Due to debut at the...

Due to debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, the Spider will share its basic underpinnings with the Brera coupнѓ© that was premiered at last month"s Geneva exhibition.

From the mag"s pictures, it"s clear that the car will have the design credentials to topple current class leaders, such as the roadster versions of the Audi TT and Nissan"s 350Z. The cabrio will lose none of the dramatic styling of its hard-top sibling; sculpted flanks and short overhangs reinforce its purposeful stance, while twin exhaust outlets hint at the car"s performance.

Alfa"s engineers have been putting the newcomer through its paces on the test track. Extra chassis bracing has been fitted to ensure that the drop-top is as rewarding to drive as the Brera coupнѓ©, despite the lack of a roof. This additional strengthening will also help boost safety, which is further enhanced by reinforced A-pillars.

Bucking the current trend for folding metal roofs, Alfa bosses have opted to stick with a traditional canvas hood. It"s designed to retract completely out of sight, creating a flat rear deck. Purists will note that the set-up is much less bulbous than those on some class rivals, notably the 350Z Roadster.

The decision to go with the soft-top should mean a decent amount of boot space and, combined with its 2+2 configuration, ensure that the newcomer at least offers rear occupants a fighting chance on longer journeys. However, if the canvas roof suggests a nod to the cabrio"s heritage - the Spider in particular - it"s there that the similarities end.

Because this car shares its underpinnings with the 159 saloon - which debuted alongside the hard-top Brera at the Geneva event - company engineers are also blessed with the option of delivering the Brera Spider in both two and four-wheel-drive layouts.

The latter drivetrain is likely to be reserved for flagship high-performance versions. Meanwhile, power for the new drop-top will come from the same line-up as the coupнѓ©, with the 260bhp 3.2-litre V6 topping the range. A smaller 185bhp 2.2-litre petrol unit will appear, and although this will be very much a sports car, the Fiat Group 2.4-litre JTD diesel will also be available.

As with the rest of the Alfa range, the Brera Spider will offer customers a number of ways to change gears. A six-speed manual is expected to come as standard on the diesel and higher-powered petrol variants, with those opting for the 2.2-litre petrol getting a more traditional five-ratio box. Challenging the Audi TT on price, the 3.2 V6 model is expected to dip just under the н‚бЈ30,000 mark.

Meanwhile, work will also continue on the most extreme version of the Brera coupнѓ©. A twin-turbo, 300bhp-plus GTA is being developed to compete with high-performance rivals such as the BMW 6-Series and forthcoming Porsche Cayman. This flagship model is also expected to be introduced in convertible guise at a later date.