Today's Monday newsfeed is looking a lot like a Fiat-fest as Autocar UK has announced that the Alfa Romeo brand is readying the 4C sports coupe for its production unveiling as early as next summer, months earlier than the initial Detroit show forecast of January 2014.
Intended to spearhead Alfa Romeo's return to the North American market, the lightweight 850kg carbon fiber 4C sports car is looking to make an international splash as the global halo car for the brand. Even better news, Fiat notes that the 4C's beauty is more than carbon fiber skin deep -- Alfa Romeo's new sports car will also serve as a platform to showcase the new turbocharged 1750cc aluminum-block engine, good for 296-hp.
Destined for duty in other Fiat Group models, the engine is expected to serve multiple vehicles in the Dodge, Chrysler, Lancia, and Jeep line-up. Offering a more mainstream setup as opposed to the more aggressive configuration in the 4C, the passenger vehicles will receive powerplants detuned for better fuel efficiency and more manageable production costs.
Just last month, Fiat CEO Sergio Marcionne had announced the joint development of a next-generaton Mazda Miata and an all-new Spider in the Alfa line-up. "This agreement clearly demonstrates our commitment to Alfa Romeo and the determination to grow it into a truly global brand. By partnering with Mazda, we will be co-operating with the recognized leader in compact rear-drive vehicle architectures in order to deliver an exciting and stylish roadster in the Alfa Romeo tradition."
Despite sharing a chassis, the two companies will be counting on differentiation in engine offerings and design specifications to carve out separate niches. Most likely, the 4C engine set up is expected to be found in the future Spider as well. If all goes according to plan, the new Alfa convertible is expected to debut for 2015.
It's exciting to see the high horsepower ratings from Fiat's small displacement engine. In addition to a 4C sports coupe and Spider convertible, rumors of a Dodge Dart SRT are surfacing as well. This fine turbo-4 powerplant should serve it well.
