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Alfa Romeo 4C Coming To U.S in May +VIDEO


PHOTO (select to view enlarged photo)
2014 Alpha Romeo 4C
2015 ALFA ROMEO EN ROUTE TO U.S. IN MAY

from: Mac Gordon
Michigan Bureau
The Auto Channel


MILAN, ITALY – The long awaited Alfa Romeo sports coupe 4C has been cleared for a U.S. market launch this May as a 2015-model by the Fiat Group – to the delight of owners, former owners and dealers.

With the franchise still held only by Fiat dealers, details of the new model have been released in enthusiast magazines and at the major auto shows.

First dealers have established a waiting list, using an expected suggested price of $54,000 for the 4C (Motor Trend’s $65K base price is Mucho too Mucho!)


Watch the Alfa Romeo 4C at the 2013 Goodwood Festival of Speed


No comparable situation has existed in the U.S. but Alfa has a loyal following, for whom a down payment of about 20% is no problem.

In fact, Alfa fans have been made even more excited and charged up by the 4C’s specifications, following test drives on Fiat’s Balocco proving grounds west of Milan.

The Alfa Romeo 4C is different, a true racing coupe unlike any other.


Watch the Alfa Romeo 4C promo video


Here are major specs for the 4C, coupled with the fact that it packs a unique carbon-fiber frame and hyper-accurate steering:

1.7L/240 hp turbocharged with a 6-speed twin clutch;

What’s more, the 4C weighs only 2,500 lbs., wheelbase is 93.7; to which can be added a zero-to-60 speed of 4.5 seconds!

In its December 2013 edition, Motor Trend magazine couples photos of a fire-engine red 4C with a statement comparing the Alfa 4C to the Porsche Cayman, which lists for between $50K and $55K.

At $54K, that’s some comparison – an Italian “orphan vs. German racing coupes” “A baby superieur,” says the enthusiast press – at only $55 big ones! – “We’ll settle for $45,000 (after dealer margin) assuming there will be a power-steering option and improved ergonomics.” “We can wait, (cant’ we?) at whatever price for perfection.”

Other 4C amenities include and all-aluminum body, fenders and roof; sporty LED headlamps; a direct injection 4-cyl engine yielding 258 lbs. of torque; tramlines which sort out potholes and asphalt cracks; abundant room for 2 adults, and a luxury-car-like “dead pedal” plus plenty of right knee room.

At presstime, MPG hadn’t been rated, but the 4C will rank as an honest-to-goodness “driver’s car” with echoes of the Giuliettas’ comparable 25 MPG.

The 4C will be a cool holiday gift, just like the one Romeo and Juliet imagined in the Shakespeare epic.

Photos of the 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C are available on the Fiat web site, which covers Fiat 500 subcompacts and green, red or white exterior colors shown to car magazines.

P.S. to Glenn Campbell and Rob Gordon

Happy Holidays and online issues – 4C for a club coupe could also mean Camaro, Chrysler, Corvette and Chevrolet if not (C-class). C-ing is believing, wouldn’t you believe?

Note: 900,000 drawn by LA Show

Attendance of a record-breaking 900,000 for the entire LA show breaks all records.

As the first week of the LA show wrapped up, officials forecast that total attendance would break a record 900,000 by the Dec. 2 close.

Exhibitors checking first-week spectator numbers tallied special interest at displays of the Ford Flex SUV, Porsche Boxster, Kia Cadenza, Corvette StingRay Nissan Rogue, Subaru WRX and Honda’s fuel cell vehicle and Mercedes SLS.

In all, 42 brands were on display, also a record for a show first held in 1912. More brands than any other show ever – all “car guys and gals!”