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An official,
slightly amateurish, teaser shot (above)
released this week by Alfa Romeo shows no
visible front end differences to the concept
version seen so far; however, a statement
posted on the ‘Alfa Romeo Social Wall’ says
that the 4C will appear at the Frankfurt IAA
“in a new exclusive look”. |
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Alfa Romeo has confirmed that
it will bring seven cars to the Frankfurt IAA next month, the autumn’s leading
international motor show. The sports brand’s line-up will be topped once again
by the 4C Concept car, which is likely to be closer to a production finish than
when it debuted as a hurriedly-thrown-together concept at Geneva in the spring.
In fact, it was touch-and-go whether the 4C Concept would even make Geneva, such
was the rushed nature of the project – and as such, in the spirit of motor show
‘showcars’, there was very little mechanically connected together under the
Dallara-constructed carbonfibre bodywork. After a headline appearance at the
Goodwood Festival of Speed followed by a short stint at Fiat Group Automobiles’
flagship MotorVillage dealership in Paris last month, Alfa Romeo Centro Stile
has improved further the 4C Concept, which senior management claim will go into
production next year before leading out any potential U.S. relaunch of the
brand.
An official, slightly amateurish, teaser shot released this week by Alfa Romeo shows no visible front
end differences to the concept version seen so far; however, a statement posted
on the ‘Alfa Romeo Social Wall’ says that the 4C will appear at the Frankfurt
IAA “in a new exclusive look”. The statement adds that the 4C Concept will show
off, amongst its “new fittings and equipments”, the Alfa TCT (Twin Clutch
Transmission), a dual-clutch six-speed transmission that “thanks to its
technology provides continuous delivery of torque and traction with no loss of
power.”
Always planned to be equipped with the 1750 TBi turbo engine from the Giulietta
Quadrifoglio Verde, the 4C Concept is likely to show off to visitors its
rear-mounted engine and transmission arrangement, the latter coming in the shape
of the twin-clutch transmission, transplanted, along with the engine, from the
Giulietta. At Geneva, Alfa Romeo claimed the 1750 engine in this application
would pump out in excess of 200 bhp in a car that weighs in at a claimed 850 kg,
thanks to its carbonfibre monocoque and bodywork.
Meanwhile, the MiTo will be shown on the official stand next month in Frankfurt
with a new production appearance: an “external metallic amethyst blue” paint
job, with white interior. Curiously, as its production is now winding to a
close, the Alfa 159 will make it to the show, probably in what will be its last
major motor show appearance, to be presented in the Alfa Romeo booth in
Sportwagon (estate) format.
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