Alfa Romeo 4C.

                                          Alfa Romeo 4C.

The Alfa Romeo 4C Concept is brilliant that's already been settled. Now it's not just a concept either it starts production in 2013 according to Alfa CEO Harald Wester speaking at the Frankfurt Auto Show.
The 4C uses a new all-aluminium 1.75 L, 240 horsepower (180 kW) at 6000 rpm inline 4 cylinder turbocharged engine.The engine has been designed for minimum weight and will probably also appear in the 159 replacement the Giulia. The engine CO2 emissions are 157 g/km and combined fuel consumption 6.8 L/100 km.0–62 miles per hour (0–100 km/h) acceleration is achieved in 4.5 seconds and the top speed is 258 km/h (160 mph),the power-to-weight-ratio being just 0.33 hp/kg (8.22 lb/hp). 

Inside, exposed sections of the car's carbon-fibre tub combined with sports seats and a flat-bottomed steering wheel give the interior a purposeful feel.

The car's low weight will give it one other significant advantage: Alfa Romeo says that despite its sporting credentials the 4C will return a remarkable 41.5mpg on the combined cycle and CO2 emissions of just 157g/km.
Other performance specs will include a lightweight monocoque chassis, a dual-clutch gearbox with paddle shifters, and a rear-wheel-drive configuration.

In front of the driver, an unassisted rack-and-pinion steering gear reaches toward knuckles supported by twin pairs of cast-aluminum A-shaped control arms.
Two snug leather buckets fill a cabin with surprisingly generous legroom, a single cup holder, and a small cell phone pocket between the seats. The trunk under the narrow engine hatch isn’t much larger, and the front end is sealed with bolts and off limits.
The 4C is a very compact coupe with a transverse mid-engine layout, carrying 60 per cent of its weight over its driven rear wheels. It has a standard six-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox with paddle shifters. The all-disc brakes are by Brembo the discs are specially coated to improve both initial bite and feel. 
The 4C was designed to be stiff enough to survive a roof removal without major changes, so a convertible version is almost certainly on the way.