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In Alfa Romeo’s Centenary year, the new Alfa Giulietta is the undisputed star of the Alfa Romeo stand at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show (4-14 March). With the new car – capable of demonstrating great agility over the most demanding routes, and providing comfort on everyday roads – Alfa Romeo continues its custom of presenting new products and features in a world preview context.

Designed by the Alfa Romeo Style Centre, new Giulietta is a five-door hatchback, with strong Alfa Romeo design cues, equipped with impressive dynamic capability for the most demanding routes, while providing comfort on everyday journeys. This is thanks to its new Compact platform which, in conjunction with the refined technical solutions employed for the suspension, the dual pinion active steering, and high quality materials and manufacturing technologies implemented, allows the Giulietta to achieve excellent performance both in terms of on-board comfort as well as dynamic and safety features (active and passive).

From May this year, the Alfa Giulietta will go on sale progressively in all the major markets, while visitors to the Geneva Motor Show will be able to see five different versions: two Quadrifoglio Verde (Cloverleaf) versions fitted with Alfa Romeo’s 235 HP 1750 TBi engine, two Distinctive versions with 170 HP 2.0 JTDMturbodiesels, and a Distinctive version fitted with the 170 HP 1.4 MultiAir Turbo petrol engine. The name of the new car is an obvious tribute to the mythical Giulietta which in the Fifties caught the imagination of generations of car enthusiasts, making the dream of owning an Alfa Romeo, with its high level of comfort and technical excellence, possible for the first time.

A new platform to enhance road holding and agility in total comfort and safety

The new compact Alfa Romeo has been designed to appeal to customers looking for a distinctive saloon providing excellent levels of comfort and the best possible dynamic performance.

The new Alfa Giulietta introduces an entirely new platform – referred to as Compact – designed to satisfy the most demanding customers in terms of road-holding, agility and safety. It ensures both exceptional dynamic performance and high comfort levels, thanks to the refined technical solutions employed for the suspension, a new-generation steering system, a light and rigid structure created from materials such as aluminium and high-strength steels, and avant-garde manufacturing techniques.

This new platform will allow the Giulietta to accommodate the needs of a wide spectrum of customers in this category, teaming on-board comfort, functional interiors and a substantial boot, with the typical dynamic qualities of a true Alfa Romeo.

Driving satisfaction and comfort can be adapted to meet customers’ specific needs thanks to the Alfa DNA selector, a system that customises the vehicle’s behaviour to suit different road conditions and driving styles. The new Alfa Giulietta platform was designed to integrate the vehicle’s different systems and exploit them to the full, thus emphasising the three set-up functions (Dynamic, Normaland All Weather) available through the Alfa DNA selector. Fitted as standard on the entire Giulietta range, the system is designed to modify the operating parameters of the engine, gearbox, steering system and Q2 electronic differential, in addition to the behaviour logic of the Vehicle Dynamic Control system (VDC).

Sporty and comfortable, Italian style

A perfect blend of sportiness and style, the new Alfa Giulietta redefines the Brand’s technological standards and emotional values.

Frontal styling is a development of Alfa’s trademark triangular grille, with a brand new interpretation of the classic shield, embedded in the front bumper and suspended between the air vents. This is the point of origin for the design of the entire car, which teams an energetic personality with markedly stylish shapes. The front headlights have DRL (Daylight Running Lights) with LED technology.

In profile, the Alfa Romeo Giulietta is brimming with personality, reinforcing its agility and strength. The side windows recall the appearance of a coupé, emphasising the dynamism and fluidity of the shapes, including the concealed rear door handles. Ribs on the vehicle sides ‘elongate’ the car while clean lines accentuate the angular shape of the body.

The rear, like the front and sides, emphasises the feeling of a muscular vehicle, decidedly ‘planted’ on the road surface. In addition, like the headlights, the innovative rear lights also use LED technology which serves a stylish purpose and also enhances preventive safety.

