Autoblog

Alfa Romeo teases 4C, confirms 2013 arrival

George Kennedy — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 18:28:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Alfa Romeo

Any time you open up your promotion for a new vehicle with the claim of a "car to end all cars," you better have the goods to back it up. If any automaker has said goods, it is Alfa Romeo. The brand behind the stunning 8C has promised a new car to debut in 2013. We all know that vehicle will be the 4C (a name which has been trademarked in America), which has been running ahead of schedule in development. With this teaser shot, it seems that a production version should be imminent. The report from Motor Authority, suspects that could be as early as the 2013 Geneva Motor Show.

We've been enamored with the 4C ever since we saw the first concept for it at Geneva in 2011. Since then, we've heard word of convertible variants and various facts and figures, such as a sub-2000-pound curb weight, and a 1.8-liter mill. The low weight, combined with the claimed 200 horsepower could put the 4C's zero to 60 times below four seconds.

As promising as this teaser is, our hopes of Alfa's tearing up American roads have been repeatedly dashed by reports from the Italian brand. Time and again, Alfa's supposed entry into the US has been delayed. Let us hope that this new teaser serves as warning that Alfa Romeo's invasion is imminent.

Alfa Romeo teases 4C, confirms 2013 arrival originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 Dec 2012 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Porsche 911-fighting Maserati GranSport to use twin-turbo V6 power?

Zach Bowman — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 07:58:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Etc., Europe, Maserati, Luxury

Auto Express reports the new Maserati GranSport may bow with a twin-turbo V6 engine good for more than 450 horsepower. Designed by Ferrari, the engine will show up in a range over other models, including the Quattroporte and the Kubang utility vehicle (whatever it is actually named). Paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, the engine should have no trouble hustling the GranSport around your favorite track. As we've heard before, the GranSport will be based roughly on the Alfa Romeo 4C you see above. The report also suggests Maserati will work to keep the chassis fairly light with a target curb weight of 2,600 pounds thanks to its carbon fiber construction. That little mix sounds like a good time to us.

Unfortunately, it will be a spell before we see any more than a few renderings. The Maserati GranSport isn't expected to debut until 2015 or later. The company is currently pouring resources into getting the Kubang to market first.

Once the GranSport does hit the market, it will find itself in heady company. Odds are the machine will have to stare down a revised Porsche 911 and a next-generation Audi R8 at the same time. No pressure, Maserati.

Porsche 911-fighting Maserati GranSport to use twin-turbo V6 power? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Jul 2012 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Alfa Romeo running ahead of schedule on 4C development

Noah Joseph — Sun, 10 Jun 2012 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Alfa Romeo

Considering how long we've been anticipating the return of Alfa Romeo to North America , we can hardly be blamed for growing tired of the endless reports of its further delay. This, however, arrives as a welcome surprise.

The marque's arrival here was originally supposed to be spearheaded by the 8C Competizione, but that sumptuous model came and went, and we're back to an Alfa-free market. Later re-strategization put the upcoming 4C in the same position, establishing a beachhead for the arrival of a broader (read: more accessible and versatile) range of Alfa models. Now an Autocar report suggests the 4C may be ready earlier than expected.

The carbon-intensive, mid-engined sports car made its debut in concept form at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show and was expected to bow in production trim at the 2014 Detroit Auto Show, but is now tipped to debut in about a year from now (next summer) - a good half-year ahead of schedule.

Word has it that the 4C will also be produced at two sites, meaning that the North American version (if it's any different from the European car) could be assembled locally.

Alfa Romeo running ahead of schedule on 4C development originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 10 Jun 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Alfa Romeo takes top honors at Villa d'Este

Noah Joseph — Tue, 29 May 2012 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Classics, Misc. Auto Shows, Alfa Romeo, Design/Style

BMW may be the sponsor of this year's Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este, but it was Alfa Romeo that cleaned up when the awards were handed out over the weekend. Top honors went to a pristine 1933 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS with coachwork by Figoni. The Series XI coupe that could easily be mistaken for a Bugatti of the same era was initially shown at the Paris Auto Salon in 1933 and has gone on to appear at numerous concours around the world. At Villa d'Este, it won not only the Best of Show awards - both those selected by the jury and voted on by the public - but also the prestigious Coppa d'Oro (Gold Cup).

