Car: Alfa Romeo Spider range
Prices: £26,895-£32,395 – on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 16-19
Emissions: 179-272g/km
Performance: [2.2] 0-60mph 8.8s Max Speed 138mph
Fuel Consumption: [2.2] (urban) 21.7mpg / (extra urban) 38.7mpg / (combined) 30.1mpg
Safety: Twin front, side and knee airbags, ABS, traction and stability control, ABS with brake assist
Dimensions: Length/Width/Height, 4393/1830/1318mm
GRADUATING WITH HONOURS
Our Rating: 6.9 / 10
Alfa Romeo’s Brera coupe has paved the way for an arguably even better looking Spider convertible. Andy Enright reports
Lopping the roof off a coupe rarely does it many favours. Often the proportions go to pot, the chassis gets an attack of the vapours when shown a corner and any semblance of practicality goes right out of the window. Given that the prime objective of most convertibles is to look fantastic, losing the proportions is inexcusable. The other two we can work around but thankfully Alfa Romeo has got things spot on when it comes to their Spider.
This model manages somehow to be even better looking than the Brera coupe on which it’s based. Part of the reason for this is the rather unflattering discrepancy between the amazing Brera prototype coupe shown at the 2002 Geneva Show and the production car. The convertible wasn’t preceded by a car with a longer bonnet, flip up doors and a shape that looked like an automotive excess, so it carries no baggage in that regard. What it does have to live up to are some classic Alfa shapes from the past including the Duetto and the latter day GTV.
Let’s cut straight to the chase. If you’re looking for a driver’s car along the lines of a Porsche Boxster or a Nissan 370Z Roadster, the Spider isn’t going to leave you wholly impressed. It just can’t match these titans in terms of go, stop and steer. If for you however, the drop top experience is not so much about driving the tread off the tyres and more about aesthetics, feel-good tactility and savouring the journey, the Spider can’t fail to impress.
If you haven’t driven a contemporary Alfa Romeo, you might be in for a bit of a surprise with this car. Drop into the cabin and you’ll find it hard to escape the conclusion that this convertible is better screwed together than many so-called premium German rivals. The paint finish, the panel fit, the materials quality and the simple but elegant design of the cabin all score big points. The roof mechanism may not feature a trendy folding hard top but such a system would not only compromise its bonny lines but would also tack quite a bit onto an already rather beefy kerb weight figure.
The electrically operated fabric roof is quite an installation, the five-layer system insulating the cabin from wind and road noise while also offering excellent thermal insulation properties – so often a bugbear of convertible cars. The penalty for enjoying the fresh air is the removal of the Brera coupe’s rear seats, but these vestigial items were really only any good for slinging a bag onto. Practicality isn’t a Spider strong point, the boot holding a rather mean 235 litres although the roof doesn’t impinge on that capacity when folded down. On the plus side, there are some cubbies instead of rear seats that keep your belongings safe and sound.
The entry-level 2.2-litre car looks set to be the big seller and prices start at around £26,000 for the 2.2-litre JTS model. While that is quite a slice of wedge, its junior exotic looks and charismatic engine give it some real personality. Taking 8.8 seconds to get to 60mph from rest and topping-out at 138mph makes this a brisk rather than concussive performer. The Spider also comes with a choice of manual or QTRONIC gearboxes.
Alfa Romeo predicts that it will take 60 per cent of UK sales and it’s not hard to see why. The 185bhp engine returns a decent 30mpg fuel figure and emissions aren’t unreasonable at 221g/km. If you’re not all about cornering a car on its door handles, then this makes a very interesting choice. As does the 2.4-litre JTDM diesel with its 210bhp output. This engine has the most torque and best fuel economy in the Spider range but the idea of a diesel roadster may take some getting used to.
The range-topping Spider variant is the storming 3.2-litre all-wheel drive Q4. This model will hit 60mph in 7.0 seconds and packs a 260bhp punch. Alfa claims that the Spider chassis is some 25 per cent stiffer than the GTV soft top, but anybody who’s ever driven a GTV Spider will realise that this is a decidedly modest claim for torsional rigidity. The soft top’s additional electric motors and chassis bracing ad
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