The overall measurements of the new car allow for a compact and dynamic shape, while at the same time guaranteeing excellent comfort and a spacious boot (350 litres): in fact, new Giulietta is 4.35 metres long, 1.46 metres high and 1.80 metres wide, with a wheelbase of 2.63 metres.

Innovative features for maximum in-car wellbeing

Attention to detail and high quality materials used for the interiors are, today as yesterday, the most evolved expression of Italian style. Thanks to the enhanced ergonomics of the interior design, every command is ideally located: the main ones are grouped together at the centre of the dashboard and feature the same design as the commands on the 8C Competizione. In addition, the navigation system with pop-up display allows drivers to view either maps or the mechanical operating parameters set on the Alfa DNA system without having to take their eyes off the road.

There are practical open storage compartments situated in various parts of the passenger compartment: in front of the gear lever, on the centre console and on the interior door trim. There are closed storage compartments – depending on the chosen version – on the top of the dashboard, under the dashboard opposite the front passenger (cooled with dual zone climate control), and in both front and rear armrests.

Innovative engines for a thrilling yet environmentally-friendly drive

The new Alfa Giulietta offers the highest levels of performance and technology through a range of engines that are absolutely state-of-art in terms of technology, performance levels and environmental-friendliness. At the time of its commercial launch, four Turbo engines will be available, all with Euro 5 type-approval and fitted as standard with a Start&Stop system to reduce consumption levels and emissions: two petrol versions (120 HP 1.4TB and 170 HP 1.4TB MultiAir) and two diesels (105 HP 1.6 JTDMand 170 HP 2.0 JTDM, both second-generation MultiJet engines). The range is completed by the impressive 235 HP 1750 TBi teamed with exclusive Quadrifoglio Verde (Cloverleaf) interior.

The latter is a true representative of the way in which Alfa Romeo interprets the high end of this automotive segment. Here is a 235 bhp vehicle that can really connect with customers. There is strong and sustained acceleration thanks to plenty of torque even at low engine rpm, a smooth response that minimises gearbox use thanks to the flat torque curve typical of the best modern petrol engines, and an engine note that is engaging without ever becoming intrusive.

In detail, Alfa Romeo’s Turbo petrol engine boasts advanced technical solutions including direct fuel injection, twin continuously variable valve timing units, a turbocharger and a revolutionary scavenging control system that nullifies any turbo ‘lag’. The resulting performance is comparable to – or better than –many 3-litre engines, while still delivering fuel consumption typical of a compact four cylinder unit. It should be noted that the specific power of 134 HP/litre is the highest in the world for a 4-cylinder unit installed in this type of vehicle, as well as being the highest ever achieved by an Alfa Romeo production engine. The specific torque too, totalling 194 Nm/litre, is the highest of any petrol engine in this category, while the maximum torque of 340 Nm, delivered at only 1,900 rpm, is class-leading.

The range of engines available can accommodate a wide spectrum of customers. The 120 HP 1.4TB is the ideal engine for those in search of a car that can handle city traffic effortlessly while keeping running costs to a minimum. The turbo engine guarantees prompt response even at low rpm (maximum torque is achieved at just 1,750 rpm) while Start&Stop makes it possible to cut consumption and harmful emissions levels drastically, without compromising comfort and on-board safety.

The 170 HP 1.4 TB MultiAir engine is an amalgam of technology, which blends high performance levels with the lowest emissions and fuel consumption levels in its class for petrol engines of this power rating. This is a powerful and flexible engine, with a generous 250 Nm of torque (when set to Dynamic), fitted with Start&Stop and with

fuel consumption and emissions levels more closely resembling a diesel engine than a petrol one of this power rating (61.4mpg in the extra-urban cycle and 134 g/km of CO2 emissions). The teaming of this engine with Alfa Romeo’s new platform ranks the Giulietta at the top of its class both for its dynamic qualities as well as comfort and practicality during everyday use.

The 105 HP 1.6 JTDM is a flexible and economical diesel engine that will surprise customers due to its prompt response (in Dynamic mode, maximum torque is a generous 320 Nm) combined with extremely low fuel consumption (in the extra-urban cycle, it is just 76.3 mpg). This is possible thanks to the combination of second-generation MultiJet technology and the Start&Stop system. Consequently, it is an engine dedicated to all those in search of a car with character and a distinctive style, affording the typical agility and handling of an Alfa Romeo, yet able to combine them with low running costs.

