Alfa-Romeo cars

Video: The Alfa Romeo 4C Emits a Mean Exhaust Note

Alfa Romeo hasn’t sold a new car in the U.S. since the 8C and, for the most part, they haven’t been missed. But every now and again, even the most conservative of automakers puts out a wild model that we crave here in the States, but we are forced to watch from a distance since they are not typically available here. Fortunately, the 4C is not one that we have to watch from a distance, as all signs point to it making a run in the U.S. market in small quantities – about 2,000 of each version.

The details of the 4C are no secret any longer, as we know it features a 1,750 cc four-cylinder turbocharged powerplant that puts down more than 200 horsepower and hooks up to a dual-clutch automatic transmission. We also know that the drivetrain will launch this sub-1,873-pound sports car to 60 mph in under 5 seconds and up to a 155 mph top speed.

Yeah, we’ve got all of that stuff covered. What we are concerned with now is how this petite mean machine sounds. Well, omniauto managed to catch this beast on video at the Geneva Motor Show and it gives us an earful of sweet exhaust notes and the ominous whine of the turbocharger.

Have a look and listen to the video above and let us know just how excited it makes you for the 4C’s official launch in the U.S.

2014 Alfa Romeo 4C Roadster

The new Alfa Romeo 4C was officially unveiled at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, but only in its coupe version. However, officials from the Italian company have already confirmed that the 4C will also be offered in roadster, Racing and Stradale versions. All four versions, including the coupe, will be limited to only 2,000 units.

The roadster version will be the first to arrive and its official debut likely won’t happen until September, at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show, but until then, we have created a pretty cool rendering that might help you imagine how it will look.

As no surprise, it will borrow everything from the coupe version, except the soft-top that can be opened and close in just a few of seconds.

Just like with the coupe, the roadster version will feature a carbon-fiber body, combined with a frame made of a hybrid of steel and aluminum. Total weight will be kept at the same 850 kg (1,873 pounds) area, meaning the roadster version will deliver pretty much the same performance figures.

Under the hood, the roadster will keep the same four-cylinder 1,750 cc turbocharged engine that will deliver a total of 200 horsepower and will be mated to an innovative Alfa TCT automatic twin-dry-clutch transmission that ships power to the rear wheels.

2013 Touring Superleggera Disco Volante

Last year at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, Carrozzeria Touring unveiled a very cool interpretation of the 1952 Alfa Romeo C52 Disco Volante. Since then, the company changed its name to Touring Superleggera and for this year’s 2013 Geneva Motor Show the company prepared a production version of the concept.

A very strange move, considering that last year the company announced this was just a styling exercise and that it lacked any running components. Just like with the concept version, the production version Disco Volante will be based on the 8C Competizione, but it will receive a few design changes, carbon-fiber components and aluminum panels.

The model will be built on request and will be limited to only 500 units. Each unit takes approximately six months to complete. Also, the company announced that each unit will be built as a one-off edition, as customers will have the possibility to customize the car by their own heart desires.

Updated 03/06/2013: This review has been updated with the official details, images and specs.

Hit the jump to read more about the Touring Superleggera Disco Volante.

2014 Alfa Romeo 4C Launch Edition

Alfa Romeo is celebrating the launch of its new 4C sports car with the launch of a special 4C Launch Edition. It will be offered exclusively in the European market where it will be priced at €60,000 (about $79,000 at the current exchange rates) and only 400 units will be produced. Orders are officially opened today during the car’s presentation at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show.

The new 4C Launch Edition will be offered in just two exterior colors: Carrara White or Alfa Red. When compared to a standard 4C, the new Launch Edition will be distinguished by a carbon-fiber aerodynamic kit that includes new spoilers and side-view mirror covers, a new rear aluminum diffuser with dark finishing and bi-LED headlights with dark surround. The model also receives new alloy wheels sized 18 inches up front and 19 inches at the rear. The wheels are combined with brake calipers in a specific color and, for an even sportier feeling, Alfa Romeo also added a new racing exhaust system with a BMC air cleaner.

For the interior, the new 4C Launch Edition adds sports seats in Alcantara, plus red stitching on the steering wheel trim, handbrake, mats, handles and sports seats when customers opt for a red exterior paint.

Final Alfa Romeo Stradale TZ3 by Zagato will be Presented at the Amelia Island Concours

The Alfa Romeo Stradale TZ3 was unveiled at the 2011 Pebble Beach Concours and only nine units were going to be produced. Now Zagato has announced that the final unit will be presented by its new owner at the 18th annual Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance field on March 10, 2013.

The last unit is owned by a Florida-based enthusiast who has chosen an Azzurro California blue color for the car’s exterior paint to match the Florida Sky. Everything else on the car is a cool combination between American underpinnings and Italian design.

On the exterior, the model pays tribute to cars like the one-off TZ3 Corsa and under the hood it uses the same engine seen in the Dodge Viper ACR: an 8.4 liter V-10 engine that delivers a total of 600 horsepower and mates to a six-speed manual gearbox. Zagato added a carbon-fiber body kit that features the Italian design house’s signature Kamm-tail (K-tail) and double bubble roof treatment.

2014 Alfa Romeo 4C

In 2011, Alfa Romeo debuted an all-new sports car that it dubbed the 4C. Upon initial inspection, this beastly compact model looked to be more of a "future styling" concept, which means it will never see production. However, as time went on, Alfa Romeo decided to make the 4C a reality. Even better, Alfa Romeo plans to release the 4C in the U.S., making it the first U.S.-sold Alfa Romeo since the 2008 8C.

