Highly anticipated since the initial announcement, the Alfa Romeo 4C has proven to be a great return for the brand in the United States. With the latest offering, Alfa Romeo is following a recipe that many other manufacturers have done before. Take their sports car and cut the roof off.
The result is the 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, and it recently made its debut at the North American International Auto Show. The fact that a 4C Spider was coming wasn’t exactly a big shock since spy photos of the car could be found online since December of last year. Still, it’s quite exciting that the 4C Spider has made its debut with all of that said. What’s great about the 4C Spider is, first of all, it’s a Spider in the truest sense.
Yes, it has gained some weight by losing its lid, but only 132 pounds; I’ll take that every time. What really sells it for me is the fact that it’s losing its lid. I’m not really a huge fan of convertibles, but taking the top off of the 4C is taking an already visceral experience and taking it to the next level. The 4C has a no-frills approach taken to another level when you can feel the wind in your hair and are more exposed to the elements. Also, the car doesn’t have power steering. Why? To save weight and to give a better steering feel. I have to say there is nothing like driving a car without power steering.
Changes, no top, that’s really the only big change. That’s fine. The Spider will have the same revolutionary carbon fiber monocoque that weighs in at 236 pounds, just like the coupe. It will also employ the same 1750 cc direct-injection turbocharged inline-four, producing 240 horsepower. The transmission is a six-speed dual-clutch, which is the same as the coupe. Yes, I wish we could get a proper manual, but you can’t get everything you want.
You can expect to see the 4C Spider in dealerships by summer. I personally can’t wait. When I first heard Alfa Romeo was coming to the States, I was worried that it would be watered down. So far, that’s not the case; Alfa Romeo’s return has been nothing short of spectacular.
