Image: Alfa Romeo
Take a good look at the car in these renderings: it’s called the Alfa Romeo 4C, and it will see production. Better yet, it will be produced for global sales, which means it will makes it’s way to the United States, probably in 2013. Like all good Italian sports cars, the 4C will be mid-engine, rear drive; in the interest of fuel economy, power will come from a 1.75 liter, direct injection, turbocharged four cylinder engine good for “over” 200 horsepower and mated to a dual, dry clutch gearbox. If the horsepower seems less than noteworthy, consider this: thanks to the extensive use of carbon fiber and aluminum, the car’s weight will be “less than” 1,870 pounds. That’s over 200 pounds lighter than a first generation Mazda Miata.
Image: Alfa Romeo
Let’s look at those specs another way. A 2011 Nissan 370Z puts out 332 horsepower and weighs 3,232 pounds; in other words, each horsepower has to move 9.73 pounds of car. In the case of the Alfa Romeo 4C, each horsepower has to move 9.35 pounds of car; if the Nissan can get from zero to sixty in just over five seconds, it’s a good bet that the 4C can as well. Granted, a whole lot of factors come into play (such as gearing and torque curve), but you get my point. If there’s a potential flaw with the 4C, it could be the price. Autoweek reports that the car will start at €45,000 in the EU, which translates to about $62,500 in the United States based on current exchange rates. Cars are typically more expensive in the EU, so it’s entirely likely that the 4C will sell for less when it does make it to this side of the pond. Let’s hope so, because I see it selling well at base-Corvette prices. Price it much higher than the Corvette Grand Sport’s $55,000 starting price, and I see it as a tough sale.
Source: Autoweek
Cute, but not worth the price tag