It seems like Chrysler and parent Fiat are resurrecting another European marque within the U.S. After reviving the Fiat brand in 2011 with the five hundred, it's Alfa Romeo's turn to woo U.S. consumers. The question isn't if, but if, and what's going to the emblem's inaugural U.S. model be?
The first Alfa to hit U.S. dealerships will most probably be the svelte, sporty 4C coupe. It's not something for the common luxury-car shopper. The 4C met the general public in concept form on the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, turning heads with its curvaceous silhouette and carbon fiber body. There, Alfa CEO Harald Wester confirmed that it'd be the primary U.S.-market Alfa; production should begin in 2013.
If done right, it may be an eye fixed-catching way of attracting newcomers to the logo. Nonetheless it is probably not the smartest move. Shouldn't Alfa make its first U.S. production car a more mainstream vehicle, just like the brand's own Guiletta four-door hatchback that shares components with the Dodge Dart? Instead, the 4C should be an expensive, limited- production luxury coupe.
Wester called the 4C "our bridge between the Alfas of today and Alfas of tomorrow." Translation: Alfa's current lineup is aging and there's no reason to bring the outdated vehicles to the U.S. now and disappoint consumers. He said the 4C would be a world car, "bringing the logo to countries where we're absent, starting with the United States." Translation: Its current cars are too European for U.S. tastes, and the U.S. is crucial because financial woes for Fiat and Europe's lingering economic difficulties have hurt the emblem and continue to cast a shadow at the U.S. rollout's timeline. The U.S. is an even bigger market and one who is booming when it comes to luxury sales, that may help lift a eu brand.
Rumors of Alfa's return to the U.S. after a nearly-20-year hiatus was floating around for years. Early last month, the Italian automaker trademarked the 4C nameplate, registering it with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, making its plans a bit of more concrete. Sergio Marchionne - who runs all of Chrysler and Fiat - also confirmed both the Alfa brand's return to the U.S. and the 4C happening sale in North America by the top of 2013 during a "60 Minutes" interview.
Fiat's Maserati division recently announced it's going to start building the 4C next May at its plant in Modena, Italy. It expects to supply as much as 2,500 4Cs a year there, the automaker said in an announcement. If even half those make it to the U.S., you're staring at very small numbers. Will there be enough 4Cs at the streets for the emblem to realize traction?
The 4C is a rear-wheel-drive, two-passenger coupe. With a wheelbase of below 96 inches and an overall length around 156 inches, it's compact in size and light-weight. The concept's carbon fiber and aluminum body helps keep it to a slim 1,874 pounds.
It will be agile and quick on its feet, too. Powering the idea is a mid-mounted 200-plus-horsepower, turbocharged 1.8-liter four-cylinder. Alfa Romeo says it'll do zero to 62 mph in lower than five seconds, and its weight distribution is 40% at the front axle and 60% at the rear axle. Fiat and Chrysler spokespeople couldn't confirm the production version's powertrain, however.
What is more certain is that after it gets here, it's prone to be pricey. Fiat Engineering Chief Mauro Pierallini has told several European publications that the 4C should cost around 45,000 euros, which translates into $59,013 at today's exchange rates. At that price, will probably be pitted against the Porsche Cayman, which starts at $51,900. The tactic is akin to Lotus, the eu carmaker who joined the U.S. market with similarly priced, limited-production lightweight sports coupes. The logo never really gained traction here, however.
Alfa's limited production plans and the 4C's higher price appear like a risky strategy for a brand trying to enter such a great market. At the least, if the production version looks only half pretty much as good because the concept, it need to be a tremendous auto show draw. Let us know, would you purchase it?
Related Links
More Automotive News on Cars.com
Alfa Romeo Delays Return to America
Would You purchase It? 2013 Ford B-Max
From WhatNewsToday.net
0 comments:
Post a Comment