Alfa Romeo Spider 3.2 V6 (2007) CAR review

Just look at it. This has to be one of the sexiest cars on the road - regardless of price.

Another beguilingly beautiful new Alfa Romeo, sparkling in the hot Italian summer sun...

Pretty thing, isn't it? Pininfarina style, handsomely stitched soft leather upholstery, enticing black-and-aluminium cabin, doubly welcoming because the new Spider has no roof and that drop top welcomes you inside like an open door invites you into a grand home.

What's under the bonnet?

V6 or twin-cam four - you choose but we started with the bigger engine. Push the starter button and that creamy smooth V6 snarls into action. The clutch is sweet, the steering fluid and linear, but the gearchange, although short in throw is slightly vague. All V6 versions of the Spider get four-wheel drive. The other engine option, the 2.2 four, is less torquey, so front-drive suffices to parcel out the power. The 3.2 V6 is the new General Motors-collaboration unit, built in Australia (how much further from Italy can you get?) but it’s zestful and elastic just like the old Alfa V6 that serenaded a generation of GTV buyers, although less tuneful. It zings around to the 7000rpm electronic rat-a-tat-tat cut off.