A positive sign for Alfa?

irish44j wrote:

Feedyurhed wrote:

Mr_Clutch42 wrote: What else does Alfa want to sell here besides the 4C?

I think I read somewhere that the Italian version of the Miata is now going to be badged an Alfa instead of a Fiat. And the internet is always right!

I've never wanted a Miata the least bit - based entirely on the fact that I can't stand their appearance (though I fully appreciate their peformance). But if a Miata came here looking like an Alfa, then I would be fully interested and would pay the extra dollars for it, likely. Would be a great move: take a great car, and give it a look that would appeal to those of us who want a Miata, but don't want to look at it.

A little further research reveals that it may be badged an Abarth instead of carrying either a Fiat or an Alfa badge.

Feedyurhed wrote:

irish44j wrote:

Feedyurhed wrote:

Mr_Clutch42 wrote: What else does Alfa want to sell here besides the 4C?

I think I read somewhere that the Italian version of the Miata is now going to be badged an Alfa instead of a Fiat. And the internet is always right!

I've never wanted a Miata the least bit - based entirely on the fact that I can't stand their appearance (though I fully appreciate their peformance). But if a Miata came here looking like an Alfa, then I would be fully interested and would pay the extra dollars for it, likely. Would be a great move: take a great car, and give it a look that would appeal to those of us who want a Miata, but don't want to look at it.

A little further research reveals that it may be badged an Abarth instead of carrying either a Fiat or an Alfa badge.

I'm fine with that as well, as long as it looks Italian and not like a Miata . Personally I'd love it to be badged as a Lancia. But badges are easy to change. Bodywork, not so much.

Dashpot wrote: In reply to NOHOME: It's already here. There was one on display at a Boston area Italian car show last weekend. People barely noticed it parked between a Lancia Aurelia & Alfa Giulietta SS.

Are you talking about the Tutto Italiano? I was there with my 164 and I scoured the displays for a 4C, but did not see one. You may be thinking of the 8C Competizione, which was there and parked between the Aurelia and Giulietta.

The 4C has been making appearances at other Italian car events in the US, according to some Alfa fan Facebook pages I follow.

NOHOME wrote: Explains the price. Not sure why it weights as much as it does? Elise did better than this.

The Alfa has to be loaded up when it comes to the US. Don't forget US regs require every car to have enough airbags to float the car if it fell into the drink, and customers expect power-everything even in a lowly Versa or Mirage nowadays.

Lotus got some temporary exemptions for the Elise which allowed them to sell it here mostly unchanged from its European specs. Those exemptions ran out and they probably can't make it meet those regs again without weight gain and/or major redesigns.

racerdave600 wrote: Surprisingly, there are now probably more of the van looking ones than 500's. And much to my horror, my wife called them cute!

My wife kind of thought the same thing...Right up until I showed her what they looked like side by side, so that she could see just how bloated and miserable the 500L looks compared to the friendly and fun looking 500. It's like putting Jabba The Hut next to an Ewok.

irish44j wrote:

Feedyurhed wrote:

irish44j wrote:

Feedyurhed wrote:

Mr_Clutch42 wrote: What else does Alfa want to sell here besides the 4C?

I think I read somewhere that the Italian version of the Miata is now going to be badged an Alfa instead of a Fiat. And the internet is always right!

I've never wanted a Miata the least bit - based entirely on the fact that I can't stand their appearance (though I fully appreciate their peformance). But if a Miata came here looking like an Alfa, then I would be fully interested and would pay the extra dollars for it, likely. Would be a great move: take a great car, and give it a look that would appeal to those of us who want a Miata, but don't want to look at it.

A little further research reveals that it may be badged an Abarth instead of carrying either a Fiat or an Alfa badge.

I'm fine with that as well, as long as it looks Italian and not like a Miata . Personally I'd love it to be badged as a Lancia. But badges are easy to change. Bodywork, not so much.

What if the new Miata (ND) looks incredibly sexy and better than the Abarth/Fiat/Alfa version?

Feedyurhed wrote:

irish44j wrote:

Feedyurhed wrote:

irish44j wrote:

Feedyurhed wrote:

Mr_Clutch42 wrote: What else does Alfa want to sell here besides the 4C?

I think I read somewhere that the Italian version of the Miata is now going to be badged an Alfa instead of a Fiat. And the internet is always right!

I've never wanted a Miata the least bit - based entirely on the fact that I can't stand their appearance (though I fully appreciate their peformance). But if a Miata came here looking like an Alfa, then I would be fully interested and would pay the extra dollars for it, likely. Would be a great move: take a great car, and give it a look that would appeal to those of us who want a Miata, but don't want to look at it.

A little further research reveals that it may be badged an Abarth instead of carrying either a Fiat or an Alfa badge.

I'm fine with that as well, as long as it looks Italian and not like a Miata . Personally I'd love it to be badged as a Lancia. But badges are easy to change. Bodywork, not so much.

What if the new Miata (ND) looks incredibly sexy and better than the Abarth/Fiat/Alfa version?

well that would be another story.

but I would assume Mazda will keep some kind of continuity in the look of the Miata going forward, since it's been a damn successful car.

but you never know...

In reply to RexSeven:

You're right - my bad! I was among those who didn't give it a 2nd look due to it's neighbors.

fidelity101 wrote: I see 4C mules running around the detroit suburbs on a daily bassis, some camo some not. They aren't coming - they're here.

Where are you seeing them? I see most things, but I haven't seen a 4C yet.

