After the 500 Jolly Icon-e and the legendary Panda 4x4 – both full electric – Garage Italia has reinterpreted another iconic model in the history of Italian automotive.

This time, the amazing fourth – and sadly last – series Alfa Romeo Duetto Spider was given a full, non-conservative, bespoke restoration. The result is a contemporary and future-oriented celebration of a timeless aesthetic.

The project was first conceived as a rendering during lockdown and it later took shape on a Duetto registered in 1992.

From a stylistic point of view, the customisation involved the collaboration of renowned partners symbolizing Made in Italy excellence. While Poltrona Frau supplied the soft, orange-colored Frau Luxury leather covering the seats and the interior panels, R-M took care of the aqua-green livery that “dresses” the bodywork - which has been simplified and carefully rebadged, as well as enriched on the bulkhead and rear bench by a wooden moulding designed and made by D-Tales. Last but not least, the entire audio system has been redesigned to guarantee a unique sound and make the driving experience even more engaging.

However, the transformation was not just aesthetic, as there have been many innovative changes both in the substance and in the form, and the reworking of the mechanics went as far as hybridising the four-cylinder, two-litre, fuel-injected engine.

In fact, the Spider Duetto Hybrid is equipped with an exclusive Kinetic Energy Recovery System – KERS – supplied by the Sicilian company Newtron, with two complementary operating cycles. When braking, the motor-generator acts as an alternator, transforming kinetic energy into electrical energy that is stored in the lithium batteries; when accelerating, the batteries release the accumulated electrical charge, providing a power boost to the combustion engine. The gearbox hasn’t changed, and it still is the classic five-speed manual; the same applies to the rear-wheel drive layout.