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We all love a good comeback story, so when Alfa Romeo announced it would be returning to the Canadian market with its new 4C sports car, you could almost hear the collective cheer erupt across the country. Alfa Romeo has maintained a solid cult following since its departure from the North American market in 1996, and the idea of a lightweight, two-seater sports coupe from the Italian firm for less than $100k makes it a solid competitor for the likes of the Porsche Cayman and Lotus Elise. Alfa Romeo has just announced that dealerships will be popping up in Vaughn, Ont., Vancouver, B.C., and two locations in Quebec, but before cars start arriving on our shores, here are the important details surrounding the stunning coupe.

Performance
Those of you that are obsessed with horsepower stats might not be overly impressed with the 4C at first. By modern standards, 237-horsepower really isn’t all that much, but when that power and the 258 lb-ft of torque that comes with it is packed into a car that weighs only 2,300 pounds, suddenly this thing becomes pretty quick. According to Alfa Romeo, the 4C is expected to rocket from 0-100 km/h in a mere 4.5 seconds. The other impressive part of the equation is the engine that power comes from. Rather than going for a moderate displacement motor, the 4C is powered by a 1.7-Litre, 4-cylinder turbocharged engine. To achieve such a low-curb weight, Alfa Romeo relied on the extensive use of carbon fibre when it came to the car’s superstructure, and a lightweight steel alloy for many of the car’s exterior panels. Thanks to this clever use of materials, the 4C’s designers were also able to maintain a perfect 50/50 weight distribution to ensure that it could handle as well or better than its competition.

Style
Having seen the pre-production car last summer, let me assure you that the 4C is one of the sexiest cars to come out of Italy in a number of years. Alfa is quick to reference the relationship between the 4C’s styling and that of its classic 33 Stradale, and I must admit it isn’t far off the mark. The coupe’s curves flow perfectly from front to rear, and its flared fenders and bold-nose profile give it just enough of an aggressive edge without trying too hard. Here’s the best part of the 4C’s exterior design — there is absolutely no mistaking it for anything else on the road. Whether you choose the classic Alfa Romeo red, or a slightly more subtle white or black model, there will be no shortage of people stopping you to ask, “What is that thing?”

Limited Production (for now)
So we have established that the 4C will be an absolute riot to drive and it looks drop-dead gorgeous, but as with many things there’s something really special about driving a car that you won’t be seeing all over the road. Alfa Romeo has slated its initial “Launch Edition” production run to 500 units for all of North America, and although there’s likely plenty more to come, buyers who manage to secure a pre-order will be able to enjoy that feeling of exclusivity for a little while at least. Even if Alfa eventually opens the floodgates and announces 10,000 more 4Cs destined for our market, I don’t think many of us will be too quick to complain. Pricing starts at $61,995. Deliveries are expected to start later in the summer of 2014.
www.alfaromeo.com