Alfa Romeo 4C 2013

If  alfa romeo finally makes good on its promise to re-enter the U.S. market, one of the most exciting models in the Italian automaker’s future lineup will be the 4C sports car, seen here almost completely devoid of disguise. Scheduled to appear in production form next year, most likely during the 2013 Geneva Auto Show, the 4C is intended to be an affordable halo car for the Alfa Romeo brand. Unlike the discontinued and hugely expensive 8C Competizione supercar, which carried a ferrari-like price in excess of $200,000 per copy, the 4C is expected to fall in the region of $55,000 to $65,000. That will be quite an achievement, considering the platform is new and looks to make extensive use of lightweight components, such as aluminum and carbon fiber.

The 4C project is not part of Alfa Romeo’s ongoing collaboration with Mazda to develop the next-generation MX-5 Miata and Spyder. Those upcoming 2-seat roadsters will be far less expensive and have their engines mounted in the front. It’s not impossible that some of the technology used in the 4C – especially related to its lightweight construction – could make its way to the Miata and Spyder, however. But generally speaking, the 4C will be targeting more upmarket vehicles, such as thePorsche Boxster and BMW Z4.