THE latest Alfa Romeo Spider is not a lightweight two-seater, or a sports car, or even very Italian-feeling frankly, which is what we were expecting. Instead, and despite oozing alluring Latino style, today’s Spider is a luxury two-seater grand tourer. It cannot catch a Mazda MX-5 for alacrity or fun – and a VW Golf diesel will probably beat it through your favourite set of corners. Indeed, this Alfa is now a softer and cheaper alternative to a BMW Z4 or Mercedes SLK, but without their inherent driver appeal.