A diesel powered sports car may seem like an oxymoron, but the two-seat Alfa Romeo Spider is now available with a diesel engine. Like virtually every European automaker, Alfa Romeo offers diesel engines throughout its range of models. Now, it's breaking new and virtually unexplored ground in a way that's sure to be emulated by others.
Designed by Giugiaro and Pininfarina, the Spider is a direct heir to famed Alfa Romeo open-top sport cars like the Giulietta Spider and Duetto. The new design won the "Cabrio of the Year 2006" award from the Comité Cabriolet. Currently, the Spider is already available with two gasoline engines - the direct fuel-injected 185-horsepower 2.2 Jet Thrust Stoichiometric (JTS) four-cylinder and 260 horsepower 3.2 JTS V-6.
The turbocharged 2.4 JTDM 20V engine used in the Spider develops 200 horsepower. This is a five-cylinder, 20 valve, inline design. According to Alfa Romeo, the M-Jet (MultiJet) system is the first of its kind, second-generation common rail diesel engine in the world. The M-Jet's control unit electronically opens and closes the injectors, so that during each engine cycle the number of injections is increased compared to the two injections currently used. The same amount of diesel fuel is burned, but it is delivered in several parts for more gradual combustion. The results include a 6 to 7 percent increase in performance, less noise, and lower emissions.
Mated to a six-speed manual transmission, the Alfa Spider has a top speed of 141 mph. Maximum torque of 295 pound-feet is available from as little as 2000 rpm, so the open top sports car can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 8.4 seconds. In town the diesel Alfa Spider gets 25.6 mpg and on the highway, 43.5 mpg. The new five cylinder MultiJet engine complies with Euro 4 emissions requirements and features a diesel particulate trap, so it already meets future Euro 5 emission limits. Significantly, this feature is a 'for life' system so it does not need to be regenerated with additives.
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