Alfa’s 4C mighty mouse coming in 2013

ALFA Romeo has all but confirmed that its light-weight compact sports coupe, 4C, is coming in 2013 – in Europe, at least – saying modestly: “Behold, the car to end all cars is nigh.”

To be built by Maserati in Modena with a body and chassis composed largely of carbon fibre and aluminium, the mid-engined coupe is expected to land at the Geneva motor show in March, exactly two years after the original concept was sprung at the same event in 2011.

Alfa showed a glimpse of the production car’s wheel and brake assembly in a teaser image issued by Alfa and published by World Car Fans, headlined ‘The Alfa Romeo prophecy for 2013 won’t disappoint’.

The 4C, which is expected to land in Australia in 2014, will be powered by a 170kW 1.8-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine mounted transversely behind the two seats.

The engine will be mated exclusively to a six-speed dual-clutch transmission with steering-wheel mounted paddles, driving the rear wheels.

The key to the 4C is its ultra light weight – said to be less than 850kg – meaning 0-100km/h acceleration in as little as 4.5 seconds.

The 4C was designed by Lorenzo Ramaciotti of the Alfa Romeo Centro Stile (Alfa Romeo Style Centre), who also had a hand in the Lotus Elite and Exige and 10 Ferrari designs.

Most pundits predict the coupe will be followed at some point by a drop-top version.

From 2015, Alfa will offer a second open-top rear-drive sports car – a co-development of Mazda’s next generation MX5.

That car will be built by Mazda in Japan, but the Alfa version will get unique Italian styling and a Fiat Group powertrain.