Item: 2006 Alfa Romeo Mk.2 Spider
Rating: 3.5

Flexible and sweet-sounding V6 engine
Stylish interior
Sweet-sounding engines

Cramped rear seat
Weight blunts performance and agility relative to Brera
For 2.2 JTS engine, reports of stretched timing chains

Overview

Released in October 2006, the Alfa Romeo Mk.2 Spider was a two-seat convertible with a power operated soft-top roof. Manufactured in San Giorgio Canavese, Italy, the Mk.2 Spider was initially available in 2.2 JTS and 3.2 JTS variants (see table below) with six-speed manual transmissions. In 2007, however, a six-speed semi-automatic ‘Selespeed’ transmission was introduced for the 2.2 JTS and a six-speed ‘Q-Tronic’ automatic was introduced for the 3.2 JTS. In 2011, the 2.2 JTS was replaced by the 1750 TBi.

Engines: JTS, JTS V6 and 1750 TBi

Of the engines,

the 2.2-litre JTS (‘Joint Thrust Stoichiometric’) inline four-cylinder petrol engine had an aluminium alloy block and head, direct injection, chain-driven double overhead camshafts, variable valve timing for the intake and exhaust camshafts, four valves per cylinder and a compression ratio of 11.3:1;
the 3.2-litre JTS V6 petrol engine had similar attributes albeit with a compression ratio of 11.25:1; and,
the 1750 TBi inline turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine had direct injection, roller rocker arms integrated into the cylinder head, double overhead camshafts, variable valve timing for the intake and exhaust camshafts, four valves per cylinder and a compression ratio of 9.5:1.

Dimensions and suspension

Compared to the Mk.1 Spider , the Mk.2 Spider was 108 mm longer (at 4393 mm), 50 mm wider (1830 mm) and 87 mm taller (1402 mm), but had a 12 mm shorter wheelbase (2528 mm). Developed in conjunction with Pininfarina, the Mk.2 Spider was underpinned by the same platform as the Alfa Romeo 159 and Brera . As such, the Mk.2 Spider had double wishbone front and independent, multi-link rear suspension.

Alfa Romeo Mk.2 Spider specifications
Variant	Engine	Drive	Years	Trans.	Peak power	Peak torque
2.2 JTS	2.2-litre petrol I4 (939A5.000)	FWD	2006-10	6sp man.	136 kW at 6500 rpm	230 Nm at 4500 rpm
2.2 JTS	2.2-litre petrol I4 (939A5.000)	FWD	2007-11	6sp Selespeed	136 kW at 6500 rpm	230 Nm at 4500 rpm
1750 TBi	1.7-litre turbo petrol I4 (939B1.000)	FWD	2011	6sp man.	147 kW at 5000 rpm	320 Nm at 1400 rpm
3.2 JTS	3.2-litre petrol V6 (939A0.000)	4WD	2006-11	6sp man.	191 kW at 6200 rpm	322 Nm at 4500 rpm
3.2 JTS	3.2-litre petrol V6 (939A0.000)	4WD	2007-11	6sp Q-Tronic	191 kW at 6200 rpm	322 Nm at 4500 rpm

Q4 AWD system

The Spider 3.2 JTS was fitted with Alfa Romeo’s Q4 permanent four-wheel drive system, which consisted of three differentials, including a self-locking Torsen centre differential. The default front/rear torque split was 43:57, though up to 72 per cent of the engine’s torque could be directed to the front axle and up to 78 per cent directed to the rear axle.

Safety equipment

Standard safety equipment for the Mk.2 Spider included dual front airbags, front side airbags, driver’s knee airbag, ABS, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist, electronic stability control, traction control, hill holder and front seatbelts with pretensioners and load limiters.

Brakes

The Spyder 2.2 JTS had 305 mm ventilated front brake discs and 278 mm solid rear discs. The 3.2 JTS and 1750 TBi, however, had 330 mm ventilated front brakes with Brembo four-piston monobloc aluminium calipers and 292 mm ventilated rear brakes.

Features

Standard features for the 2.2 JTS Spider included 18-inch alloy wheels, a six speaker stereo with 10-disc CD player, dual-zone climate control air conditioning, leather upholstery, cruise control, front fog lights, reverse parking sensors, rain-sensing wipers, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, remote central locking, power windows and heated door mirrors, a height and reach adjustable steering wheel, height adjustable front seats, a trip computer, motion-sensing alarm and an immobiliser.

Beyond this, the 3.2 JTS added unique alloy wheels, a seven speaker Bose stereo (including subwoofer), Pieno leather upholstery, power adjustable and heated front seats with driver’s seat memory settings, xenon headlights with washers and Bluetooth connectivity.

2011: Alfa Romeo Spider update

In 2011, the Mk.2 Spider was updated and the 2.2 JTS was replaced by the 1750 TBi. Standard features were also extended to include 19-inch alloy wheels, power adjustable front seats, Pieno Fiore leather upholstery, power folding door mirrors and Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity; the 3.2 JTS continued to be distinguished by its Bose stereo and xenon headlights.

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