AUTOS: Alfa Romeo Sports Car Revealed

AUTOS: Alfa Romeo Sports Car Revealed

The mid-engine 4C coupe, which retains the styling of the acclaimed concept car, to be sold in the United States by the end of 2013.

Fiat released pictures and some technical details of the Alfa Romeo 4C sports car Tuesday ahead of the model's debut at next month's Geneva auto show. The two-seat coupe, a car that Alfa enthusiasts have dreamed of for almost two decades, retains the styling of the concept vehicle that won acclaim at the Geneva show two years ago.

The mid-engine 4C will go on sale in global markets including Europe and the United States by the end of the year, giving an image boost to Alfa, whose sales are struggling due to a lack of fresh product.

There are no details of the 4C's pricing, but Fiat sources say the car will cost nearly 60,000 euros (about $80,270) rather than less than 50,000 euros as initially planned.

The new mid-engine Alfa is expected to cost around $80,000, according to Fiat sources. (Photo: Alfa Romeo) Alfa will build a limited run of about 2,500 4C models a year due to the manufacturing constraints of its carbon-fiber cockpit. Of those, 1,000 will be sold in Europe and 1,000 in the United States, with the balance going to other global markets.

Alfa Romeo also announced some technical specifications of the 4C, such as dimensions and its power-to-weight ratio. The car, which was designed by Alfa Romeo's styling center in Turin, is rakish and compact with extremely low ground clearance. It is 46.5 inches tall, 78.7 inches wide and less than 157.5 inches long. The wheelbase is 94.5 inches.

Alfa said it achieved the goal of keeping the power-to-weight ratio to below nine pounds per horsepower, hinting at a weight less than 2,200 pounds as the 4C's 1.75-liter turbocharged, direct-injection gasoline engine is expected to deliver about 240 horsepower. Alfa originally had targeted a curb weight of 1,874 pounds.

The 4C's carbon fiber cockpit has front and rear aluminum subframes to house the engine and carry the suspension, as well as dedicated portions designed to absorb deformation in crash tests.

The 4C will come with a six-speed dual-clutch transmission. The gears can also be changed in sequential mode using the shift paddles mounted behind the steering wheel.

Alfa will also use the 4C to debut the fourth of its drive settings, Race, which is designed to enhance the experience on a race track. The new setting joins the Dynamic, Natural and All Weather options available in the brand's MiTo and Giulietta models.

Source: http://automotive.speedtv.com/article/autos-alfa-romeo-sports-car-revealed/

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