Alfa Romeo Spider Design

Published: 21st February 2007

alfa romeo spider continued from < part three

With the option of black or dark blue roof fabric, the new Alfa Spider is available in a choice of 10 colours at launch, including Solid Black, a special Alfa Red and eight metallic finishes.

Roof

The Alfa Spider is fitted with a double-layer fabric roof shaped over five steel and aluminium frames. The outer skin is a multi-ply cloth with superior durability, waterproofing and flame propagation resistance characteristics, whilst the inner layer offers excellent sound-proofing to the passenger compartment. Particular attention has been paid to ensure minimal wind noise, even at high speeds, through the seamless roof junction with the windscreen head and the detailing of the window retaining channels.

Via a single dashboard control switch, a fully automatic system incorporating six hydraulic controls and 14 sensor positions, folds the roof into a dedicated storage compartment in less than 25 seconds. The storage compartment is concealed beneath a flush-fitting body panel incorporating black and aluminium finish blisters which adopt the profile of individual, driver and passenger roll-over bars. A transparent wind break situated between the roll-over bars significantly reduces air turbulence within the passenger compartment during high speed driving.

Interior

As with all Alfa Romeos, the interior of the new two-seat Alfa Spider convertible is focused on the driver’s immediate surroundings, which have been designed with an emphasis on ergonomic functionality. A height adjustable driver’s seat allied to a rake and reach adjustable, leather clad steering wheel guarantee a perfect driving position for the widest possible cross-section of customers.

The driver’s instrument binnacle houses large, deeply hooded speedometer and tachometer dials with subsidiary fuel and temperature gauges, strictly analogue in true Alfa tradition and backlit to optimise the driver’s night vision. A multi-lingual, multi-function display gives access to a wide range of functions as well as the trip computer.

The Alfa Spider’s driver orientated, brushed aluminium faced centre console incorporates a new, electronic key-activated engine start button, a sophisticated, Dual Zone automatic climate control and a stereo radio/CD player within easy operational reach of the driver. Specifically built for the passenger compartment, the stereo features a power output of 4x30 watts and six speakers, offering outstanding sound quality. The centre console may also be fitted with a unique system that combines satellite navigation with an extensive range of on-line services via either manual control or voice commands.

Because there is a separate, dedicated hood storage compartment, the Alfa Spider’s generous stowage capacity is not compromised. The luggage compartment offers a 200 litre capacity – 36% more than that of the previous Alfa Spider – even with the roof folded down, whilst numerous additional oddment stowage compartments include a temperature controlled cubby within the central armrest, and two lockable storage bins built into the rear bench.

With great attention being paid to build quality and cabin ambience, superior comfort levels are assured aboard the new Alfa Spider. Major contributions are made by a state-of-the-art platform, a notably rigid bodyshell, a high quality fascia, extensive carpet soundproofing, a double layer fabric roof and 5 mm window glazing, all of which are designed to reduce cabin noise and vibration to a minimum.

The new Alfa Spider range features a choice of three two-tone interior trim options –Black/Grey, Blue/Tobacco and Red/Beige – with complementary dashboard finishes. The Alfa Spider 2.2 JTS and 2.4 JTDM are upholstered in AlfaTex, a soft, durable, easy to clean fabric patented by Alfa Romeo, whilst both 3.2 JTS V6 Alfa Spider versions offer fine-grain leather upholstery fitted as standard. All versions may also be trimmed in the finest Frau® Pieno Fiore leather upholstery, an optional specification which also includes electrically adjustable, heated front seats with driver’s side memory and electric, folding, heated door mirrors with a memory function on the driver’s side.