The wait is over as the production version of the highly anticipated Alfa Romeo 4C Spider makes it debut at 2015 Detroit Motor Show (NAIAS). If you think the Spider is just a 4C with its top cut off, well… you are right.

Actually, you are almost right. Looking at the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider from the rear you notice the car looks substantially different from the hardtop in the engine cover and pillars area. The Spider comes with a soft-top that is not foldable as such, but rather removable. Alfa also supplies a carbon fiber hardtop, just in case. The rear spoiler also appears to be a bit more pronounced than the one on the coupe.

The 4C Spider feature a new engine lid with three heat extractors. The lighting system is also new in the way that it had LEDs at the back and clear lenses at the front. Those headlights are far better looking than the ones on the hardtop with the carbon bezels – called “Halo” lights – but you can still order them if you want.

Mechanically, Alfa Romeo 4C Spider is identical to its hardtop brother, but the conversion into an open-top has made it 10 kg heavier, which is actually a pretty decent figure. You have the strong carbon tub to thank for that. The engine is the same brilliant 1,750 turbo unit with 240 hp and 350 Nm of torque; the transmission is a seven-speed dual-clutcher; and the steering is unassisted.