The Auto Spirit of the Alfa Romeo

During famous auto show in Geneva Alfa Romeo Spider was proclaimed to be the cabriolet of the year. New Spider is modern interpretation of conception of the opened sporting cars which Alfa Romeo was always famous. This machine continues traditions of glorified Duetto, legends of 60th, the issue of which with small modernizations proceeded more than 25 years. And till today Alfa Spider Duetto remains a cult machine, object of worship for many Alfists. The new model of Alpha was started in a mass production in 1996, simultaneously with Alfa GTV.

Design

The design of basket was developed by the known basket atelier of Taliesin. Aerodynamic complete set, set by order on any of models, improve aerodynamics of machine and increase high speed on 5 kilometers per an hour. In him enter front and back spoiler, lateral skirt, and also far aerodynamic plane. As well as GTV, the exterior of Spider is developed Pininfarina in a collaboration with Centro Stile Alfa Romeo. Spider is 2nd local car with the thrown aside soft top. Weigh a look of machine is a permanent appeal to speed, it can not ride slowly. Forehand of roadster the same as well as for his elder brother are those double semi-elliptic headlights, firm triangle with an emblem, with the outgoing from him powerful lines of hood. A high half-length line engulfs a driver and passenger as though. Fluently rocketing upwards, slender streamlined tail of new "little pangolin", brings flashbacks on about its predecessor - Alfa Spider Duetto.

Also not knocked out from the general stylish, individual orientation of design of car, Spider, as well as GTV, is decorated behind only by one inscription of Spider. Except for it, only the back wheeled arch has a modest tablet of Pininfarin. In spite of all brightly expressed sportiveness machines, the salon of Spider is enough spacious and comfortable. Large, round speedometer and tachometer, located on a center, at once after a steering wheel, planted in deep nests and supplied clock-faces with a metallic effect. Devices elegantly styled in a spirit the device panels of racings cars of past years. Auxiliary pointers, also round form, are mounted in the central cantilever of titanic color, turned to the driver.

Engine

On cars can be set some types of engines: it is a 4-cylinder row engine by the swept volume 2 liters and power of 150 ë.ñ.; in 1996 the aggregate of V6 appeared by volume of 3 liters, power of which at Spider is evened 192 ë.ñ., and at a compartment GTV is led to 220 horse power. Gran Turismo Veloce (GTV), equipped this motor, starts from a place to 100 km/h for 6.7 seconds, and high speed is equal 240 km/h. Besides this GTV offer another V-vivid "six" by volume of only 2 liters. Petrol engine power by means of turbo charging is megascopic to 200 horse powers

Brakes

In standard acquisition of Spider/GTV disk brakes are included on all of wheels, front - ventilated, hydraulic booster' of steering management and front pillows of safety. It is possible to order the leather upholstering of salon and setting of the system of climate control

Other features

The folding top of Spider is supplied electric drive and managed the button on a central cantilever. He is fastened 5th staples to the aluminum frame; at lowering of top front staples densely lie down on overhead part of frontal glass, providing good aerodynamics. Material of removable top has two layer- external, from heat-resistant fabric, internal, with excellent sound-proof properties.

What the critics have to said

At all of the magnificent descriptions, both external and internal, cost of Spider far below what for his direct competitors of Porsche Boxter, Mercedes CLK and BMW Z3, that allows new roadster effectively to conduct competitive activity with them.

Performance

New Alfa Spider, presented wide public on the passing in Geneva International motor-car exhibition got the first reward is a title "Cabriolet of 2006". The prestige title of Alfa Spider got from an authoritative judge consisting of 23 motor-car journalists, presenting 12 European countries. In order that to participate in a competition, any of "cars-applicants" on a prestige title, at first, must was first be presented on Geneva auto salon, and secondly, his cost could not exceed 60 thousands of Swiss francs. Victory of the Italian cabriolet became the second on an account more than in a 10 summer history of competition. In 1995 the same prestige title was got by the cabriolet of Fiat Barchetta.