Following up on the success of the 8C Competizione, Alfa Romeo also created a convertible version. It was the opportunity for another 500 connoisseurs to get their hands on one of the loveliest, most exclusive Alfa Romeo cars of recent years.
The Geneva International Motor Show in March 2008 saw the unveiling of the convertible version of the splendid 8C Competizione supercar: the 8C Spider.Curiously, at its debut the car was in an original white livery instead of the traditional Alfa red.The Alfa Romeo 8C Spider had virtually all its features in common with the coupé version, including the decision to build it in an exclusive limited edition of just 500 units.
It had the same transaxle layout - harking back to the Alfetta and 75 of the '70s and ’80s - with longitudinal front engine, rear-wheel drive and gearbox mounted on the rear axle, the same 450 horsepower V8 engine and the same six-speed robotised transmission.Given the absence of the roof, torsional rigidity was guaranteed by the distinctive windscreen surround: the glass was secured to the bodywork by a tough but lightweight loop of carbon fibre constructed in a single, monolithic piece.
The exquisitely crafted interior and trims were another distinguishing feature of the Alfa Romeo 8C Spider. The choice of materials used and technical solutions adopted in the cockpit represented Italian design and Alfa Romeo style at their superlative best.
Maintaining the tradition for the brand's convertibles, the Alfa Romeo 8C Spider was equipped with a lightweight canvas soft-top.
However, reflecting the car's exclusive status, the choice of materials was also highly unusual. The soft-top was made from two sheets of canvas overlapped in a "Z-fold” pattern: the lining provided soundproofing while the outer sheet ensured perfectprotection from the weather. Opening and closing were via an electrohydraulicsystem with push-button control.
The carbon fibre seats built by Sparco were upholstered with deliciously soft-feeling yet tough full grain leather. The 8C Spider weighed in at about a hundred kilos more than its coupé sister, but performance was unchanged with a top speed of 292 km/h.
