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The Spider is dead… long live the Spider!

Alfa Spider awarded 'Cabrio of the Year 2006' at the 76th Geneva Motor Show (from left Andrea Pininfarina, Antonio Baravalle and Luc Argand)

Within months of announcing the demise of the Alfa Spider, the company has launched another - based on the new Brera platform - to continue the tradition.The new Spider has just made its world debut at the Geneva motor show and has collected its first award, being chosen as 'Cabrio of the Year 2006' by a panel of leading motoring writers from across Europe. To be eligible for the prize, cars had to be presented for the first time at this year's Geneva Motor Show, and could not cost more than 60,000 Swiss Francs. This is the second time that a Fiat Auto car has won the award: in 1995 the title of 'Cabrio of the Year' went to the Fiat Barchetta.

"This is an important award,' said Antonio Baravalle (Alfa Rromeo Brand Manager), 'because it recognises our brand's intention to remain a contender in the convertible sector. This type of car has always been important for Alfa Romeo, accounting for some of the most beautiful cars ever produced, from the Giulietta Spider in the 1950s,to the Duetto, and the Spider launched in the 1990s. And today it is the turn of the new Alfa Spider, which has the 'essential simple' character of a true sports car, combined with the technological superiority of the 'new Alfa breed'.

Derived from the long awaited Brera coupé, the new Spider is an elegant two seater with generous dimensions. Inside, the passenger compartment is decked out in luxury materials and other mod cons including dual-zone automatic climate control to steering-wheel-mounted radio controls, VDC and Cruise control.

The new Spider comes with a choice of two drivetrains, both JTS petrol engines, the 2.2 delivering 185 bhp and 3.2 delivering 260 bhp, combined with two gearboxes, six speed manual units on both engines, and automatic for the 260 bhp 3.2. Suspension is in the form of high double wishbone at the front and a Multilink system at the rear. The 3.2 will also feature an evolved 'Alfa Q4' four-wheel drive system. From a safety perspective, the new Spider is fitted with a range of sophisticated electronic devices to control the car's dynamic behaviour, from braking to traction.

© italiancar.com.au 19/03/06