italiaspeed.com

The 4C's styling unashamedly draws on Alfa Romeo's rich history and is in effect a scaled down version of the 8C Competizione with, the designers' also claiming, influence from the slippery Franco Scaglioni-penned, limited-edition 2.0 V8-engined Alfa 33 Stradale from the 1970s.

An artist's impression of Alfa Romeo's new showcar ahead of it's Geneva motor show tomorrow gives the best impression yet of the concept 4C which will be closely based on KTM's ultra-lightweight 'track day special' X-Bow. Both Italian monthly magazine Quattroruote, which drew the impression, and Automotive News, have quoted sources familiar with the project as saying that it offers a very good likeness of the sports car concept that will be presented tomorrow.

The 4C's styling unashamedly draws on Alfa Romeo's rich history and is in effect a scaled down version of the 8C Competizione with, the designers' also claiming, influence from the slippery Franco Scaglioni-penned, limited-edition 2.0 V8-engined Alfa 33 Stradale from the 1970s. This historical thinking can be seen in the rear 3/4 panel engine-cooling air intakes. The 33 Stradale focus will curiously be a styling continuation of the "Diva" concept, a project developed by Alfa Romeo Centro Stile and students under the tutelage of Swiss designer Sbarro in 2006. The Diva was technically a very interesting project which was intended for a one-make race series which never materialised.

The 4C, as well as it's 8C Competizione influenced proportions and surfaces, carries over styling details such as the front wing vents, front spoiler lip and the headlights which are slightly more angular from the recent halo sports car. The traditional front grille in the Quattroruote image meanwhile is firmly in the Zagato styling mould.

To create the new showcar, the in-house the designers at Alfa Romeo Centro Stile used the chassis and underpinnings of the KTM X-Bow, with Dallara, the Italian race car manufacturer which builds the carbon-fibre monocoque for the Austrian motorcycle company, creating new enclosed-cockpit carbon fibre bodywork for a car that is usually sold in a stripped-bare 'roadster' format. Some changes have been made to the monocoque to anchor the new bodywork which is also produced out of carbon fibre while the development of the interior has had to be thought out to take into account the X-Bow's high push-rod suspension packaging.

Alfa Romeo's 4-cylinder 1750 TBi turbo engine which, currently in its highest power specification (in the Giulietta QV), produces 235 HP, will be fitted in the rear. The production X-Bow – ironically, in light of VW’s pursuit of the brand – uses Audi’s turbocharged direct-injection 1,984cc TFSI engine, a unit that will form the mainstay of the new Alfa Romeo range when the VW Group is eventually successful in prising the 100-year-old brand out of Fiat’s grasp. The TFSI unit produces 240 HP and 310 Nm of torque with a 0-100 km/h time of 3.9 seconds. In the guise of the 4C, power will rise only slightly to 250 HP.

Alfa Romeo also claims that the X-Bow's suspension has been reworked but as this is essentially a showcar it is unclear whether this is spin or of substance. Weight will rise by around 60 kgs thanks to the enveloping new bodywork and the 4C's more production-specific cockpit.

There are however no plans to take the concept in to production, rather it gives the ailing brand a much needed touch of luster at a point where it has effectively been reduced to just two key models, the Giulietta and Mito; the former proving an instant hit since it arrived in the showrooms while the latter has lost it's initial shine. Most likely the key thinking behind the 4C is to create a real visual boost to Alfa Romeo's waning fortunes inside the global spotlight that falls on the Geneva Palexpo during the international motor show which may help the ongoing negotiations with VW to sell a brand that is losing value.

With the KTM X-Bow starting at around 52,000 euros (plus taxes) and Dallara having developed a new full bodywork section in carbon fibre, all along with the fitting of a trimmed cabin, it would be simply unfeasible to develop the project to a point where the loss per unit justified the potential halo effect. Automotive News has today suggested a sale price of 45,000 euros, which it claims comes from project insiders, a figure which is already well below the base cost of the spartan, open topped X-Bow, before all the upgrades are taken into account. The citing of a 2012 production target is also distant enough for the 4C project to be long-forgotten before that date looms around.

Fiat's senior management are also aware that while the recent limited-edition 8C Competizione was very well received and gained much publicity it is difficult to perceive where this sports car actually translated into brand-wide sales. The 8C Competizione was also an expensive project which diverted management and design time. Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne, who as the hands on FGA chief has the final say on any green light given to a project within Fiat Group Automobiles, is noted for his pragmatism when it comes to volumes, and he would be highly unlikely to sign off the cost associated with this project.