Alfa Romeo U.S. comeback moved back to 2014

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The much touted return of the Fiat-owned Alfa Romeo brand to America has been delayed for several months according to statements made by the Fiat Group. Back in January, Fiat/Chrysler boss Sergio Marchionne said that the first model - the striking mid-engine 2014 Alfa Romeo 4C -- would go on sale here by the end of 2013. Save for a few of its ultra-exotic limited-production 8C Competitzione models that trickled in between 2007-2010, Alfa has been absent from the carscape in this country since 1995. Fiat offered no details as to the cause of Alfa's later-than-promised U.S homecoming, and it's now expected that the reintroduction of this premium Italian nameplate won't happen until the second quarter of next year.

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Unveiled in concept form at the 2011 Geneva Auto Show and presented there last March in formal Launch Edition spec, the stunning Alfa Romeo 4C is an exotic 2-passenger GT that matches carbon fiber and aluminum to keep its curb weight around 2,000 pounds. Fitted with a new 1.75-liter direct-injected/turbocharged 4-cylinder that makes 240 horses and 258 lb-ft of torque, which gets shipped to the rear wheels via a paddle-shifted/multi-mode 6-speed twin-dry-clutch sequential automated transmission, it can streak from 0-60 mph in less than 5.0 seconds and reach a top end of 155 mph. 

While U.S. pricing has yet to be announced, the 2014 Alfa Romeo 4C is expected to start around $55,000. It will be sold through select Fiat dealers.