Alfa 4C set for Geneva debut 12 | 02 | 2013

TWO YEARS AFTER it appeared in concept form, Fiat Group's all-new Alfa Romeo 4C two-seater, rear-wheel drive sportscar will make its full production debut at next month's Geneva Motor Show.

The new lightweight model — expected to duck below the £50k barrier when it enters Scottish showrroms — will be the first of a range of new Alfas over the next few years, and will spearhead the Italian firm’s return to the US market.

With its carbonfibre chassis, the sub-1000kg car is powered by an all-aluminium turbocharged 1.7-litre engine.

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Though Alfa won't release full technical details until the March 5 unveiling, it's understood it will initially be offered with 237bhp. Combined with its light weight, that would equate to a 0-62mph figure of around 4.5sec. Expect it to be electronically limited to a max of 155mph.

The 4C is compact, at less than 4000mm long, 2000mm wide and 1180mm high. It also has a 2400mm wheelbase, all of which places it between a Lotus Elise and Evora.

Production of the new 4C begins in the summer, with build restricted to 2500 units from 2014. Alfa will control supply, with only 1000 units per year each going to Europe and North America. The rest of Alfa’s global markets will share the remaining 500 units.

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Jim McGill