Alfa Romeo 4C gets production go-ahead for 2013
Alfa Romeo has confirmed the 4C sports car will enter production in 2013, following its initial unveiling as a concept at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show.
Alfa Romeo has confirmed it will put the 4C sports car into production, with assembly scheduled to begin in 2013 and first deliveries expected before the end of the year. The move follows months of speculation after the 4C appeared as a concept at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show and was later seen testing in prototype form.
The 4C will be built as a compact, lightweight coupé with a mid-engined, rear-wheel-drive layout. Alfa Romeo is targeting a driver-focused sports car to sit below the 8C in its line-up, aiming to revive the brand’s reputation for accessible performance. The company has not yet detailed the final production specification, but the concept’s key features are expected to carry over.
Expected technical details
While Alfa Romeo has not published the full technical specification, the production 4C is expected to use a turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine. The concept car was shown with a 1.75-litre turbo unit, likely producing around 230hp, paired to a six-speed dual-clutch transmission. This combination should allow the 4C to accelerate from 0 to 60mph in approximately 4.5 seconds, according to company estimates at the time.
The 4C’s chassis is expected to make use of lightweight materials, with carbon fibre and aluminium construction likely to keep weight below 1,000kg. This focus on low mass is intended to deliver sharp handling and strong performance without relying on excessive power.
Launch plans and market positioning
Alfa Romeo has indicated that the 4C’s production version will debut at a major motor show in 2013, with Geneva a likely candidate given the car’s concept unveiling there two years earlier. The 4C is expected to reach showrooms before the end of 2013. Pricing and final market allocation have not been disclosed, but the car is being positioned as a rival to compact sports cars such as the Porsche Cayman.
What comes next
Further technical details and images of the production 4C are expected to be released closer to its official debut. The car’s confirmation for production marks Alfa Romeo’s most ambitious sports car project in several years and will be closely watched by enthusiasts and dealers awaiting the brand’s next move.
