Alfa 4c concept at Geneva

[Evan Bottcher]

Looks like the rumours were true:
http://uk.autoblog.com/2011/03/01/geneva-motor-show-alfa-4c-concept/

[Sheldon McIntosh]

More pics here... http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/motorshows/geneva-motor-show/264925/alfas_4c_concept_makes_an_entrance.html

Will probably be a great drivers car if the specifications quoted are correct.  I'm not sure I'd call it beautiful, but please, please produce it Alfa!!

[MD]

I've been holding back not wanting to comment and let things roll, you know, don't stirr the pot so to speak. I had friendly talk to myself and I regret to say, the other guy won.

It's crap.

The mechanicals might stand a chance of being interesting but as for the body design, a dog's breakfast comes close.

Blame the other guy..

[Brad M]

I like it, purposeful look to it .. reminds me of a Lotus Elise.

Mechanically sounds like it would be a lot of fun. I'd have one in an instant.

[Sheldon McIntosh]

It's crap.
The mechanicals might stand a chance of being interesting but as for the body design, a dog's breakfast comes close.

I reckon a composite chassis, a car that weighs less than 850kg and is mid-engined with 250bhp, gets to 100km/h in under 5 seconds and will top 240km/h is pretty darn interesting.  I thought this kind of car was what you were after in this thread...http://www.alfaclubvic.org.au/forum/index.php?topic=6412.msg36878#msg36878 

They need to make it a targa though, like the Elise.  Oh yeah, and build it ten years ago.  And make it prettier.  That is all.

[Frank Musco]

Alfa...two doors...composite chassis...mid-engine, equals time to sell the X-1/9!

I could live with the look of the front, but it will take me some time to get used to the back, and those tail-lights?

[monoman]

An Elise with Alfa styling cues. This has zero style. Shame Alfa, shame.

What's with the frosty paint job? 

Guess we should thank Alfa for junk like this as it must increase the value of our older classics.

Please Alfa. Remember la dolce vita?  Please return to the fifties and sixties. How can this crap come from the company that made the 6C 2500, or heart be still. The Typo 33 Stradale. Easily holds 7 of the top 10 places for most beautiful machine ever built by man.

1950-1970 without a single styling dud. Now we get this crap.

[Sheldon McIntosh]

An Elise with Alfa styling cues. This has zero style. Shame Alfa, shame.

How do you figure that?  Because it's a mid-engined small car?  Is the Fiat X-1/9 or Toyota MR2 a pre-emptive Elise copy?  Although I would agree that this Alfa is not overly stylish.

What's with the frosty paint job? 

It's a concept car, they're trying to make it look nice for photographers.  Shame Alfa, shame.

How can this crap come from the company that made the 6C 2500, or heart be still. The Typo 33 Stradale. Easily holds 7 of the top 10 places for most beautiful machine ever built by man.

The 6C 2500 and the 33 Stradale were both produced in very limited numbers, for a select clientele, and were both extremely expensive.  This car is designed to sell 4,000 per year.  An unfair comparison in my opinion.

1950-1970 without a single styling dud. Now we get this crap.

What are you trying to say here, can you enlighten me please?  Should Alfa forget the last 40 years of its history? 

[monoman]

Sheldon,

My first impression was that it looked like an Elise. I wasn't the only one to make that observation. 

I don't share your view that the frosty paint is an attempt by Alfa to make it look good for the photographers. Is frosty the new matt black?  Hope not.

Perhaps you should read what I wrote again.  I did not compare that thing to the 6C 2500 or the Typo 33.

What I am saying about the 50s and 60s is that they were Alfa's design best, and that this thing isn't up to that lofty standard. How you could twist that into suggesting I am dismissing the last 40 years of Alfa's history is beyond me.

Hope you found that enlightening.

[Paul Gulliver]

A bit more info from the website " Italiaspeed" dated 1/3/2011. Interesting to note VW is still expressing an interest in getting it's hands on Alfa Romeo. VW chairman Ferdinand Piech claiming in VW hands Alfa production could rise from 110,000 cars anually to 400,000 cars in 2016. Only to be engaged in a "pissing contest" from Sergio Marchionne from fiat who believes in Fiat's hands production will rise to 500,000 units . I think Alfa Romeo has had enough "help from Fiat". Would be nice to see what VW could do.

http://www.italiaspeed.com/  ( sorry about the general nature of the hyperlink) 

PS:Look for the video on the page   

[John Hanslow]

It is a bit different, I can see the Lotus design theme here.  

However I am pleased to see that at least there will be a some what limited production run (if all true).

The 159 series spider etc are tourers and there is no other product that is a roadster - so this is a good start.

My favourite is the Diva style.

[aggie57]

When the 1900 appeared Alfisti said "shame on you Alfa - mass market".  When the 105 appeared Alfisti said "shame on you Alfa - too bland".  When the Alfasud appeared Alfisti said "shame on you Alfa - too far south AND FWD".   When the Alfetta GT appeared Alfisti said........

Well, yep I made some of that up but my point is made.  I'd have one 100 times before a current FWD Alfa (with apologies to Damon and Jeremy.....!).  After the crap that Fiat are doing to Lancia this at least looks like they have a heart.  BUt 850kg??  Even with Carbon that sounds incredibly light.  Maybe the marketing guys got a bit carried away....

[monoman]

I'm not against the concept of the car. Nor do I dislike everything about the design.   I'm all for technical and stylistic innovation, but this thing just doesn't work for me.  Anyway, how is one supposed to spend hours waxing and polishing that photographer-friendly frosty paint?  

Current Alfa's are exercises in minimalist design.  Less is more.  The Brera, GT and 159  are elegantly beautiful expressions of Italian style and would be unmistakeably Alfas even without the badges, grill and wheels.  That mysterious blend of leading edge design, not bleeding edge, classic lines and design clues to its past.  

John,

Yes.  Love the Diva.

Cheers

[Sheldon McIntosh]

I could live with the look of the front, but it will take me some time to get used to the back

Is that any better?

[pep105]

Yeah I could live with that rear end nice and chunky