Alfa Romeo->ke1386 appears to have some cards up its long-range sleeve for its wildly popular 4C, with “something new” happening every year over the car’s projected lifespan of “at least” the next four to five years. Giving an indication of what’s to come, Alfa’s first ace in the hole was the 4C Spider that debuted at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show->ke228.

Alfa's head of marketing Alberto Cavaggioni had a chat with TopGear.com about the topic. “We made a promise, and that was every year we will tell you something new about 4C," he said. The plan is to keep the 4C “animated” and continually changing so its enthusiasm stays alive. What’s more, those changes don’t exclude a souped-up ‘RS’ version with more power to act as a range-topper in the 4C lineup.

The continuing excitement isn’t necessarily to stay relevant with a direct competitor, however. Cavaggioni points out that even though the Porsche->ke1 Cayman and Boxster are often matched up with the 4C, the Alfa gives a level of sport Porsche->ke1 doesn’t match. “If you want a carbon fiber chassis, you have to get a McLaren->ke284. For the price and technology, the 4C doesn’t have any competition.”

The 4C has already garnered a respectable following, netting some 1,700 orders already placed in Europe, the Middle East->ke3761, and Africa, with more markets being opened in the future. Sadly, there’s still no definite word on when/if Alfa will make a return to the U.S.

Click past the jump to read more about the Alfa Romeo 4C.

Alfa Romeo 4C

The Alfa Romeo 4C and its drop-top twin, the 4C Spider, are two examples of what a lightweight, mid-engine sports car should be. Weighing in at only 1,973 pounds in coupe form, the car rockets to 62 mph in just 4.5 seconds thanks to a 240 horsepower 1.8-liter turbocharged I-4. A top speed of 160 mph is respectable and good enough for mere mortal drivers without access to the autobahn.

If the statements Cavaggioni said above the jump are right, an RS version of the 4C will likely bring those performance states into an even more competitive league with more power and a relatively unchanged curb weight.

The biggest problem with the 4C is its availability. Alfa has been plotting their return into the U.S. for years, but hasn’t made any real progress. We’ve been teased with a low starting price of roughly $54,000 for the car, but whether that actually happens – and how much dealer markups will effect it – have yet to be seen.