Alfa Romeo 4C set to launch by 2013; tag price below £45,000
Alfa Romeo recently released an update about the ongoing works with the Alfa 4C. The team of engineers is pretty confident that they can bring a prototype out on the asphalt for testing by middle of next year and the final version to roll out on showrooms by 2013. Alfa Romeo is trying to keep the tag price below £45,000.
The build for the Alfa Romeo 4C is actually being handled by a small team formed out of the main product development structure of the company. The management loved the initial design concept that they gave it an immediate go so a car can be displayed during the Geneva show last March.
The concept car presented last March made use of a carbon tub by Dallara, a company which also helped with Alfa 8C, Bugatti Veyron, and the KTM X-bow. The production version of the 4C will use an in-house architecture designed by the team of Alfa Romeo. The final output will make use of a carbon fiber center tub and aluminum frames for the front and tail portion. It will be cheaper but a bit heavier.
The carbon fiber skin is ruled out since it will be very difficult to do production wise plus it will be really expensive. The Alfa 4C will have an SMC skin which is a light form of the GRP.
The design team of Alfa Romeo ensures though that even with the change of materials for the production version, the car will still look very much like the concept car. The interior of the Alfa 4C will also be true to what was presented with the concept vehicle. The Alfa 4C interior will appear simple and lightweight with separation of the driver and passenger and the dial pod.
Alfa Romeo is also working on the down force of the production version to give it a very good grip. The secret though will not be on the aerodynamics but more on the lightness of the car. The engineers want to keep it at around 900 kilograms on the scales and at around 4 meters in length.
Alfa is also looking to install a 230 horsepower engine which gives it a two thumbs up for a very reasonable price.
