The Alfa Spider or convertible, which has just made its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show, has already picked up an important award. The Cabriolet Committee (a jury of 23 specialist journalists from 12 countries) has chosen the new Alfa Romeo as ‘Cabrio of the Year 2006’.

To be eligible for the prize, cars had to be presented for the first time at this year’s Motor Show, and could not cost more than 60,000 Swiss Francs. This is the second time that a Fiat Auto car has won the award: in 1995 the title of ‘Cabrio of the Year’ went to the Fiat Barchetta. The award was presented today by Luc Argand, Chairman of the Geneva International Motor Show, on the Alfa Romeo stand where it was accepted by Antonio Baravalle.

‘It is an important award,’ said the manager of the Alfa Romeo brand, ‘because it recognises our brand’s intention to remain a contender in the convertible sector. This type of car has always been important for Alfa Romeo, accounting for some of the loveliest cars ever produced: from the Giulietta Spider in the 1950s, going on to the Duetto, and the Spider launched in the 1990s.' And today it is the turn of the new Alfa Spider, which has the ‘essential simple’ character of a true sports car, combined with the technological superiority of the ‘new Alfa breed’.
 

Derived from the fascinating Alfa Brera coupé, the new Spider is an elegant 2-seater with generous dimensions. Inside, the passenger compartment is welcoming and highly sophisticated, thanks to the use of luxury materials and other outstanding features (which are standard depending on the version): from dual-zone automatic climate control to steering-wheel-mounted radio controls, VDC and Cruise control.

The car is offered in a choice of two outfits, and the customer can also choose between two JTS petrol engines (2.2 delivering 185 bhp and 3.2 delivering 260 bhp), combined with two gearboxes (mechanical 6-speed units on both engines, and automatic for the 260 bhp 3.2 which will be available after the launch). The new car guarantees the temperament of an Alfa and excellent dynamic performance thanks to high double wishbone suspension at the front and a Multilink system at the rear. The Alfa Spider combines superb comfort with a sporty trim and an evolved ‘Alfa Q4’ four-wheel drive system (on the 260 bhp 3.2 version). And in the safety field, the new Alfa Romeo Spider is fitted with the most sophisticated electronic devices to control the car’s dynamic behaviour, from braking to traction.