Why the panic ?

[Franky]

If as it says its aiming at the Boxter, 370Z, SLK market, then why are people worried they will not be able to get thier hands on one ?

Surely there will be plenty to go around as its not going to be as exclusive as say the 8C ?

Also, I believe that if they push the price up around the £40,000 mark they will miss thier market target ! Or at least thats what im hoping, anything under the 40K mark and i'm in for sure, but push it over that and they have pushed way too many people out of the market.

Those are my thoughts, feel free to add your own !

Franky

PS, Again, why I am even considering another Alfa is beyond me after the last one ! The wife has alredy said she will divorce me if I buy another one

[davidjwbailey]

perhaps you need a different wife

I don't see the 4C being an 'investment car' (and, let's be frank: we all suspect that with very few exceptions, the 8C is owned by footballers, Arabs and Russians. 90% of them sit idle under dust wraps as 'investments' and do under 2,000 miles a year)

The 4C is more of a Lotus competitor, designed for every day road use, some track use and creating huge grins in drivers and observers. £35k-£42k is a good price for that market, and the basic specs and size should allow that.

Other competitors (the Z4?) are far more expensive on the road

However, full OTR prices with decent options (Xenon's, alloys, seats, sound, paint, navigation) may well be over £45,000. That will be a free choice, as residuals are likely to be high anyway and driving experience probably not reliant on bolt-ons.

[Franky]

Yeah I agree with most of that, but I still dont see they will be in short supply though ? Personally i would be using it for track and sunday driving, providing they build it properly and dont f*@k it up ! , have to wait for the tests to find that out.

Sat nav I can leave, tbh I dont like leather seats ! Alloys any car of that price should come with them, Xenons and a nice paint Job wouls be nice, although I would be looking more at a brake upgrade than anything else.

But hey this was about not being able to get a standard car not what upgrades it come with lol

Franky

[ratatouille]

Have they confirmed the 4C is a limited run anywhere? Surely Alfa need car sales and will make as many as they can sell?

[GTA_Nigel]

There have been contradictory signals about production. Some have been "it will be LHD only, fairly limited run", but others have been more along the lines of "this will; be a high production model". There was an article in AutoItalia a couple of months back IIRC with someone from Alfa's Centro Stilo and he was saying it will be a high volume model. I guess the reality is they need to wait and see what production costs look like. If it is something they can make money on I suspect it will be high volume, if the margins are small it will stay relatively low volume (like the GTAs for example).

It's a really good looking car - I saw the concept in the flesh at the FoS. But I would find it hard to replace the V6 with a "200+" bhp unit. I'm hoping they may do something more hardcore/highly tuned. Again, we need to see details and I think these are being worked out. They know there is potential because the concept has been very well received, it will all come down to how much it costs to produce.

Cheers,

Nigel

[Perreby]

The Mito GTA concept had the 1750Tbi engine in but tuned up to 189kW.

So this 4C GTA will kick out probably close to the same... So it will be pretty quick if its gonna be as light as they claim its gonna be.

Most articles I read stated it will be high production model!

If it comes to South Africa I will definitely be the first owner!!

[GTA_Nigel]

Originally Posted by Perreby

The Mito GTA concept had the 1750Tbi engine in but tuned up to 189kW.

So this 4C GTA will kick out probably close to the same... So it will be pretty quick if its gonna be as light as they claim its gonna be.

Agree, I presumed it would be 235-250 bhp (which was what they were saying for the MiTo GTA), but the articles and announcements keep quoting a rather lame "200+ bhp". If it's 250ish bhp with that light weight I will be sorely tempted, despite the lack of a V6!

Cheers,

Nigel

[eastendmyfreind]

What with the 8C and the 4C I think the Alfa plan is to create a "halo effect" around the brand to seduce people into buying the more "run of the mill" standard cars like the Mito, Giulietta and the new SUV concept. To be honest that's a pretty solid strategy as it's not anything that other mainstream manufacturers are doing and AR has a pretty unique position with its racing heritage.

i won't be surprised at all if the 4C is a pretty limited run and doesn't make AR an awful lot of cash.

[GTA_Nigel]

Originally Posted by eastendmyfreind

What with the 8C and the 4C I think the Alfa plan is to create a "halo effect" around the brand to seduce people into buying the more "run of the mill" standard cars like the Mito, Giulietta and the new SUV concept. To be honest that's a pretty solid strategy as it's not anything that other mainstream manufacturers are doing and AR has a pretty unique position with its racing heritage.

i won't be surprised at all if the 4C is a pretty limited run and doesn't make AR an awful lot of cash.

The 8C and 4C are quite different in their go to market strategy. The 8C was never sanctioned by top management, it was supposedly a kind of skunk works by Alfisti within Alfa itself. Apparently they spent a big chunk of their marketing budget to fund the development, which is why it was kind of "cobbled together". The halo effect it created meant the Spider was created with a bit more support, but these were never part of FGA management plans. The 4C is different - it has Marchionne's support and he has said several times it will lead Alfa's re-entry into the US. So it's definitely a halo car but if the margins are right you can bet it will be high-ish volume. But it will all come down to margins I think.

Cheers,

Nigel

[ratatouille]

What is the point of a Halo model if nobody gets to see it?

I've never seen an 8C in the flesh and I doubt most people have. I'd imagine a lot of people who aren't Alfisti probably don't even know what it is. How does that help promote the brand?

