Performance Review: Alfa-Romeo Disco Volante 1900 Touring Spider - [1952]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Alfa-Romeo Disco Volante Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Alfa-Romeo Disco Volante 1900 Touring Spider is the 4 speed / Manual version and was first brought out in 1952. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 1952 Ferrari 340 Mexico and the 1953 Alfa-Romeo Disco Volante 1900 Touring Coupe.This particular Alfa-Romeo Disco Volante has a 1997cc Naturally Aspirated Petrol powerplant with 4 cylinders in a St formation.

Alternative Petrol St4's includes the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo

The Disco Volante shares its Petrol St4 engine configuration with the likes of the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo and the 2013 Caterham 7 620 R 2.0 L Supercharged. If you're looking for other fast cars which share the Disco Volante's Rear Wheel Drive, Cabriolet combination then how about the 1982 Fiat X1/9 1.5 8V or the 1965 Aston-Martin DB6 1965.

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 750 kgs (1653 lbs) this makes the Alfa-Romeo Disco Volante 1900 Touring Spider in the same weight category as the 2002 Lotus Elise Sport 135 or the give or take 50kg.

The Alfa-Romeo Disco Volante shares the same bhp with the 2022 Mini Cooper Countryman John Cooper Works 1.5 Turbo (134 bhp)

In terms of power the 1997cc 8V St4 engine produces 138 bhp (102 kW) @ 6500 rpm similar to the 2022 Mini Cooper Countryman John Cooper Works 1.5 Turbo (134 bhp) or the 2020 Audi A1 A1 Sportback 35 TFSI S tronic S line (148 bhp).

The Naturally Aspirated St4 throws out 122 lb-ft (165.4 Nm) @ 5000 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2013 Renault Captur 1.2 Turbo TCe 120 EDC (140 lb-ft) or the 2012 Mini Cooper Paceman (118 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If one combines the weight with power or torque performance for the Alfa-Romeo Disco Volante you can get a better idea of it's real world performance.

The 2021 BMW 2 Series M240i xDrive 3.0 Turbo G42 (209.0 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Alfa-Romeo Disco Volante.

The Alfa-Romeo Disco Volante has a Power to weight ratio of 184.0 bhp per ton and 162.6 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 1952 Disco Volante competing with the 2021 BMW 2 Series M240i xDrive 3.0 Turbo G42 (209.0 bhp per ton) or the 2014 Renault Megane RenaultSport 275 Trophy R (208.9 bhp per ton).

Power to Weight(cont.):

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance, Torque. Use weight as well and you end up with - Torque per ton, with the Alfa-Romeo Disco Volante generating around 162.6 lb-ft per ton. If you're curious as to what other cars have as much torque to weight then look no further than the 1999 Nissan Skyline R34 GTR (187.6 lb-ft per ton) or the 2009 Seat Leon Cupra R 2.0 20v (187.6 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 6.80 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 7.0 secs, this made the Alfa-Romeo Disco Volante 1900 Touring Spider as fast as the 2017 Dodge Charger SXT AWD 3.7 V6 (6.80 secs) the 2015 Renault Megane Energy TCe 205 GT 1.6 Turbo (6.80 secs) the 2012 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works Countrman (6.80 secs) the or the 2010 Volkswagen-VW Scirocco 2.0 TSI DSG (6.80 secs). This Alfa-Romeo Disco Volante 1900 Touring Spider is also faster than the 2015 Audi TT 1.8 TFSI Coupe (6.90 secs) the 2013 Land-Rover Range Rover Sport 3.0 V6 Supercharged (6.90 secs) the 2012 Ford Fiesta ST 1.6 Turbo (6.90 secs) the and the 2009 Ford Fiesta ST185 (6.90 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the Disco Volante and the 1984 BMW 6 Series M635 CSi E24

When talking about the performance of the Alfa-Romeo Disco Volante on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 14.59 secs @ 93.8 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 1984 BMW 6 Series M635 CSi E24 (14.53 secs), the 2021 BMW 2 Series M240i 3.0 Cabrio Turbo F23 (14.53 secs), and the 2020 Toyota Avalon TRD 3.5 V6 (14.53 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 1952 version of the Alfa-Romeo Disco Volante 1900 Touring Spider has a maximum speed of 137mph.

Top Speed of the 1952 Disco Volante equals the 2016 Mini Cooper Clubman John Cooper Works 2.0 Turbo Auto (148 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 1952 Alfa-Romeo Disco Volante 1900 Touring Spider then how about the 2016 Mini Cooper Clubman John Cooper Works 2.0 Turbo Auto (148 mph), the 2016 Mini Cooper Clubman John Cooper Woks 2.0 Turbo (148 mph), or the 2012 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works Clubman (148 mph).

Related Links:

1952 Disco Volante Rivals List.

A Brief History of Alfa-Romeo

Car Comparison