Rendered Speculation: Alfa 4C coming to Pebble Beach?
Alfa Romeo says it achieved its objectives with the stunning 8C Competizione. Now the brand known for the quadrifoglio wants to make the same kind of splash – only bigger – and rumor has it that it will do so by unveiling an Alfa 4C at this year's Pebble Beach Concours. Automobile reports that the 4C will be a "a compact, lightweight sports car concept," shorn of high-zoot and high-dollar goods like carbon fiber and a Ferrari engine. Instead, it will use a 250-horsepower four-cylinder and could be rear-wheel-drive. Price for the limited-to-5,000 vehicles is being estimated at €50,000 ($70,000 U.S.).
However, while the 8C was busy killin' it, the rest of the Alfa line has been busy struggling. Sales haven't exactly pleased parent company Fiat, so the fate of Alfa's (and, by extension, the the 4C) oft-planned return trip to North America is still in question. Unless and until the Giulietta and its variants prove they are winners and show Fiat the money, it looks like the message for the American Alfa will remain, "Please hold..."
[Source: Automobile]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
RG 10:06AM (3/11/2010)
Well, if Alfa thinks that 250-hp, four cylinder roadsters priced at $70k (I know the direct conversion is bogus, but it is all we have right now) are going to make a splash, then they should set their faces to 'stun.'
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JMills 10:12AM (3/11/2010)
If they built that 2uettottanta concept, then they would have another hit, even with a 4cyl engine. This rendering looks kind of meh, with that big nose.
Aeromax 10:37AM (3/11/2010)
I dunno, I like it. A lot. But yeah, $70k? Even if the conversion is bogus and it lands at 50k, I dunno.
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fabarati 10:54AM (3/11/2010)
Sounds sorta like a Boxter competitor. Only, it's an alfa.
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Quuppa 4:28PM (3/11/2010)
only?
fabarati 1:04AM (3/12/2010)
It being an alfa is not a bad thing.
BoxerFanatic 11:58AM (3/11/2010)
Here's hoping it is affordable, and stylish.
And is as clean as the Alfa Romeo 'duettottanta' concept by Pininfarina.
4-cylinder, RWD, sports car with the name Alfa 4C, as a junior 8C for real folks...
A bit of Giulia styling... a bit of 159's front end aggression, and the aforementioned concept's purity of line, and surfacing... that could be a very good car.
Should be in the price range of a Honda S2000. Not above $40K or $50K like most Boxsters, which are 6-cylinder Porsches, not 4-cylinder Alfas.
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Ligor 12:19PM (3/11/2010)
the RED rendering is awesome
the headlights from that should be on a BMW 3-series
this shows BMW how much better their 3-series could have been with a proper face
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RWD fan 1:05PM (3/11/2010)
Could something be done about the term "Rendered Speculation". How about we go for a little clearer tag, like "Fantasy Drawing", or "Photoshopped Dream Image" when describing these kinds of headlines. The current descriptor almost gives validity to the piece, and tends to unfairly get one's hopes up.
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N_xx 1:15PM (3/11/2010)
Agreed the 2uettottanta is beautiful and the way to go for Alfa.
I wish they would return to the 159/Brera look.
None of the 8C styling cues work on ordinary cars.
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Inzain 1:31PM (3/11/2010)
The 8C was a once in a decade kind of car, something that's almost impossible to replicate. Alfa's designs might be amongst the best in the industry but there's no way a 4C (or whatever it'll be called) will ever match the aura and classic lines of an 8C.
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akatsuki 1:43PM (3/11/2010)
Maybe they should stop pissing away money developing niche models?
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Wally 2:51PM (3/11/2010)
I think Alfa values their cars far more than most American's will. $70k for a 4 cylinder? Good luck.
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Quuppa 4:27PM (3/11/2010)
I think its the automobilemag.com that values the pure speculation not Alfa