First look: 8C Spider to join coupe

ALFA Romeo has revealed a convertible version of its breathtakingly attractive 8C Competizione coupe – dubbed, naturally enough, the 8C Spider.

However, in a departure from tradition, Alfa's all-new super-cabrio will make its global public premiere not at Frankfurt next month, but at Monterey’s Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in California on September 21.

Unlike Alfa Romeo’s Brera coupe, which arrives here at the end of next year as a permanent addition to the local Alfa range, the 330kW 4.2-litre supercharged V8-powered 8C Spider will be strictly limited in numbers.

Alas, like the 8C coupe unveiled at Frankfurt in 2003, the Spider will be built as a left-hand drive model only, but that hasn't stopped around six well-heeled Aussies expressing interest.

Also styled by Giugiaro, the two-seater 8C Spider features the same aluminium and carbon-fibre cladding as its coupe stablemate, which offers 0-100km/h acceleration of 4.5 seconds and a 300km/h top speed.

Designed as a Porsche 911 rival as Alfa Romeo attempts to raise its profile in the world of serious sports cars, the 8C borrows its rear-wheel drive architecture from Maserati, which like Alfa is owned by Fiat Auto.

While Alfa has confirmed its will produce 1000 LHD examples of the 8C Competizione, production timing or numbers have not been issued for the Spider.