The return of Alfa Romeo to the United States market continues with the introduction of the 4C Spider roadster at the 2015 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
Alfa Romeo, which is owned by Fiat Chrysler, unveiled the open-air version of the car company's 4C coupe. The 4C Spider is the second car out of the eight vehicles that Alfa Romero is expected to release in the United States through 2018.
"This car has everything serious drivers need, and nothing that they don't," said Alfa Romeo North America head Reid Bigland.
The 4C Spider packs the same performance specifications as its coupe counterpart, along with its carbon fiber body, manual steering, all-aluminum mid-engine layout and exterior details.
Like its coupe version, the 4C Spider can reach top speeds of 160 miles per hour and torque up to 258 foot-pounds. The car can reach 60 miles per hour from standstill in only 4.1 seconds. The engine is an all-aluminum, intercooled and turbocharged 1750cc, 237-horsepower engine, while the chassis is made of carbon fiber, weighing only 236 pounds.
The 4C Spider also comes with the feature that allows drivers to adjust the vehicle's performance and driving dynamics depending on the situation. The options for the 4C Spider include all-weather, dynamic, natural, and the powerful race mode.
The differences between the 4C Spider with the 4C coupe, on the other hand, include a dual, center stack exhaust, new wheel designs, halo rear window, additional carbon fiber details and, of course, the option to remove the car's top, which can be made of standard cloth or carbon fiber.
The 4C Spider will be arriving at dealership in the United States this summer, but at extremely limited numbers. Between both the coupe and roadster models of the 4C, Bigland said that total global production will only be for 3,000 cars, with 1,000 of these going to the United States this year.
Buyers will have a wide range of aesthetic options, as there are seven exterior colors, six interior combinations including two seat material options, and four brake caliper color options.
Buyers looking for more speed and power can also choose to purchase the optional track package, which will add high-performance shock absorbers, Pirelli tires on forged-aluminum wheels and additional performance parts.
The price for the 4C Spider has not yet been officially announced, though Bigland said that it is expected to be between the range of $60,000 and $85,000. In comparison, the coupe version of the 4C begins with prices at $55,195, including destination.
