The 78th Geneva Motor Show is now little more than a week away, and news of promised unveilings is coming thick and fast. Few of the new models, however, are likely to gain more attention than the Alfa 8C Spider, the convertible version of the exquisite 8C Competizione supercar.

The 500 limited-edition examples of the existing 8C Competizione coupé were long ago snapped up by eager buyers, unperturbed at the £111,000 price tag for what is not, after all, a Ferrari – nor even a Maserati – but ‘merely’ an Alfa Romeo: a volume marque. Yet, curiously, that badging somehow gives the 8C more kudos. It suggests that buyers are not brash types out to impress, but genuine cognoscenti, individuals who appreciate the finer points of this exceptional, rare and unutterably beautiful slice of Italian heritage. Certainly, if you now want to own one, the 8C coupé will cost you considerably more than £111,000.

The new Spider version is powered by the same 4.7-litre V8 as the coupé, generating a substantial 450bhp, transmitted via a 6-speed F1-style paddleshift gearbox to the rear wheels. Inside the carbonfibre cockpit, the occupants are protected from sun, wind and noise by a roof made from two layers of fabric, which can be personalised in a range of colours to suit the body colour of the car. When the time comes for open-topped motoring, the roof is operated via a dashboard-mounted button.

The 8C Spider will also be limited to just 500 units and, as with its coupé stablemate, the convertible supercar is likely to sell out within a few short weeks.

Text: Charis Whitcombe
Photos: Alfa Romeo