The classic 6C wasn't the only Alfa to take top honors on Italy's Lake Como, however, as the 4C concept - first shown at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show and again at the Frankfurt Motor Show that year - won in the concept car category. The public voted it the finest prototype displayed at the concours this year, overshadowing the Aston Martin AM 310 concept and BMW's own Zagato Coupe, both of which were new debuts at the lakeside exposition. Check out the high-resolution images from the show in the gallery above and the pair of press releases below.

Continue reading Alfa Romeo takes top honors at Villa d'Este

Alfa Romeo takes top honors at Villa d'Este originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 May 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Alfa Romeo 4C speeds into production with £45,000 price tag [UPDATE]

Noah Joseph — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:01:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Performance, Alfa Romeo

Imagine your dream car. What might it include? Lightweight carbon-fiber construction, high-tech engine behind the seats, legendary Italian badge on the nose.... The thing is, that usually means a big fat price tag that runs well into the six figures, if not seven. But while this latest Italian sports car is set to include all those ingredients, its price point is set decidedly lower.

We're talking about the Alfa Romeo 4C, the nimble-looking little number that debuted in delicious matte red at the Geneva show last year, and in liquid-metal finish in Frankfurt just a few months ago. Rumors have been circulating of its imminent production ever since its debut, but now the blokes over at Top Gear say that have the final details on good authority.

According to the report, Fiat has crunched the numbers and figured out how it can produce the 4C while neither breaking the bank nor spoiling the formula. And so the supercar is set to begin testing in the new year and hit the market in the next. And the price? £45,000, according to TG, which equates to about $70K at today's exchange rates. To put that into perspective, consider that is the same starting price in the British market as the Porsche Cayman S - a model which starts here at $62K. UPDATE: Autocar now reports that the 45,000 figure is actually in Euros, not in British Pounds, which would price the 4C below the base Boxster, not the top Cayman.

The Cayman is an ambitious target, but the 4C promises to be both smaller and lighter. A new direct-injection turbo four will drive 230 horsepower to the rear wheels via a dual-clutch gearbox for a 4.5-second sprint to sixty, but is tipped to yield more powerful versions with as much as 300hp on tap and even a roadster version later on.

That last bit promises to be easier to pull off thanks to the carbon-fiber tub - engineered by Dallara - to which aluminum sub-frames will be attached front and rear. The Italian chassis constructor is best known for its racing cars, but also developed the KTM X-Bow, which could in and of itself give us the best idea of what to expect if and when the 4C assumes the place originally reserved for the 8C Competizione in finally heralding Alfa's return to the North American market.

Alfa Romeo 4C speeds into production with £45,000 price tag [UPDATE] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Alfa Romeo announces new 1.8-liter turbo with up to 300 horsepower

Noah Joseph — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 13:32:00 EST

Filed under: Technology, Alfa Romeo

If you were to design your own engine for today's automotive market, what features would it include? Aluminum construction? Direct injection? Turbocharging? Variable valve timing on both intake and exhaust? Small displacement but a high output? Try all of these features and you're looking at the latest powerplant developed by Alfa Romeo and Fiat Powertrain Technologies.

The 1.8-liter turbo four leverages the latest developments in engine technology for an output as high as 300 horsepower while still meeting the most stringent emissions standards on the horizon (including the upcoming U.S. Tier 2 Bin 5 regulations, which bodes well for its eventual American application).

It's the engine that's expected to power the production 4C sportscar, and given that it's designed to be mounted either behind the cabin or in front, longitudinally or transversely, it will surely find its way into other Alfas as well. (Maybe a couple of future Dodge products, too) And when it does, we hope it won't lose much in output, because 300 galloping stallions and an Alfa Romeo badge on the nose sounds to us like a recipe for success.

