But while the new Alfa Romeo Spider 1750 TBi is offering a new drivetrain with plenty of sting, Alfa Romeo Australia is ensuring that the final Spider in this incarnation does not deliver a sting in the wallet. At a recommended retail price, not including statutory charges and dealer costs, of A$69,990 the new Spider 1750 TBi, despite its performance, fuel economy and emissions benefits, costs the same as the car it replaces. Additionally, the new 1750 TBi has Frau Pieno Fiore leather upholstered electric seats as standard, along with new 19 inch alloy wheels.

The 1750 TBi turbo petrol engine is a light and compact engine with a power and torque output that belies its size. Maximum power is 147 kW while not only does the torque peak at an impressive 320 Nm, it occurs at an amazingly low engine speed of just 1400 rpm. This combination not only enables the Spider to deliver a 0-100 kmh time of just 7.2 seconds, it also provides in-gear acceleration times on a par with a 3.0 litre V6 engine. At the same time the new engine is impressively economical – on the combined cycle it offers 8.2 litres per 100 km, or to put it another way, it saves more than a litre of fuel every 100 kms compared to the 2.2 litre engine it replaces. Finally, with full Euro 5 compliance it meets the toughest emission standards in the world, making the Spider 1750 TBi fast, clean and economical. This substantial gain in engine efficiency has been achieved with an advanced ignition control solutions including direct fuel injection, two continuously variable valve timing units, a turbocharger and a revolutionary scavenging control system. The Alfa Romeo Spider 1750 TBi is fitted with a 6-speed manual gearbox.

Although the archetypal Alfa Romeo Spider is the 1960’s Duetto that entered the public consciousness when a Dustin Hoffman piloted a red – of course – Duetto Spider on his way to his fateful meeting with Mrs Robinson in the film ‘The Graduate’, the Spider has been has been at the heart of the company right back to its foundation. Although early models such as the 40-60hp and the RL were known generically as spiders, the first model to carry Spider as part of its name was the 8C 2300 Spider. The Spider relaunched Alfa Romeo in Australia in 1998 and the current incarnation arrived at the 2006 Australian International Motor Show in Sydney.

The 1750 TBi Alfa Spider’s braking system comprises 330 mm ventilated front discs and 292 mm solid discs at the rear. The Alfa Spider offers direct, lively and responsive speed-sensitive power assisted steering, with a rack requiring only 2.33 turns lock-to-lock; the most direct steering in its class. The turning circle is just 10.7 m between kerbs.

Both passive and active safety features are comprehensively represented in the Spider. In addition to seven standard equipment airbags, seatbelt pre-tensioners and a fully integrated Fire Prevention System, the new car comes with a comprehensive range of state-of-the-art electronic braking, traction control and stability systems fitted as standard. ABS anti-lock braking is combined with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution over all four wheels, and a sophisticated switchable Vehicle Dynamic Control unit enhances cornering stability. VDC is further augmented by ASR to limit wheelspin during acceleration, MSR to modulate braking torque when changing down through the gears, and a unique Hill Holder function to facilitate smooth hill starts.