Alfa Romeo prices 4C Spider at $99K plus ORC
BY HAITHAM RAZAGUI | 23rd Sep 2015
Despite a lower-than-expected price, compared with its premium over the coupe on the British market, the Modena-made 4C Spider is still closer in cost to the $102,800 Stuttgart stunner than the conceptually similar but long-in-the-tooth and manual-only Lotus Elise ($74,990 and up).
Being hand-built and having a carbon-fibre chassis construction contributes to both the mid-engined 4C’s price and availability, although Australian waiting lists are shortening and initial Spider supply is expected to flow more freely than it did for the coupe, demand for which built rapidly prior to its launch.
As with its coupe sibling, the 4C Spider employs a 1742cc turbo-petrol engine developing its 177kW power peak at 6000rpm and producing 350Nm of torque between 2200rpm and 4250rpm, all delivered to the rear wheels via a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission with paddle-shifters.
Weighing just 1035kg – 10kg more than the coupe – the 4C Spider is capable of sprinting from 0-100km/h in 4.5 seconds on the way to a 256km/h top speed. When not going in a straight line it can manage 1.1g of lateral acceleration and hits a maximum of 1.25g under heavy braking.
The Spider comes with a roll-up removable roof panel that can be stowed behind the seats, while an optional removable carbon-fibre hardtop can also be specified along with a more aggressive sounding Akrapovic sports exhaust.
Australian Alfa sales are down 41.5 per cent to the end of August, with the Giulietta small hatch accounting for the majority of volume with 895 units (920 fewer than a year ago) and 121 4C coupes registered, almost as many as the MiTo light car (129 sold, 12 fewer than the same period in 2014).
The iconic Italian company is pinning its survival on a significant turnaround following the arrival of the Giulia mid-size sedan that was unveiled in June.
Right-hand-drive Giulia production begins in the third quarter of 2016, with Australian deliveries expected later that year.