For customers who use their cars primarily on the motorway or who demand the maximum performance levels from a diesel engine, the 170 HP 2.0 JTDM is an obvious choice. Again, it is an amalgam of technology which combines second-generation MultiJet technology with Start&Stop. The result is a vehicle with best-in-class performance levels, extremely flexible driving (with the DNA selector set to Dynamic mode, the available torque at 1,750 rpm is a generous 350 Nm), and one that offers among the lowest fuel consumption and emission levels in its class for cars with this power rating (124 g/km of CO2 and 68.8mpg in the extra-urban cycle). Thanks to the exceptional qualities of the new Compact platform, this version is able to blend impressive dynamic performance with best-in-class comfort and practicality.

All the engines are teamed with a state-of-the-art manual 6-speed gearbox which can withstand and transmit high maximum torque values. Subsequently, the MultiAir and 170 HP 2.0 JTDMengines will also be teamed with an innovative dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Segment-beating safety, comfort and dynamic control

The Alfa Giulietta was designed to achieve the highest Euro NCAP crash safety rating to offer total protection for both driver and passengers. In addition, the new platform was designed to guarantee the utmost interaction of the systems in charge of controlling vehicle dynamics.

The Alfa DNA system monitors all the sophisticated electronic devices for dynamic vehicle control: VDC (Vehicle Dynamic Control), Dual Pinion Active Steering, the Q2 electronic differential, the response and torque curve of the engine, and the braking system.

All these systems guarantee genuine Alfa Romeo driving pleasure, safety, vehicle traction and performance.

The new Compact platform, thanks to refined technical solutions employed for the suspension and the materials used (high-strength steels, aluminium, magnesium, etc.), can accommodate the needs of the most demanding customers in terms of on-board comfort and quiet running, ranking the Giulietta at the top of its class.

Extensive and diverse range

Intended for customers who won’t compromise on-board comfort and safety, the new Giulietta is available in two versions (Progression and Distinctive), along with two custom packs (Sport Pack and Premium Pack).

All the devices linked to active and passive safety are fitted as standard on the entire Giulietta range. Indeed, the Progression version comes standard with the Alfa D.N.A. system (with Q2 electronic differential and DST), VDC (including ASR and hill holder), six airbags, front seat belts with dual pretensioners, and front seats with an anti-whiplash system. Standard equipment also includes manual climate control, 16’’ wheels, front electric windows and a trip computer. Distinctive offers the following in addition to the standard equipment of the former: dual zone automatic climate control, leather steering wheel with radio controls, cruise control, radio with CD and MP3 player and dual tuner function, fog lights, reconfigurable instrument panel, seats upholstered in Competizione fabric, and a stylish chromed insert framing the side windows. The dashboard on Distinctive versions also stands out for the stylish insert painted in magnesium grey or, alternatively, in Ghiaccio white or Alfa Red as well as in brushed burnished aluminium.

As on the Alfa MiTo, customers can further customise their Giulietta with two specific Packs (Sport and Premium). The former is designed to enhance the sporty soul of the vehicle with specific features which improve the already excellent handling of the car and include 17’’or 18’’ alloy wheels, side skirts, sports pedals, wraparound seats with leather and microfibre fabric upholstery, brushed burnished aluminium dashboard insert and burnished headlight frames.

The Premium Pack includes bi-xenon lights with AFS function, the Blue&Me system with bluetooth function, USB port and MP3 player, rear parking sensors, electrically folding door mirrors and an electrochromic rear-view mirror.

