Alfa Romeo 4C Spider drops at the Geneva motor show

The Alfa Romeo 4C Spider debuted at the Geneva motor show on Tuesday. The soft top is scheduled to enter production in 2015, right about the time Alfa says it will return to the United States.

The 4C gets Alfa's 1.75-liter turbocharged four, driving the rear wheels through a six-speed dual-clutch transmission. It delivers 240 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. That'll get this roadster to 62 mph in 4.5 seconds, while top speed is in excess of 155 mph. The hardtop weighed in at 1,973 pounds, and Alfa says this car only gained about 132 pounds for a grand total of 2,105 pounds. It has a slightly better power-to-weight ratio than the Nissan 307Z and the Porsche Boxster.

The 4C Spider debuts a new dual-stage central exhaust system with “titanium and carbon” tailpipes. It features an electrically operated valve that Alfa says improves performance and enhances the exhaust note.

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Like the 4C, the Spider was designed by the Alfa Romeo Style Center and takes advantage of the hardtop's ultra-rigid construction. Carbon fiber was used for the rollover bars, spoilers and windshield frame, while the top is made from lightweight canvas.

New headlights take the place of the futuristic bug eyes from the hardtop, and new alloy wheels are shod with Pirelli tires.

The 2014 Alfa 4C had a base price of $54,000 when we drove it last September. We expect this car to come in a little north of that.

By Jake Lingeman