The 4C takes its name from Alfa Romeo’s storied racing tradition. The company first used the 8C and 6C names back in the 1930s and 1940s for both racing and road-going version. The 4C name is a clear indication that it has been inspired by the sports cars of yesteryear, like the 8C that it borrows the carbon fiber, aluminum and rear-wheel-drive configuration from.

Updated 02/25/2013: Alfa Romeo has just unveiled even more images, including one of the interior that it has kept so secretive. Looks to us to be a standard old interior.

UPDATE 05/09/13: Alfa Romeo has dropped a new batch of photos of the 4C sports car. And if it didn’t look awesome before, it certainly does now. Hop over to the gallery to check out the photos. To read more about the Alfa Romeo 4C and how it may stack up against the competition, click past the jump.

2013 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce Edition

Alfa Romeo has made headlines the past few weeks for what its bringing to the Geneva Motor Show. But lost in the shadows of the production 4C and even the IED-designed Gloria Concept are a number of special-edition Giulietta models that will also be in attendance in Geneva.

One of these models is called the Giulietta Veloce, a uniquely trimmed version of the company’s sports hatchback that is being touted as pretty fast, hence the "Veloce" designation.

In terms of overall uniqueness, the Giulietta Veloce comes with a number of new styling improvements that does, albeit slightly, makes it stand out. The exterior of the hatchback was treated to titanium finishes, including headlights dressed in dark trim, door mirror fairings with titanium finish, chromed front door handles, ’Veloce badges, and a new set of 17-inch sports turbine-design alloy rims with its own titanium finish.

The Giulietta Veloce can also be customized with a bevy of color options. Depending on whether you choose matte Magnesio Grey or Glossy Black for the roof paint, you can choose from a wide range of colors, including Pastel Black, Ghiaccio White, Alfa Red, Antracite Grey, Metallic Red, or Etna Black for the matte Magnesio Grey roof and Ghiaccio White, Alfa Red, Magnesio Grey, or Metallic Red for the Glossy Black roof.

Inside, titanium was also used widely, especially on the central part of the dashboard, the central tunnel and the door inserts. To jazz the cabin up even more, Alfa Romeo also gave the seats a new "Competizione" two-tone Black and Red fabric with contrasting stitching, while the steering wheel received leather with a matt black panel and red stitching.

Now that’s how you dress up a Giulietta.

Top US Fiat Dealerships to Get First Dibs on Alfa Romeo 4C

The Alfa Romeo 4C’s highly anticipated U.S. debut later this year is drumming up all kinds of hype from a lot of dealerships looking to get a piece of the Italian sports car.

Unfortunately, not every Fiat dealership will get their hands on the 4C, at least according to Chrysler Group vice president for network development and fleet, Peter Grady.

Talking to Auto News, Grady revealed that the two-seat, rear-wheel-drive sports coupe will only be sent to the best performing Fiat dealerships. Translation: those that don’t sell enough models are out of luck.

"The 4C is the first vehicle that comes at the end of this calendar year, and it’s going to go to the current Fiat dealers that are performing," Grady told Auto News.

"So if you’re selling and you’re taking care of your customer, you’ll be first up for Alfa Romeo."

There are two ways to look at this, shall we say, "condition" set by Chrysler. One, it could set off a competitive selling frenzy amongst a lot of Fiat dealerships in the U.S. just to get a piece of the 1,000 4Cs earmarked for the U.S. each year. On the flip side, you could see a virtual monopoly of the models by a select number of dealerships that are already ahead in the sales race of Fiat models.

Grady also said that he’s willing to be flexible to dealers that are confined by a limited location and can make the necessary adjustments to ensure that they’re not left out in the cold because of their circumstances.

Instead, he put out the condition that dealers meeting sales and customer service targets will still get Alfa Romeo franchises even if their stores are in malls, as long as they attach service departments before the Alfa Romeo models arrive sometime in 2015.

2013 Alfa Romeo Gloria Concept by IED

Alfa Romeo, in cooperation with European Design Institute (IED), will be unveiling a new concept car at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show. Named "Gloria," the new concept is an attempt in combining sports spirit and Italian style in a sedan specially designed for the American and Asian markets.

The concept is 4,700 mm (185.03 inches) long, 1,920 mm (75.59 inches) wide, 1,320 mm (51.96) high and has been built on a 2,900 mm (114.17) wheelbase. The most striking elements of the new Gloria concept include its three-dimensional hood and the leather strips on the rearmost part of the hood. The concept has been designed to fit a V6 or V8 bi-turbo engine. The unit that will be displayed in Geneva will be offered with a set of 20-inch wheels designed by OZ Racing.

The new Gloria was designed by 20 students from Italy and other countries, and will be presented in a 1-to-4 scale. Also, for the Geneva Show, the concept will be reproduced on the iPad in a virtual environment, so visitors can choose between five models of rims and five body colors.

Alfa Romeo 4C Will Also Get Racing, Stradale and Roadster Versions

Alfa Romeo will be unveiling the production version 4C Sports Coupe in March at the Geneva Motor Show, but a selected number of dealers have already learned pretty much all there is to know about it. We will start with the bad news: while previous rumors suggested that the 1.7-liter turbocharged inline-four engines will deliver about 300 horsepower, it has now been confirmed that the 4C will, in fact, deliver a total of 237 horsepower.

Still, because its low weight - about 1,875 pounds in the concept version - the 4C will be a strong competitor for models like the Porsche Cayman.

Now for the good news: Alfa Romeo is going to also unveil two more-powerful versions: a track-only "Racing" version and a road-legal Stradale version, both delivering a total of 266 horsepower.

Alfa Romeo will produce a total of 2,000 units, which will include coupe, roadster, Racing and Stradale versions. Prices will be kept in the same area as the Porsche Cayman, so, it will be priced somewhere in the $50k area.