On any normal sunny day, as far as my own personal tastes in cars go, I really don’t pay attention to cars that have small engines, sound like go carts or are made for people who must be under 3 feet tall, but today I think that a conversion may be coming. You see, small hatches, hatchback cars or small coupes never really clicked for me. Growing up in the 90s those cars were associated with… well, people who might have some self-esteem issues but today, I’ve got to say that my interest has been tickled already by the new BMW 1M, but is certainly much more captured by the Alfa Romeo’s new 4C concept. Alfa Romeo has always made cars with stunning lines and aptly placed design cues but I must say that the 4C may be one of the most beautiful cars in the world.
Traditionally, I would limit my list of good looking cars to Ferraris, Aston martins, Jaguars and Mercedes Benz, but hearing those names in the same group over the past few decades is getting old – Alfa Romeo is capturing a new taste of style that is also appetizing to a different market; the practical, car enthusiast driver that isn’t wealthy enough to afford a Ferrari. You see, this car isn’t a Prius with a facelift that will get you to 60 mph by the time you retire. Alfa’s 4C is powerful little rocket that will have 232 horsepower coming from a 1.7 liter turbocharged engine. Getting from 0 to 60 mph will take less than 5 seconds and the little Alfa will be able to hit a top speed over 155 mph. We’re talking BMW 3 and Lexus IS figures here.
So why would I even bother to post about a car that fits into a segment that I have never had any interest in? Well, it’s quite simple, Alfa Romeo plans to use the 4C as their model to re-enter the US automotive market. How exciting is that? For years I’ve skimmed over any Alfa developments, envious of the fact that we don’t have Alfas in the states, but now I find it exciting to know that such a well designed and powerful car will be coming from Italy to the US in as little time as 1 or 2 years. The 4C model is still in the concept stage but has been confirmed for production. I look forward to seeing more details about Alfa’s comeback to the US market as we approach the end of the year.