RexSeven wrote:

NOHOME wrote: Explains the price. Not sure why it weights as much as it does? Elise did better than this.

The Alfa has to be loaded up when it comes to the US. Don't forget US regs require every car to have enough airbags to float the car if it fell into the drink, and customers expect power-everything even in a lowly Versa or Mirage nowadays. Lotus got some temporary exemptions for the Elise which allowed them to sell it here mostly unchanged from its European specs. Those exemptions ran out and they probably can't make it meet those regs again without weight gain and/or major redesigns.

Where are you seeing a weight for the US version?

Out of 86 dealers, 4 in ohio, 1 in NY, WTF??!!!

Yep, just saw that the Birmingham Michigan Fiat dealership put up there Alfa sign. That's a damn good looking sign!

Everyone remember to stop by the local Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep/Ram dealer and thank them for keeping Fiat afloat and bankroll the Alfa return to the USA.

Go Pentastar!!! Bankrolled Mercedes and now Fiat, such helpful guys they are.

Adrian_Thompson wrote: Where are you seeing a weight for the US version?

Weight is listed @ 2465 pounds and is Here in PDF form

As an aside, showed pics and website to Mrs. Orphancars...........she said what does it take to get one? I told her we'd have to wait until the MSRP+adder fever passes, but looks like under $60k. She told me to make it happen.

I love that woman!!!!!!!

Adrian_Thompson wrote:

fidelity101 wrote: I see 4C mules running around the detroit suburbs on a daily bassis, some camo some not. They aren't coming - they're here.

Where are you seeing them? I see most things, but I haven't seen a 4C yet.

RexSeven wrote:

NOHOME wrote: Explains the price. Not sure why it weights as much as it does? Elise did better than this.

The Alfa has to be loaded up when it comes to the US. Don't forget US regs require every car to have enough airbags to float the car if it fell into the drink, and customers expect power-everything even in a lowly Versa or Mirage nowadays. Lotus got some temporary exemptions for the Elise which allowed them to sell it here mostly unchanged from its European specs. Those exemptions ran out and they probably can't make it meet those regs again without weight gain and/or major redesigns.

Where are you seeing a weight for the US version?

The weight was quoted on whatever site I plucked the picture from and for what it is worth. The factory seems not to have released an official weight yet, but they have stated a power to weight ratio and the expected HP, so it does not take much math to figure that it will be over the ton. My calculator said 2100 lbs.

Don't get me wrong, that would be a very good thing.

The other concern is that this is going to be like the Elise; have your tried to find a used one without a salvage tittle? They are much like motorcycles in that any cosmetic damage exceeds the value of the vehicle and they get written off if they get a scratch. The CF tub on this thing also comes with an expiry date if it is anything like airplanes. Does anyone recall the TG episode where the trio was hooning around Spain and the Ferrari was literally eroding from the road debris?

Advan046 wrote: Everyone remember to stop by the local Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep/Ram dealer and thank them for keeping Fiat afloat and bankroll the Alfa return to the USA. Go Pentastar!!! Bankrolled Mercedes and now Fiat, such helpful guys they are.

Not sure if trolling.

So having said I hadn't seen any, last night we headed out too Woodward to see the pre cruise action. Driving by the Fiat dealer I saw my first 4C in person. Hubba hubba, me want. It's even better looking than the pics. Sorry they are crappy, the sun was going down reflecting off the glass.

I am in deep and heavy want!

FCA employee #1: "Damn, the C7 Corvette looks badass. What do we have in the pipeline to compete with it?"

FCA employee #2: "Well, not much except a carbon fiber Lancia Stratos that looks like an Alfa 33/2 Stradale"

Adrian, I saw and heard one bombing past us at the Concours d'LeMons event, headed towards the Concours d'Elegance up the road. Just before you arrived.

It sounded like pure sex.

In reply to bastomatic:

It sounds like sex? I don't know if I want a car that grunts, squeals, and randomly yells out "John Stamos!" But to each their own i guess...

I saw that one too Friday night Adrian. I was out with the boys last night on a Woodward Dream Cruise pre-view and saw one heading north on Woodward around 13 Mile Rd.

This is the one car on the market that could almost make me want to buy new.

So beautiful, yet visceral.

The styling of the 4C leaves me a bit lukewarm, I'm afraid. Given that they could have used a style more like the 8C for little added cost (and I'll bet they'd have sold every one they made), I have to wonder why they went for the quirkier style on the 4C?

Powar wrote:

Advan046 wrote: Everyone remember to stop by the local Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep/Ram dealer and thank them for keeping Fiat afloat and bankroll the Alfa return to the USA. Go Pentastar!!! Bankrolled Mercedes and now Fiat, such helpful guys they are.

Not sure if trolling.

No Powar. I love that Alfa is coming back to the us with this car. I wish I could afford one. But I get a little miffed when I see lots of praise for the wizard without recognizing what is behind the curtain. Daimler needed Chrysler for $$, Fiat wanted Chrysler for US foothold then found that they needed Chrysler for $$.

When all the praise for the resurgence of Mercedes Benz flows it fails to mention the funding provided by Chrysler buying Daimler that allowed them the capital to restructure and the production volume to re-negotiate contracts. Fiat has been able to stay afloat in large part due to the $$$ from Chrysler. Good capital steam means Alfa can take the plunge into the US. I wish all of them great futures and hope the Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer manufacturing knowledge from Ferrari and Alfa make it into then next Viper and heck maybe into some improved fiber(likely not carbon) reinforced polymer truck bed.