Fiat will officially be reviving the Alfa Romeo brand when it reveals the final version of the Alfa Romeo 4C at the 83rd International Motor Show in Geneva.

Designed by Alfa Romeo engineers and produced in the Maserati plant in Modena, the new compact supercar will be available for purchase in 2013, marking the return of the Italian brand to the United States and inaugurating Alfa Romeo’s global growth plan.

The Alfa Romeo 4C derives directly from the concept first shown at the Geneva Show in 2011, which won three prestigious awards: the ‘AutoBild Design Award’ (2011, Germany), the ‘Design Award for Concept Cars & Prototypes’ (2012, Italy) and the ‘Most Exciting Car of 2013’ – ‘What Car?’ (2013, Great Britain).

Acronym 4C
The acronym ‘4C’ draws its inspiration from the brand’s past and refers to Alfa Romeo’s 8C and 6C cars from the 1930s and 1940s, which were fitted with ‘eight cylinders’ and ‘six cylinders’ respectively. To this end, the Alfa Romeo 4C uses technologies and materials derived from sports cars (including the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione) – carbon fibre, aluminium, rear-wheel drive – and technologies from the latest standard models from Alfa Romeo, but updated to enhance the sports appeal of the new car. This is demonstrated by the new 1750 Turbo Petrol all-aluminium engine with direct injection, the Alfa TCT twin dry clutch transmission and the Alfa DNA selector with Race mode.

Exterior style
Designed by the Alfa Romeo Style Centre, the 4C immediately brings to mind some of the traditional models which have left a significant mark in the history of the brand. Above all others, in terms of dimensional and layout similarities, one stands out in particular: the 33 Stradale. Like the 8C Competizione, the 4C’s design emphasises compact size, dynamism and agility.

Dimensions and aerodynamics
The compact dimensions means the car is just under 4 metres long, 200 cm wide, 118 cm high and with a wheelbase of less than 2.4 metres. These dimensions serve both to emphasise the compact size of the car and to accentuate its agility. The new car also boasts aerodynamic efficiency, recording a negative Cz (downforce coefficient) which, as in racing cars, contributes towards achieving increased stability at higher speeds.

New 4 cylinder 1750 Turbo Petrol
An evolution of the engine already in use in the Quadrifoglio Verde version of the Giulietta, the new 4 cylinder 1750 Turbo Petrol engine implements an aluminium block and specific intake and exhaust systems which have been optimised to enhance the sports appeal of the car. In addition, it includes technical solutions such as direct fuel injection, dual continuous variable valve timing, a turbocharger and a scavenging control system that helps get rid of any turbo lag.

Alfa TCT automatic transmission
The 1750 Turbo Petrol engine is teamed with the Alfa TCT automatic twin dry clutch transmission. The gears can also be changed in sequential mode using the shift paddles located behind the steering wheel.

The new Alfa DNA selector with Race mode
The Alfa Romeo 4C also sees the debut of the new Alfa DNA selector which not only features the three standard settings available until now – Dynamic, Natural and All Weather – but also a fourth mode: Race, designed to enhance the driving experience on a race track.

Made in Italy
The technical and industrial expertise of the Alfa Romeo and Maserati brands were used to develop the final version of the 4C. Specifically, the teamwork between the two brands was aimed at the integration of the Alfa Romeo design department with the Maserati production plant.

Source: Alfa Romeo

Tags: 2013 Geneva Motor Show, 33 Stradale, 4C, 8C Competizione, Alfa Romeo, Alfa Romeo Style Centre, AutoBild Design Award, car design, Design Award for Concept Cars & Prototypes, Giulietta, Maserati, Modena, Most Exciting Car of 2013, Quadrifoglio Verde