To customise their Giulietta, customers can also choose from a list of options including a large panoramic sunroof, navigation system with maps and pop-up display with European maps on SD card and TMC Pro (service available for Italy, France, Germany, United Kingdom and Spain) together with a Bose® Hi-Fi system. In addition, the Blue&Me® MAP system is also available, which adds to the functions of the Blue&Me® (hands-free function with Bluetooth® interface and advanced voice recognition, USB port, MP3 player and SMS interpreter) navigation functions thanks to a TomTom portable navigation system which is integrated with the vehicle’s existing systems thanks to a Bluetooth® interface. The portable navigation system is embedded into the dashboard courtesy of a purpose-designed interface, so as to blend in seamlessly with the ergonomics of the passenger compartment and to ensure maximum safety in the event of an accident.

The new Giulietta range is completed by the 235 HP Giulietta 1750 TBi Quadrifoglio Verde (Cloverleaf), a legendary Alfa Romeo symbol which has competed on tracks all over the world. Equipped with the highest-performing engine in the range, this version stands out for its thoroughbred sports styling, teamed with 17’’ (18’’ optional) wheels, guaranteeing best-in-class driving pleasure and surprisingly low fuel consumption for this power rating. The Cloverleaf is thus reinterpreted with a modern touch, combining the utmost driving pleasure with greater environmental awareness.

Alfa Romeo Pininfarina Spider Concept

A 2-seater spider on Alfa Romeo basis, which will be unveiled on March 2nd at the Pininfarina stand, thus starting the celebrations for the 80th anniversary

Pininfarina discloses the first official image of its new concept car, world debut on March 2nd at the Geneva Motor Show.

The Pininfarina new concept is meant to be part of the tradition of successful spiders born from the relationship with Alfa Romeo, among the most significant and long-lasting ones in the automobile history, and interprets the innovative vision of an antique theme strongly present in the Pininfarina roots, the 2-seater spider.

An iconic object that, binding with an ideal thread the past and the future of Pininfarina, starts the celebrations for its 80th anniversary, representing at the same time an homage to the Alfa Romeo 100th birthday.

One hundred Alfa Romeo MiTos, produced exclusively for Maserati’s service network will soon be circulating on roads throughout Europe. For Maserati, the Alfa Romeo MiTo is the perfect “Courtesy Car” for customers who clearly appreciate Italian style and unique products.

The special MiTos will be marked out by their Maserati Ocean Blue body color, and will be equipped with the most powerful engine in the entire MiTo range – the very lively, 170 HP, 1.4 MultiAir Turbo petrol engine.

In addition to their special body color, the MiTos will feature another two exclusive details: a ‘Limited Edition’ plate on the air conditioning system and special aluminium kick plates bearing the words “Alfa Romeo for Maserati”.

All one hundred cars will feature be generously equipped: Frau leather seats, automatic dual zone air conditioning, a leather steering wheel with radio and telephone controls, a map-based Radionavigation unit with maps covering the whole of Europe, the Blue&Me hands-free system with USB port, and bi-xenon headlights.

The MiTo for Maserati will also stand out due to its exceptional sporting performance. It is fitted as standard with 18 inch alloy wheels, a rear spoiler, a sporty rear bumper and aluminium pedal unit. They will also be fitted as standard with Dynamic Suspension, the advanced electronic control system that varies suspension configuration actively and continuously according to road conditions and driver input, ensuring lightning-quick cornering and amazing sensitivity.

Thanks to this special initiative with Alfa Romeo, Maserati’s European service network will be able to offer its customers a very special car, completely in line with Maserati philosophy, according to which even the smallest detail is meticulously and attentively chosen.

2010 Autodelta Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione

At the PistonHeads: The Performance Car Show that will take place in Birmingham, UK, 14-17 January 2010, Autodelta will unveil the world’s first tuned Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione.

According to the available small piece of information, the leading Alfa Romeo tuning house has tweaked the vehicle’s exotic, Ferrari-developed 4.7-litre V8 engine unit with optimized software. Now the refined 8C Competizione’s engine output estimates 17 horsepower more than its stock 444 horsepower.

Autodelta also announced that they are working on chassis and suspension upgrades that will be presented at a later date.

