Alfa Romeo to Reveal Production 4C Sports Car Next Summer
Alfa Romeo will unveil the production-ready 4C ahead of schedule next summer, with notable changes from the concept including revised body materials and a new turbocharged engine.
Alfa Romeo will show its production-ready 4C sports car next summer, moving the debut forward from the previously tipped January 2014 Detroit Motor Show slot. The announcement puts the mid-engined coupe on track for a European launch before its US introduction.
The 4C has already drawn attention in concept form, but Alfa Romeo is making several changes for production. The most significant is the move away from carbon fibre body panels, originally showcased in the concept. Instead, the production car will use a composite sheet moulding compound based on fibreglass. This decision comes down to cost and the complexity of mass-producing carbon fibre at the required scale.
A new 1.8-litre turbocharged petrol engine is also in development for the 4C, replacing the 1.75-litre turbo used in the concept. Fiat, Alfa Romeo's parent company, has confirmed that production of this engine will begin soon, though detailed specifications are yet to be released. The engineering team is targeting a kerb weight of around 850kg, similar to the Lotus Elise, with performance estimates suggesting a 0-100km/h time of about five seconds.
Production and global plans
The 4C will be produced at Alfa Romeo’s Modena facility in Italy. The company has also confirmed that it intends to sell the 4C in the US, marking a return to the American market. The model’s lightweight construction and mid-engined layout are aimed at enthusiasts, positioning it as a rival to established sports cars such as the Lotus Elise.
Alfa’s plans for the 4C form part of a broader global strategy, which includes new models such as the Giulia saloon. The Giulia is set to replace the outgoing 159 and will be built at two global production sites, with North America expected to be one of them. For more on the 4C’s earlier showings and its journey from concept to production, see Alfa Romeo 4C to Make Production Debut at Frankfurt.
What to expect from the production 4C
- Composite (fibreglass-based) body panels instead of carbon fibre
- New 1.8-litre turbocharged engine replacing the 1.75-litre unit
- 850kg kerb weight target
- Mid-engined, rear-wheel-drive layout
- Production at Modena, Italy
Pricing for the production 4C has not been officially announced, though previous reports have suggested a figure in the region of $70,000. Alfa Romeo has not confirmed final power output or performance figures, but the focus remains on delivering a lightweight, agile sports car for both European and US buyers.
As Alfa Romeo prepares for the 4C’s unveiling next summer, attention will be on how closely the production version matches the promise of the concept and how it fares against rivals in the lightweight sports car segment.
