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Alfa Romeo’s
return to America in 2007 was publicly kick-started last
weekend with the stateside unveiling of an all-new concept
car in the form of the stunning Alfa Spider. The new Alfa
Romeo concept car was presented in the glamorous setting of
the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California.
Alfa
Romeo represented one of the featured brands at Pebble
Beach, which included no fewer than 62 cars being presented.
This was according to
Concours Co-Chairman Glenn Mounger
“the most significant display of classic Alfa Romeos ever
assembled anywhere.”
Based on the
highly appraised 8C Competizione first seen at the Frankfurt
IAA almost two years ago, the Alfa Spider does not hide its
age as a slightly reworked and ‘facelifted’ concept car.
External
differences from the 8C Competizione, other than the fact
that the roof has been removed, are the new GTA-style alloy
wheels produced by Toora and reworked grilles with aluminium
detailing. These present a slightly more elegant solution
than the original competition-inspired designs found on the
8C Competizione.
The engine
remains the same Maserati-sourced 4.2-litre V8, fed by a
volumetric compressor. With an impressive 400 bhp reached at
7,000 rpm, the 8C Spider is capable of blasting to 300 km/h,
and accelerating from 0-100 km/h in around 4.5 seconds.
Regular and progressive torque is ensured at all times by
the volumetric compressor, rendering the 8C Spider a
pleasure to drive on regular roads just as much as on a
demanding circuit.
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