“Chrysler Group LLC said Monday its U.S. sales chief Reid Bigland will head Alfa Romeo in North America, a move that comes as parent Fiat F.MI +0.95% SpA seeks to cement the luxury brand’s return to the U.S. after nearly two-decade hiatus.”
“Alfa’s return to the U.S. begins this year with the arrival of a new two-seater sports car, called the 4C. Fiat has a number of other Alfa models planned for the U.S., but the bulk of them won’t start arriving until 2016. Right now, Chrysler is in the process of trying to sign up dealers to sell its Alfa Romeo models.”
If you’re the type who has to be the first on your block — or a real fan, an “Alfisti” — Alfa already announced that a 4C “Launch Edition” will go on sale this summer starting at $69,695, including a hefty $1,295 destination fee. Both versions of the mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive 4C are powered by an all-aluminum 237-horsepower, turbocharged 1.75-liter direct-injection four-cylinder engine mated to a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Alfa pegs the 4C’s zero-to-60-mph time in the mid-4-second range and says the coupe has a top speed of 160 mph.
