5 Exciting Cars Worth Waiting For

2014 Alfa Romeo 4C (Credit: Alfa Romeo)

5. 2014 Alfa Romeo 4C

If you can’t vote, you’ve never seen a brand new Alfa Romeo in the United States. That looks to change, as Alfa returns to the States after a nineteen year absence with a light, powerful sports car reminiscent of the recent offerings from Lotus. A turbocharged 1.7-liter engine will produce 240 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, numbers that aren’t all that impressive until compared to the curb weight of only 2200 pounds. That power-to-weight ratio should provide for sprightly acceleration and spot-on handling. Unfortunately for purists, the only available transmission will be a six-speed dual-clutch automatic, but it will come with four different driving modes for a moderate amount of driver control over how the performance systems act. The 4C will draw bits and pieces from Alfa’s manufacturing partners, including brakes and steering from the Dodge Dart and a chassis from Dallara, the same company that designed the KTM X-Bow superlight sportscar/grown-up go-cart. Alfa will make heavy use of aluminum and carbon fiber in the construction to help keep the weight down. The interior will be streamlined for sports car performance, with bucket seats and a businesslike dashboard.

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