Alfa Romeo UK has just announced pricing of its revolutionary MultiAir engined MiTo range, set to arrive here in spring 2010. From launch, two engine versions will become available – the 135 bhp 1.4 Turbo, and the top-of-the-range 170 bhp 1.4 Turbo which will carry the iconic Alfa Cloverleaf badge.

Available to order through the Alfa Romeo UK dealer network from early January 2010, the MiTo’s MultiAir engine range marks the next technological step in the vehicle’s already successful life – promising lower emissions and fuel consumption together with higher performance and greater driving pleasure – with Active Suspension as standard on the 170bhp Cloverleaf model.

This Alfa Romeo Brera has been designed by the fashion house Italia Independent. The interior sees such upgrades as black leather upholstery and carbon fiber trim. The car is painted in Titanium Opaque and features 18 inch alloy wheels.

(from Alfa Romeo) Meet the first Alfa Romeo Brera “Italia Independent.” Sergio Cravero, managing director of Alfa Romeo Automobiles delivered the car to Giovanni Acconciagioco founding partner of the brand that operates within several goods sector to package Italian style and innovation for global consumption. On November 5, the car will set out from Milan for an original tour to discover the “fashion roads” of Europe. A route that will include the cities where the local inhabitants express their personal and creative style most spontaneously on the street: Milan, Zurich, Paris, London, Brussels, Berlin and Stockholm. Alfa Romeo Brera “Italia Independent” will be driven by Fosco Giulianelli, creator of the “The Fashionist” (www.thefashionist.se) a style & street guru who captures the coolest people in an absolutely natural way. The most interesting shots and videos will feature on the official websites of Alfa Romeo, Italia Independent and The Fashionist. A journey as truly unique as the international debut of the car, which took place in July this year against the magical backdrop of Porto Cervo.

But the new Alfa Romeo Limited Edition car does not only brings its unmistakable style to real roads. Since October 22, it has also featured on the virtual tracks of “Forza Motorsport 3,” the most important racing videogame for Windows compatible consoles such as the Xbox. The game allows you to choose between 100 of the most exclusive road tracks in the world, from race circuits to the winding cliff roads of Amalfi. This means that the more than 4 million fans who buy “Forza Motorsport 3″ every year will have a chance to try out a virtual Alfa Romeo Brera “Italia Independent” on the roads of Europe, America and Asia.

The new Alfa Romeo Giulietta will be presented to the world at the forthcoming Geneva Car Show. Sales of the new model will start in spring and be gradually extended to all the major markets. The Alfa Romeo Giulietta is expected to give new impetus to the brand in one of Europe’s most important segments.

In the Centenary year, the name is a tribute to an automobile myth and Alfa Romeo. The Giulietta is a car that, in the fifties, caught the imagination of generations of car enthusiasts, making the dream of owning an Alfa Romeo and enjoying the high level of comfort and technical excellence accessible for the first time.

The Alfa Romeo Style Centre has produced a new Giulietta, a sports car capable of expressing both great agility on the most demanding routes and providing comfort on everyday roads.

A new architecture for enhancing road hold and agility in total comfort and safety

Meet the new Alfa Romeo, a compact created to appeal to customers who seek top dynamic performance and those who are looking for a distinctive style and a high level of comfort.

The Giulietta has brand-new architecture, designed to meet the expectations of the most demanding customers in terms of road holding, agility and safety. Its excellent dynamic performance and great comfort are the result of refined technical solutions implemented in the suspensions, a next-generation steering system, a rigid yet light structure made of aluminium and high-strength steel, and state-of-the-art manufacturing technologies.

Alfa DNA, a device which customises behaviour of the car according to different driving styles and road conditions, can adapt the new Alfa Romeo to the needs of each individual driver to enhance driving pleasure and comfort. The new architecture of the Alfa Giulietta was designed to integrate and enhance all onboard systems. Three set-ups (Dynamic, Normal and All Weather) are available and can be selected using the Alfa DNA. This device – standard across the entire range of the new model – modifies the operating parameters of the engine, of the steering system, and of the Q2 electronic differential, in addition to fine-tuning the stability control system (VDC) behavioural logics.

