Alfa Romeo 4C Concept world premiere in Geneva

The Alfa Romeo 4C Concept has made its debut at the Geneva auto salon today.

The 4C Concept is a two-seat, rear-wheel drive sport coupe about 4 meters long and with a wheelbase just short of 2.4 meters. It features a mid-rear mounted 1.8 liter turbocharged power plant allowing for a 40/60 weight distribution (front axle/rear axle).

Much of the technology and materials of the 4C are inherited from the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione. It features a lightweight chassis with carbon-fiber and aluminum body structures for a total curb weight of less than 850 kg (1874 lbs).

The 4C derives its name from the four-cylinder (4C) 1750 Turbo Multi-Air unit which, in this iteration, produces an output of 200 PS (147 kW / 197 bhp), the same configuration as on the Giulietta Quadrifoglio Verde. The power plant is coupled to the new Alfa TCT automatic twin dry clutch gearbox, which debuted but a few months ago in the MiTo model. That combination allows for a 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) sprint time of under 5 seconds and a top speed of over 250 km/h (155 mph).

The 4C's suspension consists of a high quadrilateral configuration at the front and MacPherson struts at the rear.

Alfa Romeo will take the 4C to production soon and the model will go on sale in 2012.