2014 Alfa Romeo 4C Debut

What's New

The 2014 Alfa Romeo 4C is an all-new mid-engine sports car that features two bucket seats, and rear-wheel drive. Performance is the name of the 4C's game and Alfa constructed the all-new sports car with carbon fiber and aluminum in an attempt to keep weight down. Underneath the hood, a new 1.8-liter inline-4 turbocharged direct-injected engine is mated to an automatic twin dry clutch transmission. There are four standard settings included on the 2014 Alfa Romeo 4C: Dynamic, Natural, All-Weather, and Sport. The latter is a new addition and allows the driver to change gears by using paddle shifters, which are mounted to the steering wheel.

Who It's For

The Porsche Boxster will finally have a rival in the 2014 Alfa Romeo 4C. Pricing hasn't been announced yet as it's expected to become available closer to the 4C's stateside launch later this year. With similar dimensions to that of a Mazda MX-5 Miata, the 2014 Alfa Romeo 4C targets those who enjoy driving but want a little exclusiveness, too.

Key Features

Besides the fact that Alfa Romeo is actually returning stateside after years of false promises, here are a few key features:

• A 1.8-liter turbocharged direct-injected inline-4 engine rated at 230 horsepower
• Carbon fiber and aluminum used during construction help keep the 4C's weight below 2,000 pounds
• A new scavenging control system rides onboard to help eliminate all turbo lag

What We Think

Judging from an exterior styling standpoint, the 2014 Alfa Romeo 4C is downright good-looking and unlike anything on North American roads today. Fiat, Alfa Romeo's parent company, fully expects the 4C to outsell the 500 in the United States. After years of being indecisive, Alfa Romeo's move back into the United States should pay off quickly. If the 2014 Alfa Romeo 4C does catch on here, and we're expecting it will, more models from the Italian automaker should follow.

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