in seven different exterior colours which are Rosso Alfa, Black, White, Basalt Grey Metallic, Rosso Competizione Tri-coat, Madreperla White Tri-coat and Giallo (yellow as pictured). Two interior materials are available while four different wheel designs can be selected from for each 4C Spider produced.
Discussing the car, head of Alfa Romeo North America, Reid Bigland said, “Adding to the excitement of the 4C Coupe, our all new 2015 4C Spider expands the brand’s product offering and continues our mission of building great Alfa Romeos. With a removable carbon fibre hard top the 4C Spider takes the Coupe’s supercar level of performance and technology and ‘opens it up’ allowing the driver to experience the incredible 4C from an entirely different perspective.”