Alfa Romeo sends off 4C Spider with 33 Stradale Tributo

There aren’t many mid-engine Italian sports cars on the market, and there’s about to be one fewer option as the Alfa Romeo 4C soon meets the end of its production run. As a sendoff for the lightweight sports car, which arrived for the 2015 model year to usher Alfa Romeo back into the U.S. market, the automaker is building just 33 examples of a special 4C Spider for North America.

These Stradale Tributo models pay homage to the striking 1967 Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale and come in an appropriate Rosso Villa d’Este tri-coat paint with grey-gold five-hole wheels. Inside, black Dinamica suede and tobacco leather set this special edition apart from other 4Cs, and plaques on the dash, center console, and sills hammer the message home. The plaque in the center console is numbered, as is a book that comes with Stradale Tributo that highlights the 4C’s path from concept to production car rolling off the line in Modena. The 4C’s exposed carbon-fiber monocoque will wear a transparent red finish, a first for the 4C.

Most of the options you’d want to check come standard on the Stradale Tributo, including the sport suspension, dual-mode exhaust, and carbon-fiber exterior accents.

The powerplant for the Stradale Tributo models is the same turbocharged, direct-injection 1750-cc inline-four that spits out 237 horsepower through a six-speed dual-clutch transmission. With a curb weight under 2500 pounds, it’s plenty of motivation for the lively Italian, which is virtually in a class by itself.

The 33 limited-edition 4Cs will be available in select Alfa Romeo dealers with an MSRP of $79,995, not including destination. Alfa Romeo notes that a regular Spider with the same options would cost more, so we’re not saying you need an excuse to buy a 4C, but if you were looking for one. . .