Let’s be honest; Alfa hasn’t done well in the US. Sales across the board are way down from projections. So it’s no surprise that the 4C Spider convertible, what was intended to be Alfa’s “halo car” won’t be back for 2021. Alfa Romeo just killed the 4C Spider-are more Alfas getting axed soon?

If ever there was a baby Ferrari the 4C Spider was it. Mid-engine, with graceful styling and fun to poke around, it was a lot of sports car for under $70,000. Did you know that Maserati actually builds the 4C? So there is that.

Alfa has a reputation for reliability issues popping up

But Alfa has a reputation for reliability issues popping up. This has been true with Guilia for sure. But in the case of the 4C coupe and Spider, we see little evidence of problems on the forums. There were early problems with the automatic transmission, but that was an issue of drivers limping along in first gear in traffic. That caused the clutch-yes, these automatics have clutches, to get fried just as would happen if you feather the clutch in traffic with a manual trans. 

Alfa already killed the coupe last year. We knew it wouldn’t take long for the Spider to be next on the chopping block. Now, with the Fiat Chrysler group in a holding pattern until its merger with the PSA Group happens early next year the fate of Alfa itself is in question.

Sales of Alfa combined in the US last year were down about 25%

Sales of Alfa combined in the US last year were down about 25% from 2018. That meant Alfa sold about 18,000 units in total. Sales so far this year are down further. If the trendline continues it will sell around 14,000 units total in 2020. At this pace, it is not sustainable to stay in the US while its sales in Europe, though higher than in the US, are way down as well. 

Alfa’s total share of the market is well under one percent at 0.11%. The sad part is that Fiat Chrysler used sales of Fiat 500s early on as leverage for who was rewarded Alfa dealerships first, and how many Alfas they would get to sell. The expectation was that Alfa would be a sales success. It has never come close to that.

After 2020 Alfa will soldier on with the Guilia and Stelvio models. But there will probably still be a few of the last of the special 4C Spiders leftover on lots. That’s right, Alfa is trying to paint as pretty of a picture of killing the 4C Spider as possible.

33 limited edition 4C Spider 33 Stradale Tributo special models

It is making 33 limited edition 4C Spider 33 Stradale Tributo special models. These are a tribute to the 1967 Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale. It was the touring version of the Tipo 33 race car. The monocoque chassis, partially exposed inside, gets a red transparent finish for the carbon fiber. The exterior finish is Rosso Villa d’Este tri-coat red-which looks similar to the chassis but without the carbon-fiber peek-a-boo.

Offsetting the red are gray-gold wheels, a two-tone black, and tobacco brown interior, along with special badges sprinkled around. Owners will also receive a numbered owner’s book spelling out the features and details that abound. Having sold only 92 4C Spiders so far this year we expect there to be a few of these tribute models around should the urge catch up with you.