The Alfa Romeo 4C Spider Is Just As Gorgeous As We Were Hoping

What you’re looking at here is one of the least surprising cars likely to be appearing at the 2015 Detroit motor show. Why? Because this new Spider version of the Alfa 4C is scarcely different to the concept we saw last year, and undisguised production versions were spotted in public only a few weeks ago. But who cares? The official reveal gives us confirmation that the 4C Spider is just as pretty as we’d all been hoping.

There are several key reasons for the Spider being especially alluring, other than the fact that the 4C coupe its based on is already a bit of a looker. Firstly, chopping the roof off something usually makes it prettier (it just does), and secondly, those ugly scab-like headlights found on the coupe are gone, replaced by a more conventional set of lenses. However, it is worth pointing out that buyers will soon be able to spec the nicer spectacles on the coupe (below).

Having a roof chopped off normally results in having a load of weight added due to all the necessary underbody strengthening, but with the 4C being built on a super-stiff carbonfibre tub, all it requires is an aluminium roll hoop. As a result, it’s just 10kg heavier than the tin-top.

On the subject of the roof, the 4C Spider gets a stow-able folding cloth item. An exposed carbonfibre hard top will be optional.

The Spider has the same 1.75-litre turbocharged four-pot as the coupe, which means 237bhp and 258lb ft of torque sent to the rear wheels. Official performance figures haven’t been released yet, but with such a small weight difference, expect the Spider’s stats to match the coupe’s. Pricing hasn’t been revealed either, but a small increase over the £45,000 coupe seems likely.