I bet you have all hear the old nursery rhyme,
"Will you walk into my parlour?" said the spider to the fly
"It’s the prettiest little parlour you ever will desire"
Well in the case of the Alfa Romeo’s Spider, customers have not really been enticed to it’s web recently due to problems amongst the dealerships coupled with disgruntled owners, shoddy after sales and quite frankly, not a particularly good example of what the iconic Spider really should be.
But all this has just changed as Alfa Romeo’s new Spider spins a web so intricate in design you cannot help but take a dangerously closer look. The front styling lures you nearer thanks to the long seductive bonnet with the larger V-shaped grille incorporating the Alfa logo flanked by two cats eyes light clusters. The colour coded bumper hangs perilously below with the integrated fog lights and the traditionally placed number plate to the left of the car. As you walk around the web, a stunning profile comes into focus with flared wheel arches, a strong waistline and broad rear wheel arches for that ‘purposeful’ look, while at the rear the boot tapers to the emblem again flanked by cats eye light clusters that drop into another colour coded bumper
This will send tingles down your spine at the mere look alone then set your heart racing as you enter her alluring web. Inside is a beautifully laid out lair with all the creature comforts one would expect from the revised Alfa pedigree. Electrically adjustable heated front seats with drivers side memory and electric folding heated door mirrors with a memory function on the drivers side are just a few along with electric windows, dual zone automatic climate control, tinted windows, cruise control and leather steering knob and gearbox. The central console is trimmed in chrome and the entire instrument dials look straight into the driver’s eyes for ease of use.
You know this lair is dangerous but you cannot help getting closer into this web. You get comfortable, au-fair with your surroundings, then you press the start button and that’s it, the Spider roars into action and you are caught, hook line and sinker in it’s web.
The sound from the engine is so deep, throaty and simply sexy you want to hear it again and again. The new Spider gives you a choice of a 2.2 JTS, 2.4 JTD and two variants of the 3.2, a V6 Q4 and a V6 Q4 QTRONIC and I was tempted into the 2.2 and 3.2 at launch in the beautiful setting of Morocco.
Starting with the latter engine, Morocco takes their speed limits very seriously so it was utterly frustrating keeping this Spider on such a tight lead. But because it was hot, we let the Spider take off the rather out dated double layer fabric roof which, by a press of a dashboard mounted button, took 25 seconds. As the Spider has a dedicated roof storage compartment, the stowage capacity is not compromised and has a luggage capacity of 200 litres that is 36% more than its predecessor.
Sadly the Spider loses its street cred, with the roof down, but takes centre stage when topless transforming into a simply stunning convertible that will certainly blow any old cobwebs away. This we found out as we left the towns and headed for the open roads of Morocco. Racing through the wonderful six speed gearbox, the 3.2 engine took a mere 7 seconds to reach 60 mph and has a to speed of 149mph. Surprisingly however, fuel consumption is a not too painful at 24.6 mpg on a combined cycle. But the 2.2 JTS was better, more responsive and more fun to drive yet not far behind in terms of quickness, 8.8 seconds to reach 60 mph, top speed of 138mph and obviously more efficient fuel consumption of 30.1 mpg on a combined.
So what makes this Spider so utterly fun to drive? Well the answer has to be in the suspension system that has gone thorough extensive developments resulting in the highest possible levels of drivability and handling appropriate to such a sporting car combined with excellent travelling comfort. Add on the direct responsive steering thanks to Alfa’s renowned hydraulic power steering with just 2.25 turns lock to lock and you could quite easily find yourself spending all day in and out of the shopping bays listening to ‘I will survive’ blasting from the Bose Sound system.
Which indeed you will, for in the worse case scenario, help is at hand as the Spider is equipped with six airbags including passenger and drivers knee bags, a body shell that has been designed to absorb impact with maximum efficiency, height adjustable front seatbelts with pretensioners and load limiters, anti-whiplash head restraints, antisubmarine seats and an FPS Fire Prevention system. Well that takes care of the passengers, what about the car? Hopefully not a dent as ABS combined with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution over all four wheels, plus Hydraulic Brake Assistance will keep this Spider firmly on the roads. In addition, a sophisticated Vehicle Dynamic control unit enhances cornering stability and this, along with Anti-slip regulation to limit the wheel spin during acceleration, Motor Slip regulation to modulate braking when slowing down and a Hill Holder to ensure smooth hill starts should also ensure the Spider keeps well always from the garages apart from its annual servicing.
This new Spider will send the old sceptics scuttling back to wherever they come from in the first place. But I would hibernate her throughout the winter, dust off her cobwebs in the spring and send her into action at the first sign of warm weather, as her looks are breathtaking but only when the roof is down. With prices starting from just £25,995 rising to £32,995, I might just be able to do that – in my dreams!
Jackie Violet