Alfa Romeo Spider 2.4 JTDM : SPIDER STRIKES OIL

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Diesel engines and roadsters don't tend to mix well but Alfa Romeo's Spider 2.4-litre JTDM might be an exception. Steve Walker reports.

It says something about how far the diesel engine has come that you can now get one in an open-topped sportscar from Alfa Romeo. The oil-burning Ferrari may still be some way off but the fact that those purveyors of effortless Italian cool at Alfa have given a diesel the box seat in their stylish roadster speaks volumes about how far the technology has advanced. Of course, the Alfa Romeo Spider 2.4 JDTM 20v could simply be a spectacular error of judgement on the manufacturer's part. What's not in doubt is that this is a car which provokes debate.

Alfa Romeo and the roadster go back a long way. The Spider name has been attached to a succession of chic, desirable and usually red open-topped sportscars since the original melted hearts in the mid `60s. The latest Spider follows on in that tradition but it's also very much a product of the modern era. The car mixes its considerable beauty with a full complement of creature comforts and, in diesel form at least, maintains a focus on running costs as well as an environmental conscience. The JTD common-rail diesel engines offered by Alfa Romeo and parent company Fiat since 1997 have carved out a good reputation in the marketplace and the 2.4-litre unit in the Alfa Spider is of the second generation JTDM variety. It's what Alfa engineers call a MultiJet diesel. This means that it is capable of making multiple precisely-controlled injections of diesel into its cylinders during each cycle. It adjusts the timing and size of these squirts to maximise efficiency or performance as required. The result is a 210bhp power output and torque of 400Nm at 2,000rpm. That's more low-down grunt that the Spider's 3.2-litre V6 petrol engine but 0-60mph performance is over a second down at 8.4s. Regardless of the engine installation, the Alfa Spider isn't as fast as its exotic styling suggests so the diesel's languid style suits the car. A mild rumble gives the oil-burning game away and there's none of the aural drama when you plant the throttle that roadster fans yearn for, but the diesel isn't without its appeal on a sensible level.

"It's the styling that sells this carâ€¦"

The front-wheel-drive layout of the Spider 2.4 JTDM doesn't lead you to expect a serious driver's car and certified performance nuts would be better with the four-wheel-drive V6 model if they pick an Alfa Spider at all. The car handles sharply enough with inputs through the over-large steering wheel prompting quick responses with tight body control. The ride is firm and the absence of the extra bracing that a fixed roof would afford results in poor surfaces sending shudders through the car. If you give the Spider some pristine asphalt and some clement weather, it definitely qualifies as an entertaining drive. It's not particularly at home on the UK's rutted B-roads but do you really want to stick to the backwaters in a car that looks like this? People thought the Brera coupe looked good but the Alfa Spider has to be even easier on the eye - especially with the fabric roof folded. That frontal treatment with the chrome bars across the raised triangular grille and those headlamps like jewels set against the darkness behind is fast becoming an Alfa Romeo trademark. The 159 used it as did the Brera but the Spider does so to even greater effect. At the back, the Brera's rather bulbous rear disappears with the hood folded, thus illuminating the fixed roof car's only major aesthetic Achilles heel. Actually folding the roof takes some 25 seconds, not quick by modern standards but it means more passers by will be able to witness the spectacle. Alfa chose not to include the ludicrously-tiny rear seats that show up so frequently in modern convertibles. Instead, you have a pair of lockable storage bins built-in behind the driver that supplement the 200-litre capacity of the boot with a further 100-litres and are a far more practical solution. The amount of usable storage as a whole is on a par with the likes of Audi's TT Roadster and the Nissan 350Z Roadster but you'll still need to travel light. The interior can't quite live up to the standards set but the Audi, despite some high quality materials and attractive aluminium detailing. The centre console is actually angled towards the driver, making its controls and displays that bit easier to use, while the overall feel is suitable special for a car of this type in this price bracket. If you simply must have a £30,000 roadster with a diesel engine, your options are limited. The Alfa Romeo Spider 2.4 JTDM comes in at around the £30,000 mark, which puts it in the ballpark of the Nissan 370z and the Audi TT but neither of those cars has a diesel option. In truth, the Spider doesn't shine in the company of such focused sportscars. If anything, the car's character has more in common with larger, plusher convertibles like Audi's A4 Cabriolet or BMW's 3-Series Coupe. Here, diesel power is on the agenda but these models are considerably more practical than the Spider with additional boot space and usable rear seats. What they can't match is the Spider's sleek bodywork. You get a good haul of features for the money. Safety provision runs to five airbags, rear parking sensors, ABS with brake assist, brakeforce distribution and Alfa's Vehicle Dynamic Control system that includes a useful hill holder function. Other desirables include leather trim, cruise control, a six-speaker stereo, dual-zone climate control and rear parking sensors which come in handy as rear visibility with the hood up is severely limited. There is also a choice of manual or QTRONIC gearboxes with this model. It's the running costs that will attract buyers to the 2.4 JTDM engine in the Alfa Spider range. On the combined cycle, it achieves 41.5 mpg which is vastly superior to the 30mpg you can get from the next best 2.2-litre JTS petrol model. Granted, that car is £3,000 cheaper than the diesel but the oil-burner is fractionally faster and has massively more torque. The emissions figures tell a similar story with the 2.4 JTDM engine producing 179g/km compared to 221g/km. The car is also fitted with a particulate filter that collects the harmful dust particles contained without the exhaust and incinerates them. The Alfa's price point puts it head to head with rivals from Audi and BMW and it would be dangerous to expect the Italian car to hang on to its value with quite the iron fist that the Teutonic contingent do. The Brera's popularity has kept used values surprisingly high, however, and with the Alfa Romeo brand on the up in the UK, the Spider should follow suit to an extent. It may not drop the depreciation clanger than some envisaged. With diesel power installed, most out and out sports cars would lose their essential verve but Alfa's Spider isn't an out and out sports car. Because of this, its 2.4-litre JTDM powerplant's lack of searing performance and a sonorous engine note doesn't matter too much. The Alfa Spider is at its best making unhurried progress on a sunny day and letting the world at large revel in its gorgeous styling. For this kind of work, a muscular, fuel efficient diesel can be just the thing. There's no doubt that a diesel engine just wouldn't work in some of the more hardcore roadster offerings but the Alfa Romeo Spider's softer side means it carries the oil-burning engine off surprisingly well. It's the styling that sells this car not its handling prowess and if you're primarily concerned with looking good, why not do it in the most cost-effective way possible? The diesel is noisier than the petrol contingent but not by too much and the powerful low-end torque produces a relaxed driving experience that's also in-keeping with the car's character. The purists would never entertain the idea of a diesel roadster but Alfa's Spider 2.4 JTDM is evidence enough that perhaps you should.

Facts At A Glance
CAR: Alfa Romeo Spider 2.4 JTDM 20v
PRICE: £30,395 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 17
CO2 EMISSIONS: 179g/km
PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 8.4s Max Speed 142mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 30.7mpg / (extra urban) 52.3mpg / (combined) 41.5mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front, side and knee airbags, ABS, traction and stability control, ABS with brake assist
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height, 4393/1830/1318mm