Word Has it That there's a V6-Powered, Alfa Romeo 6C in the Works!

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By Kirby Garlitos

Published Jan 24, 2018

If true, the 6C would slot above the 4C and become Alfa's halo performance car

Alfa Romeo isn’t messing around. On the heels of launching the Giulia sedan and the Stelvio SUV, the Italian automaker is reportedly at work developing a new model that will slot above the 4C. The model is set to be called the 6C, a nod to the number of cylinders it has in its engine. Alfa is eyeing a 2020 launch for the 6C so expect the coupé to make its debut sometime before that.

The Alfa Romeo 6C’s is reportedly being developed together Pogea Racing, a German tuning firm that has a history of developing programs for past Alfa Romeo models, including the Alfa Romeo 4C Centurion 1Plus from 2015. According to Autocar, Pogea Racing is said to be working closely with Alfa Romeo to develop the sports car.

Should the 6C come to fruition, it is expected to carry a 3.0-liter V-6 engine that the company co-developed with Ferrari. It’s the same engine found under the hood of both the Giulia Quadrifoglio and its Stelvio counterpart. Power is rated at 503 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque. If the 6C gets this engine, there’s reason to believe that it’s going to carry an output in that neighborhood as well. There’s also the possibility that the 6C will feature some form of electrification, though an all-electric model is unlikely in the cards given that sister company Maserati is releasing the all-electric Alfieri around the same time.

The arrival of the 6C would be a boon for Alfa Romeo as it continues to build model diversity in its lineup. The Giulia and Stelvio accomplished their goals of establishing Alfa in the sedan and SUV markets, respectively. With the 6C sitting above the 4C, the Italian automaker’ sports car lineup will get its own shot in the arm.

The 6C would also be the first full-fledged performance model that Alfa has had since the 8C Competizione, which was launched in limited quantities — only 500 models — back in 2007. That model came with 450 horsepower and was put in the world to compete against the Porsche 911s from a decade ago. Don’t be surprised if Alfa Romeo once again sets its sights on Porsche with the upcoming 6C.

Editors Note: This isn't the first time the 6C name has come into question. The return of the 6C name has been thrown around since 2014, at which time it was said that it would be a sports car based on the Maserati Alfieri but would ride on the same chassis as the Ghibli sedan. Back then, the V-6 engine was going to be the same 3.0-liter from the Ghibli, tuned to deliver somewhere between 480 and 520 ponies -- enough for the car to take on the Porsche 911 and Jaguar F-Type, among others. If you want to know more, check out this archived news.}