The Alfa Romeo 4C sports car is drawing attention from all corners of the auto industry. According to AutoExpress, it's even piqued the interest of its sister company, Maserati.

Following on its plans to sell 50,000 vehicles a year by 2015, the Italian automaker, or at least its boss Harald Wester, also said that a variant to the 4C sports car could very well be in the cards too.

"It's a nice idea," Wester said when asked by AutoExpress about Maserati's plans.

With the new Ghibli->ke4598 joining the ranks of the Quattroporte->ke336, the GranTurismo->ke2326 and the GranCabrio->ke3498 in Maserati's ranks, questions on whether the automaker spreading itself a little too thin aren't unjustified. And don't forget the Levante SUV, which is scheduled to be unveiled next year.

But if there's an entry level in Maserati's future, it couldn't have picked a better one than the Alfa Romeo 4C.

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

Alfa Romeo 4C

It took years to before a production version was prepared, but the wait was sure worth it. The Alfa Romeo 4C has been described as a game changer for Alfa Romeo and for all the right reasons.

The production version of the 4C is powered by a four-cylinder 1,750 cc turbocharged engine that delivers an output of 240 horsepower and is capable of hitting 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 4.5 seconds with a top speed of 160 mph.

Alfa Romeo has yet to announce any pricing details for the 4C, but the car is expected to hit dealerships later this year.