How can such a small car evoke such big emotions? That’s precisely where the enduring fascination of the roadster lies. While each brand interprets the secret to success differently, the basic formula remains remarkably constant: agile power, a lightweight body, a sportily refined design, and a purist interior. This combination has made the roadster one of the most exciting vehicle categories for decades. In a two-part series, Chapter presents the most influential and iconic two-seaters in automotive history.
Alfa Romeo Spider
The Alfa Romeo Spider was built from 1966 to 1994 across four generations and embodies Italian »Dolce Vita« like few other cars. While there were also fifth and sixth generations, these are better viewed as independent new developments. The first Alfa Romeo Spider was also the last vehicle co-designed by Battista »Pinin« Farina, founder of the legendary Italian design house. The open two-seater became famous primarily for its aerodynamically shaped rear, which earned it the nickname »Osso di Seppia«—referring to the cuttlebone of a cuttlefish. Legend has it that workers in the Grugliasco factory halls gave the sleek roadster this name. The front is kept flat, the grille features the typical heart shape, and is framed on both sides by the split bumpers in the form of the characteristic »baffi«—little mustaches.
The rounded rear is shaped almost identically to the front and polarized opinion: while some appreciated the symmetry, others found the rear too playful. In 1967, the vehicle became famous worldwide when Dustin Hoffman drove it in the film »The Graduate.« »Graduate,« derived from the English original title of the iconic film, also became the name of a trim version. Incidentally, the last model, which came to market in 1990 and was more closely oriented to the original form, was also designed by Pininfarina.
Honda S2000
In 1999, Honda brought the S2000 to market to celebrate the brand’s 50th anniversary. But the roadster’s story begins several years earlier: at the 1995 Tokyo Motor Show, Honda presented a radical concept vehicle called the Sports Study Model. It was designed in collaboration with Pininfarina and served as the design basis for the two-seater later refined by Honda designer Daisuke Sawai. The purist design is partly due to high aerodynamic demands, but also emphasizes the roadster’s sportiness and driver focus.
While other sports cars from the same era featured six-cylinder engines, Honda engineers opted for a compact yet powerful four-cylinder engine in their agile two-seater. The heart of the S2000 was a 2-liter four-cylinder VTEC engine that could reach up to 9,000 revolutions per minute. The engine was awarded »International Engine of the Year« five times. After ten years of driving pleasure, the last S2000 rolled off the line in 2009.
Audi TT
With the vision »A car for enthusiasts,« Audi presented the sports car concept of the Audi TT Coupé at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt in fall 1995. Shortly thereafter, the decision was made to put the Audi TT Coupé into series production. In 1998, the first generation of the series was brought to market and won numerous design awards. The body appeared as if crafted from a single piece. The front without classic bumper overhangs emphasized its clean form. Inspired by Bauhaus design, every line on the Audi TT had a purpose, every form a function. With its rounded, sculpted design language and the symmetry between front and rear, the two-seater also featured some design references to the historic Auto Union racing cars. The third generation was sold from 2014 to 2023.
For Massimo Frascella, Chief Creative Officer at Audi, the TT is a very special vehicle: »When the first Audi TT arrived at the dealer in Turin in 1998, I took a day off just to look at it in peace. I stayed there for hours, viewing the vehicle from every angle and feeling every surface. The staff most likely thought I was crazy. But for me, the TT was already more than a car back then. It was a message: You don’t have to be loud to be heard. You don’t need exaggeration to make an impression. You need clarity—and, more importantly, the courage to follow it.« The first-generation TT, according to Frascella, is a car that is as rational as few others, yet its impact unfolds on an incredibly emotional level. »That’s also an important part of what defines Audi: A form of rationality that strikes directly at the heart.«
Porsche Boxster
The sports car manufacturer responded to the deep sales crisis Porsche faced in the early 1990s with a clever move. Not only was something new needed, but given the roadster trend emerging at the time, it absolutely had to be a sporty two-seater. Thus the Boxster was born, built from 1996 to 2004. The name is a portmanteau combining the words Boxer and Roadster. With this, the Zuffenhausen manufacturer not only provided a clear indication of the vehicle category but also of the engine. True to tradition, the new addition to the portfolio was also equipped with a six-cylinder boxer engine that delivered up to 266 hp. Additionally, the Boxster could hide its top in just twelve seconds, which some buyers ceremoniously demonstrated at traffic lights.
The concept for the production vehicle, which drew on the 550 Spyder and 718 RS 60 from the 1950s, was designed by Grant Larson. »Originally, we had planned to present our concept in Geneva in spring 1993. But we decided on Detroit in January because we didn’t want to waste time. Moreover, with the roadster, our focus was on the US market, where Porsche was weak at the time and Mazda with the MX-5 (Miata) and BMW with the Z1 were already present in the roadster segment,« says Larson.
Grant Larson also recounts that shortly after the Detroit presentation, they were instructed to immediately stop the production design development for the Boxster. »›Please build the concept exactly as is,‹ was the directive instead.«