Details in the press release after the jump, with fresh high-resolution images of the 4C in its original matte red finish added to the gallery for your viewing pleasure.

Continue reading Alfa Romeo announces new 1.8-liter turbo with up to 300 horsepower

Alfa Romeo announces new 1.8-liter turbo with up to 300 horsepower originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 05 Oct 2011 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Alfa Romeo 4C Concept bares its metal in fluid redux

Noah Joseph — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 19:01:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Frankfurt Motor Show, Coupe, Performance, Alfa Romeo

There were a lot of things to love about the 4C Concept when Alfa Romeo unveiled it - now half a year ago - at the Geneva Motor Show. And one of them was its finish: Decked out in matte red, it was both flashy and understated at the same time.

A tough act to follow, then, so we were a little apprehensive when Alfa announced that it would bring the pint-sized sportscar to its Frankfurt Motor Show stand, albeit in a different finish. But as we found on the show floor, the Milanese automaker didn't pull out the vinyl or spray it with just any color out of the Pantone swatch book.

Instead Alfa has given it a "fluid metal" finish (similar to the Alubeam finish on the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG) that looks like what ordinary metalwork dreams about when its on vacation - neither polished nor brushed, neither chromed nor varnished. Just bare metal, only nicer. See what we mean in the gallery of live images from the show floor.

Alfa Romeo 4C Concept bares its metal in fluid redux originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Sep 2011 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Alfa Romeo 4C to spawn Abarth, Maserati variants?

Noah Joseph — Sat, 28 May 2011 11:08:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Maserati, Alfa Romeo, Fiat

Alfa Romeo 4C Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

If Alfa Romeo wanted to get people talking with the debut of its 4C concept in Geneva, they succeeded. The Internet is abuzz with rumors of its production potential. There have already been reports that the Alfa will spearhead the marque's full-fledged return to North America, to be followed by both Spider and Abarth versions. Now, word is that Maserati could get a derivative, too.

If the reports prove accurate and the spinoffs come to fruition, that would mean three brands within the Fiat group will get their own versions of the lightweight, mid-engined, four-cylinder sports car. And that's before any of the Chrysler brands get a crack at it, because a Dodge version to pick up where the Circuit concept left off could be most tempting. The Maserati version would naturally be positioned and appointed differently from the Alfa or Abarth models. The question is whether the market can bear more than one Elise rival from Fiat/Chrysler, let alone multiples.

Alfa Romeo 4C to spawn Abarth, Maserati variants? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 28 May 2011 11:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Alfa Romeo 4C to lead new SUV, Giulia sedan on journey to America... when they're ready [w/video]

Noah Joseph — Wed, 04 May 2011 14:28:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Sedan, SUV, Videos, Alfa Romeo

Alfa Romeo 4C Concept - Click above to watch the video after the jump

If this story sounds familiar, that's because we've seen it before: Alfa Romeo will arrive in the United States with a sportscar that will spearhead the arrival of a broader range of models. That was the line with the 8C Competizione, but that model has come and gone without its junior stablemates. And when Alfa unveiled the 4C Concept in Geneva a couple of months ago, that was the story once again: not only would it see production, but it would headline the marque's return to the North American market.

Now we've got a few more details, though. Rather than bringing over existing models like the MiTo and Giulietta, Alfa Romeo is hard at work preparing new models specifically for American tastes. One model is expected to be an SUV based on the Jeep Grand Cherokee - leaving us to wonder if this will come instead of, or in addition to Maserati's rumored version. But beyond that is the new Giulia sedan that will replace the 159.

The project was reportedly well under way until the design landed on Fiat/Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne's desk, prompting him to order a full redesign. Apparently the styling was rather derivative and lackluster. For his part, the company's experienced styling chief Lorenzo Ramaciotti says he and his team are doing the best they can with what they're given: the company's Compact Wide architecture based on the Giulietta's platform, which Ramaciotti says is like designing a suit for a fat lady instead of a model.

