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Rendered: Alfa Romeo Spider
Alfa Romeo aims to snag a sizeable slice of the roadster market in the US and elsewhere with its next-gen SpiderWe’ve previously reported on the ‘marriage’ between Mazda and Alfa Romeo that will see the Japanese carmaker build a two-seater sportster for the storied Italian brand, and now this Carparazzi rendering provides an indication of how the 2015 Spider could look.
Although based on the next-gen MX5, the Spider will feature unique styling in line with the Latin brand’s latest offerings (such as the MiTo, Giulietta and upcoming 4C), and it will also use its own powerplants from the Fiat MultiAir family.
Both the Spider and the MX-5 will be built at Mazda’s Hiroshima plant in Japan, but rather than diluting the Alfa Romeo brand, Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne says the arrangement will strengthen the 103-year-old Latin marque.
“The agreement demonstrates our commitment to Alfa Romeo and the determination to grow it into a truly global brand,” he said.
Given that the Spider is still two to three years away from production, there’s not much information to go on at this stage, although we do know it will be underpinned by Mazda’s new SkyActiv lightweight steel spaceframe technology, which already forms the basis for the CX-5.
That said, the platform will be designed from scratch, not only because it is rear-wheel-drive, but also because its key dimensions are distinctly different to those of the compact crossover's.
The Spider and MX-5 are likely to differ in their driving dynamics as the lengthy lead time will reportedly enable Alfa’s engineers to tailor the chassis to match the expectations of the car’s target audience.
It’s reasonable to expect rapid performance from the range-topping Spider as its light weight will be complemented by a potent 1750cc turbocharged petrol engine, which puts out a hefty 179kW and 350Nm in the 4C.
Whereas the next-gen MX-5 will retain its status as an affordable sportster, the Spider will be pitched as a more upmarket offering and could consequently feature a wider stance, more extroverted styling and a plusher interior.
The accompanying rendering provides at least an estimation of how the Spider could look, and some pundits are predicting the styling will reference the ‘boat tail’ Spider that starred alongside Dustin Hoffman in the 1960s film “The Graduate” – especially in view of the fact the US is expected be the car’s biggest market.
Meanwhile, Mazda sources have been quoted as saying they want to take the next MX-5 back to its 1989 roots by making the new model more compact, less plush and lighter, bringing the weight down to under 1000kg in standard form.
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Written byGautam Sharma
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