Italian style sportiness and comfort

Combining sportiness and elegance, the Alfa Giulietta is the result of Alfa Romeo’s new direction in style and technology – an approach that started with the 8C Competizione supercar and which recalls the brand’s glorious past while projecting its traditional values of technology and emotion into the future.

The front end is developed around a “trilobe shape” and features a brand-new interpretation of the classic Alfa grille, set into the front bumper and suspended between the two air intakes. The entire car develops from here to combine a lively personality with an elegant form. The front headlamps implement LED technology and a Daytime Running Lights (DRL) function for maximum active safety.

The profile of the Alfa Romeo Giulietta is rich in personality and confers the appearance of an agile, solid model. This is above all the result of the coupé shaped side windows, which highlight dynamic and streamlined shape, and of the concealed rear handles. The side ribbing adds to the car’s slender look, while the taut lines closing in on the rear end accentuate the “wedge” shape of the body.

The style of the rear end, like that of the front and the side, is strong and consolidates the impression of a muscular car, firmly gripped to the road. Like the headlamps, the rear light clusters implement LED technology, to the advantage of preventive safety, in addition to good looks.

The interior design is taut and light: a horizontally developed dashboard with aluminium element accents and rocker controls which explicitly recall the 8C Competizione. Painstaking attention to detail and the high quality of the materials used are the most advanced expression of Italian style.

Finally, the dimensions of the new car give a compact, dynamic shape combined with excellent roominess and a capacious boot (350 litres): the car is 4.35 metres long, 1.46 metre high and 1.80 metres wide with a wheelbase of 2.63 metres.

Innovative engines for exciting, environmentally friendly driving

The Alfa Romeo Giulietta guarantees top level performance and next-generation technology in terms of technical solutions, performance and environmental friendliness. Four Turbo engines will be available at launch, all Euro 5 compliant and fitted with a standard “Start&Stop” system for reducing consumption and emissions: two petrol engines (1.4TB – 120 HP and 1.4TB MultiAir – 170 HP) and two diesel engines (1.6 JTDM – 105 HP and 2.0 JTDM – 170 HP, both belonging to the second generation of JTDM engines). Finally, the range is completed with the lively 1750 TBi – 235 HP with an exclusive Quadrifoglio Verde configuration.

Safety and dynamic behaviour at the top of the segment

Alfa Romeo Giulietta was designed to obtain the maximum Euro NCAP rating in order to offer total protection to driver and passengers. Furthermore, suspension, steering and braking system are designed to be perfectly balanced even during extreme manoeuvres.

Finally, the Alfa Romeo Giulietta is fitted with the most sophisticated electronic devices for dynamic control as standard: VDC (Vehicle Dynamic Control), DST (Dynamic Steering Torque), Q2 electronic differential and Alfa DNA selector. All these systems guarantee driving safety, dynamism and performance in the best Alfa Romeo tradition.

Alfa Romeo Brera S 3.2 is a recent project between Alfa Romeo UK and tuning company Prodrive. They released the limited-edition Brera S 3.2, which has lost over a 100 kg of overall weight thanks to use of front-wheel drive rather than the standard Brera V6’s Q4 all-wheel drive system. The car also got some cosmetic, trim changes and suspension changes, but nothing significant.

Because of the last reason, Autodelta reworked the Brera S 3.2 with their own supercharging system. The project name is Brera S 3.2 “Compressore” and the car is suitable for everyday drive as well as racing on the track.

The maximum output of Brera “Compressore” is 352bhp and 435N/m of torque. By using FWD the car has no longer power drain because of the four-wheel drive system. The traction is improved by installing bespoke mechanical limited slip differential (LSD), which operates in combination with the car’s standard electronic Q2 system. The overall driving experience is unique. Alfa Romeo Brera S 3.2 “Compressore” no longer look like a real sports car, but it acts like one.

Autodelta has more than 25 years experience in developing and applying forced induction principles to Alfa Romeos, so the result is just perfect.

