As if the news that the Alfa Romeo 4C will be 100 kg (220 lbs) heavier in the U.S. was not enough, Fiat has reportedly delayed the return of the Alfa Romeo brand to the United States until the second quarter of 2014, according to Bloomberg News, which says it spoke with Chrysler spokesman, Rick Deneau.
Back in January this year, Fiat and Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne said U.S. sales of the Alfa Romeo 4C will begin before the end of the year. “For sure it’s coming back this year with the 4C. We’ll be selling the Alfa Romeo 4C. We’re finalizing the car now so it should be here by the end of the year,” Marchionne said at the Detroit Auto Show.
The 4C is the first step for Alfa Romeo’s revival, with Marchionne planning to transform it into a global brand. However, his plans will have to wait, as Chrysler spokesman Rick Deneau said the 4C will probably be available in the U.S. in the second quarter of 2014. The representative gave no explanation for the delay, but it may have something to do with Alfa Romeo modifying the car to comply with U.S. safety regulations.
The EU-spec Alfa Romeo 4C is powered by a 1.75-liter turbocharged inline four rated at 236hp (240PS) offering a zero to 100 km/h (62mph) sprint time of 4.5 seconds and a 258 km/h (160mph) top speed.
*Not again in Italian
By Dan Mihalascu
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