What is it? An all-new, lightweight, midengine sports car that threatens to seriously humiliate heavyweight Germans like the Boxster and TT.
What makes it hot? Well, it's an Alfa Romeo, so it's stunning to look at, of course. It also harks back to the delicate, small 4-cylinder coupes and sports cars of Alfa's glory days. The 4C is intended to prove that sports cars can duck out of the horsepower arms race with a bit of intelligent lightweight engineering. Proof is in the silhouette: the compact size, the proportions and the use of a small, punchy 4-cylinder engine are ideal for the purpose. The 4C features the same 1,750cc TBi engine from the flagship Guilietta. Alfa Romeo says it will develop more than 200 horsepower and manage a sub-five-second zero-to-62-mph run. Features like this and Alfa Romeo's TCT twin-clutch gearbox also threaten to make the 4C something of a junior Ferrari 458 Italia, so it'll be interesting to see how the car is priced when it goes on sale next year, as promised.
What concerns us? Alfa Romeo has made midengine cars before, but traditionalists might have preferred something more like an affordable 8C coupe rather than what is, in spirit, something closer to a Lotus Elise, as interpreted by Alfa Romeo.
How much and when? Alfa says the 4C could be on sale late next year; pricing to be confirmed
Our verdict? Alfa Romeo is to be applauded for going the lightweight route for its latest sports car and, as ever, it's gorgeous — let's hope it makes production.
Personal, mi se pare foarte, foarte, foarte misto
sursa: http://editorial.aut...umentid=1182089