For a Halo car to work you need to have enough of them that people actually see it enough to work out what it is. If you have a very low production run then you just don't get that. If they limit it too much like the 8C all it will do is encourage the Alfisti to buy more Alfas and we aren't the ones who need the encouragement!

[Lambrate FS]

A friend who is a designer in centro stile told me it will be a proper volume seller.

[GTA_Nigel]

Originally Posted by Lambrate FS

A friend who is a designer in centro stile told me it will be a proper volume seller.

Interesting, please keep us posted! I'm holding fire - I am hoping if it's a volume seller there may be RHD and"special" versions.

Cheers,

Nigel

[davidjwbailey]

you mean you thought 'left hand drive only'?

apparently already agreed in RHD (that makes UK, Cyprus, Japan, etc happy)

[GTA_Nigel]

Originally Posted by davidjwbailey

you mean you thought 'left hand drive only'?

apparently already agreed in RHD (that makes UK, Cyprus, Japan, etc happy)

Seriously? Everything I had read so far said LHD. Got any links to material stating that? This is getting more interesting (and worrying for my pension funds).

Cheers,

Nigel

[BigGinge]

I'm hoping it get's delayed until 2013 to give me time to save Mind you if they don't do a RHD I wouldn't entertain the idea.......fingers crossed

[davidjwbailey]

Originally Posted by GTA_Nigel

Seriously? Everything I had read so far said LHD. Got any links to material stating that? This is getting more interesting (and worrying for my pension funds).

Cheers,

Nigel

Blast. Fooled by an email with a reversed photo...

[davidjwbailey]

found it: defo RHD release, official Alfa Facebook Page for it
World Premiere: The Alfa Romeo 4C Concept | Facebook

god bless the Irish

[Steeler]

I want one, and I want it now

I'd love to have a 4C with the Brera in my garage, just another excuse to go the beer fridge

[Ralf S.]

Originally Posted by Franky

Personally i would be using it for track and sunday driving, providing they build it properly and dont f*@k it up ! , have to wait for the tests to find that out.

"It's very pretty to look at for those who like that sort of thing.. but the ride and handling is not as supple as that on a Ford Focus. Instead it's more suited to a sports car.

You also have to wonder about residuals since it'll probably rust before long and Alfa's Twin-Spark engine is notorious for weak cam-belts, unlike the Ford Focus which is also more frugal, particualrly in diesel form.

There's no cabin carpet, so anyone considering a Ford Focus will not be impressed.. and the stitching on the steering wheel is red which will get dirty after a while. You're unlikely to get much help from Alfa's dealer network. Ford's Focus does this so much better.

So in our test exclusive giant sports-car test against the Ford Focus, the Alfa came a creditable second. Beauty is not enough..

- Autocar Dec 2012[/I]



Ralf S.

[stuartmunn]

This months Car Mag has a 4C on the front cover and a nice article inside on it and the team that designed and built it.

[73GTVJim]

Originally Posted by ratatouille

What is the point of a Halo model if nobody gets to see it?

I've never seen an 8C in the flesh and I doubt most people have. I'd imagine a lot of people who aren't Alfisti probably don't even know what it is. How does that help promote the brand?

For a Halo car to work you need to have enough of them that people actually see it enough to work out what it is.

I'd disagree with your contention that "nobody" has seen the 8C. In reality Alfa got way more free advertising for their original marketing budget by producing that car. The web was awash with articles and photos, it was on the covers of car mags all over the world, on trade calendars, in mainstream press, people not interested in cars much talked about "that gorgeous Alfa".

Halo models (think BMW M3/M5 as classic examples) shift bread-and-butter versions by helping with the image even if the buyers are also looking at the BIK and MPG figures. Premium brands - which Alfa purports to still be - need image to command (a) higher prices, (b) desirability, (c) good residuals - which in turn attracts more buyers.

[Big Jon]

Originally Posted by stuartmunn

This months Car Mag has a 4C on the front cover and a nice article inside on it and the team that designed and built it.

The latest Alfa magazine has a small article on the 4C too. I had a read at the Car mag write up and it was fairly interesting. They mention that as the car will use the TCT transmission the engine will probably run in identical tune to the Giulietta QV due to the torque restrictions on TCT (258 lb/ft).

If the car can be produced for the £35-40k mark I'll definitely be interested.

[GTA_Nigel]

Originally Posted by 73GTVJim

I'd disagree with your contention that "nobody" has seen the 8C. In reality Alfa got way more free advertising for their original marketing budget by producing that car. The web was awash with articles and photos, it was on the covers of car mags all over the world, on trade calendars, in mainstream press, people not interested in cars much talked about "that gorgeous Alfa".

Agree - the 8C was a huge marketing success. It's featured in all supercar shows, gets seen going up the track at events like the Goodwood FoS and is a pretty high profile vehicle considering how few there actually are. The 4C will have a similar effect, despite the inevitable Autocar review (loved that post Ralf). People are already saying it will stop entire streets with its looks.

Sadly I've decided against getting one now, the Mrs would prefer a classic Alfa instead. And I wouldn't disagree with her!

Cheers,

Nigel

[Perreby]

Nigel,

Give the mrs the GTA and you go buy yourself the 4C

[Alfamack]

Nigel,
Ditch the Mrs, keep the GTA, get a 4C and a classic Alfa.
Al