The much-anticipated 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider was revealed overnight at the Detroit Motor Show.

AFTER NUMEROUS online leaks of images, the 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider has finally been revealed. As you’d imagine it’s got a lot in common with it hard-headed coupe sibling, but there are a few key differences, like the carbon fibre windscreen frame that is glued and bolted to the monocoque chassis; a specially-contoured aluminium rollover bar (underneath the “halo”) which provides mounting points for the new rear deck-lid; unique upper body brackets and a high-strength steel engine compartment cross beam to maximise torsional rigidity.

Like the Coupe, the bodywork of the 4C Spider is comprised entirely of sheet moulded compound which is 20% lighter and apparently more rigid than the equivalent thickness in steel. To ensure weight was kept in check, the 4C Spider gets thinner glass than the Coupe (by 10%) which has helped drop the weight of the windscreen by 15%, meaning there’s just a 10kg difference between the Coupe and Spider (based on US spec).

Powering the 4C Spider is a 1.75-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine that makes 175kW and 350Nm of torque (80% of which is available from just 1700rpm), and that’s enough grunt to get the thing 100km/h in just over four seconds. Mated to this is Alfa’s TCT twin-clutch transmission which offers four driving modes: All-Weather; Natural; Dynamic and Race Mode (which is only available when Dynamic mode has been selected)

While the design of the 4C Spider is more or less identical to the Coupe, it departs when you get around to the back of the thing where the glazed engine cover, the pronounced buttresses and heat extractors give a traditional spider look. The canvas roof top can be removed and stowed, and a cost-optional carbon-fibre hardtop is available.

The 4C Spider, like the Coupe, is offered with the standard and Racing exhaust system, as well as a cost-optional exhaust system designed by Akrapovic which consists of two centrally-mounted tailpipes and computer-optimised asymmetrical mufflers with a dual-mode exhaust valve system and link pipe with resonator to eliminate in-cabin droning. This cost optional system is finished with carbon-fibre bezels on the exhaust tips.

In addition to the existing colours available on the Alfa Romeo 4C a new Giallo (yellow) paint scheme is also offered (with matching accent stitching for the seating, steering wheel and doors available), while a new Tobacco leather interior option is also planned for later in the year. Four all-new wheel designs also debut, either in 17-inch (front)/18-inch (rear) or 18-inch (front)/19-inch (rear) sizes in Silver or Dark finishes.

A Track package is also available which includes high-performance shock absorbers with larger front- and rear-sway bars, larger and staggered fitting 18 x 7-inch (front) 19 x 8.5-inch (rear) forged aluminum wheels with available Pirelli P-Zero “AR Racing” tires, performance flat-bottom steering wheel with microfiber inserts, carbon fiber exterior mirrors and carbon fiber gauge cluster bezel, plus the availability of Black leather performance seats with microfiber inserts and Red or Yellow accent stitching.

The Alfa Romeo 4C Spider was designed by Alfa Romeo Centro Stile and will be produced at the Maserati plant in Modena, Italy. It will go on-sale around the world later this year, although there’s no word yet on when it will arrive in Australia.