Sigh...

The styling cues from the '60's Fiat 124 Spider are more than OK with me.  But some of the preview pix have the car
looking a lot more like the (also updated) Mazda X-5 Miata.  Mine would lose these wheels for some minimalist OZ's.

The new Alfa Spider, based on the Mazda Miata platform, turns out to be the new Fiat 124 Spider.  Sigh...  It's understandable, perhaps, if Fiat wants to move a lot more units at an affordable price.  But I'd have loved to see a hard-core little brother for the 4 C, reviving the Alfa Spider name and a peaky motore Italiano.  Also, the Alfa-badged concept car had a unique look while "referring" to traditional Alfa styling cues.  It's hard to do a small-bore roadster that doesn't look generic, but the prototype Alfa pulled it off.

Above and below: the Fiat 124 Spider was a good-looking car, especially before the '70's era of Rubber Baby Buggy
Bumpers.  Yet another classy Pininfarina design.  Non-standard wheels on this one.  I remember it as a fun, if not
thrilling, car to drive.

What might have been.  But I suppose a price point in the mid-$40,000's doesn't make a lot of sense when the Alfa 4 C,
a semi-supercar, is sitting on the same showroom floor with a price point in the $50,000's.  Even though each car would
appeal to a completely different kind of buyer.