The literal "back to the drawing board" order from Marchionne's office may lead to further setbacks, so to keep your interest piqued we've dug up this rather intriguing video of the 4C Concept heading from the studio to the show floor in high speed. At this point, we thought we'd seen concept cars from just about every angle, but this is something different, so why not click past the jump to watch the brief clip for yourself.

Continue reading Alfa Romeo 4C to lead new SUV, Giulia sedan on journey to America... when they're ready [w/video]

Alfa Romeo 4C to lead new SUV, Giulia sedan on journey to America... when they're ready [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 May 2011 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Geneva 2011: Alfa Romeo 4C Concept shows us what matte(rs)

Noah Joseph — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 05:30:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Alfa Romeo

Alfa Romeo 4C Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

The beauty of Alfa Romeo is that it embodies the same sort of Italian flair as Ferrari and Maserati, but in a smaller, more accessible package. Unfortunately, their current range doesn't offer the same level of excitement. (Well, the 8C Competizione did, but then it was hardly any more affordable than its Modenese counterparts.) Enter the Alfa 4C.

Smaller than the 8C it essentially succeeds, the 4C doesn't shed the excitement factor, just concentrates it into a more compact shape. In fact, at less than eight feet long, it doesn't get much more concentrated than this. Or much lighter: carbon fiber and aluminum construction helps keep the weight down to below 850 kilograms (1873 lbs). The 1750cc, direct-injection turbo four from the Giulietta QV mounted amidship drives just over 200 horsepower via Alfa's TCT dual-clutch transmission to the rear wheels for a 0-60 time in the fours; and speed being relative to size, we bet it would be one heck of a ride along the way.

The best part? Alfa is currently evaluating production possibilities for the 4C, which could finally lead the company's long-awaited return to the North American market. That, and the simply awesome matte red paint scheme in which the show car was unveiled here in Geneva. See for yourself in the live gallery below, and scope out the full details in the press release after the jump.

Gallery: Alfa Romeo 4C Concept: Geneva 2011

Gallery: Alfa Romeo 4C Concept (matte red)

Continue reading Geneva 2011: Alfa Romeo 4C Concept shows us what matte(rs)

Geneva 2011: Alfa Romeo 4C Concept shows us what matte(rs) originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 05:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Dallara to build X-Bow-based Alfa Romeo 4C GTA

Noah Joseph — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 09:01:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Alfa Romeo

The departure of the 8C Competizione has left rather large shoes to fill at Alfa Romeo. And stylish ones at that. Last week, we brought you initial reports that a new 4C GTA was being developed to take its place, and now a whole mess of details have emerged.

With the current Alfa line-up consisting entirely of front-engined, front-drive models, the 4C is to go with a mid/rear-engined, rear-drive setup. Its basis: the KTM X-Bow. Like the Austrian track toy, the 4C is to be developed by Dallara, the race car constructor also headquartered in northern Italy. Alfa's sister brand, Abarth, has long been rumored to get an X-Bow-based roadster, but now it appears to be going to Alfa instead.

In its carbon/aluminum chassis is tipped to sit a 1.8-liter, turbocharged, direct-injection four-cylinder engine from Alfa's existing range, giving the lightweight roadster a power-to-weight ratio expected to best the Porsche Cayman S. Styling is reportedly being carried out by Alfa's own Centro Stile, and not by Pininfarina as some have reported.

Production is rumored to come in around 20,000-25,000 units annually over the course of five years, with a price tag in the 40,000 euro (about $55,000) range - considerably more accessible than the 8C. Although the prototype was targeted for unveiling at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show, reported setbacks could force us to wait a little longer.

[Source: Automotive News Europe - subs. req'd]

Report: Dallara to build X-Bow-based Alfa Romeo 4C GTA originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Feb 2011 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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