Alfa Romeo will be unveiling its production-ready 4C sports car to the world at the Geneva Motor Show in March. With bucket seats, a centrally placed engine and power going to the rear wheels, Alfa describes the 4C as the 'true essence of a sports car'.
Exterior
The body itself is tiny, sitting less than four metres long, two metres wide and 118cm high. In terms of styling, there are heavy cues taken from its big brother, the gorgeous 8C Competizione. The 4C carries forward the F1-style nose and the low roofline gives the car a very squat and sporty profile.
Interior
Aside from the aforementioned bucket seats, Alfa has kept very quiet about the inside of the 4C. We do know that there are elements of the carbon-fibre structure on display in the cabin, which have been left unpainted to emphasise the car's construction. On the gadget front however, we'll have to wait until the car's debut to find out more.
Mechanicals
A new version of Alfa's 1750 four-cylinder turbocharged engine is under the bonnet of the 4C, linked to a TCT paddle-shift automatic gearbox. Thanks to new technologies in the engine and a lightweight construction, Alfa is boasting a weight-to-power ratio of 4hp/kg. This figure means that the 4C will certainly be nippy - although we have yet to be told how much it actually weighs and whether it has kept close to the concept's weight of 850kg.
The 4C will also play host to Alfa's revised DNA system. While the Dynamic, Normal and All-Weather modes still remain; a new Race setting has been added. Without being told, we can assume this setting will sharpen throttle and gearbox responses and stiffen the 4C's ride.
Anything else?
We know that on launch the Alfa 4C will be offered in coupé form only; however, it's probably only a matter of time before Alfa lops the roof off to create a convertible version too. We hope...