The engine tuning is not everything in the tuning kit from Autodelta for Brera S 3.2. It also includes Autodelta Sportline suspension kit. The Prodrive suspension guarantees performance on smoother surfaces, such as racetracks, but it misses out on providing comfort for everyday use. The Autodelta Sportline coilover suspension can be adjusted to height and firmness with more than 40 different settings.

Brera S 3.2 “Compressore” will be exhibited at the MPH09 Motor Show.

The Spider or convertible has an important place in Alfa Romeo tradition (starting with the Giulietta Spider in the 1950s and going on to the Duetto and the Spider launched in the 1990s), because it has always embodied the ‘free emotive’ expression of the car. And the new model reiterates the same theme, a natural evolution of the convertibles created by Alfa Romeo in its long history, cars that have always produced strong emotions, guaranteeing extremely entertaining driving and combining superb styling with the performance of powerful, elastic engines. And the new Alfa Spider is no exception: it has the same ‘essentially simple’ character of a true sports car, combined with the technological superiority of the ‘new Alfa breed.

Developed by Pininfarina in conjunction with the Alfa Romeo style centre, the model turns heads for its unmistakable Italian elegance, an absolutely unique and unrepeatable style that promises the satisfaction of a sporty drive with full respect for Brand traditions. While maintaining a front end compatible with the latest generation of Alfa Romeos, the new car is nevertheless the latest stylistic development of the Alfa Romeo convertibles that have written the history of world motoring. Take for example the car’s penetrating lines that invite the eye to run over the entire length of the clean-cut perimeter. The side is made more dynamic by the concave surface that runs across it. Brawny wheelarches express the car\’s sporty vocation while maintaining its stylistic elegance and lightness. The rear is also made lighter by fins and the round plan view of the boot and bumpers.

Inside, the Alfa Spider offers a welcoming and highly sophisticated environment due to the use of top-quality materials and the adoption of opulent features (standard on some versions). From dual-zone automatic climate control to steering-wheel-mounted radio controls, VDC and Cruise control, a map navigator with bird-view function and the Blue&Me system.

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 V6 Q4 delivering 260 bhp), combined with a sporty, mechanical, 6-speed gearbox. 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 Romeo Q4’ four-wheel drive system (on the 260 bhp 3.2 V6 Q4 version). And in the safety field, the new Alfa Romeo is fitted with the most sophisticated electronic devices to control the car’s dynamic behaviour: from braking to traction.

These are the winning features that allowed the new model to run off with the ‘Cabrio of the Year 2006’ prize at its first outing (at the recent Geneva Motor Show). This prestigious title was awarded by a Cabriolet Committee made up of 23 motoring journalists from 12 different countries. With its safety, power and attractive styling, the Alfa Spider marks step forward in the convertible field, a specific segment where Alfa Romeo has always played a leading role. The new vehicle has been designed for quality without compromise. This concept has been pursued throughout all stages of the car’s development process, from product design and including the innumerable tests that the car underwent before production. The Alfa Spider’s quality is also expressed in the choice of opulent interior materials; in the tuning of its Alfa Romeo engines to achieve top-level performance, engine note and driving comfort – and in the optimisation of the sophisticated suspension systems. The term ‘quality’ also describes a world of financial services and products to meet all needs.

The Spider version of the super sports car, designed by the Alfa Romeo Style Center, and derived from the Alfa 8C Competizione, the Gran Turismo model that has been so successful throughout the world.

This new car highlights the excellence of the brand in this sector, in the same way that several of its Spiders from the past are acknowledged as being some of the most beautiful cars in the world, cars such as the Giulietta Spider from the 1950s or the legendary Duetto, made famous by the 1967 film “The Graduate,” starring a young Dustin Hoffman.

Fold-away electric roof. The last word in freedom and comfort.

The distinctive feature of the 8C Spider is its fold-away roof, available in a choice of colours and fitted with an electro-hydraulic system activated with the simple push of a button on the dashboard. The roof consists of two overlapping fabrics: a weather-proof multi-layer outer fabric and an inner layer ensuring total acoustic comfort in the cabin. The result is the last word in style, aerodynamics, practicality and comfort.