The Automobiliac Proposes Vol. # 6: Alfa 4C

Normally I wouldn't waste my energy trying to fix the 4C. I think the car is an aesthetic travesty. But given that Alfa plans to launch their return to North America with a production version of the show car, I thought I would do my best to polish a turd. Is the result something I love? No. But I tried my best to improve the proportions and form where it really bothered me.  I made the headlight clusters lower and smaller, and reprofiled the "jaw-line" of the car to make the front end more vertical and have less of a jutting "chin."  Since the car is mid-engined, I kept the air intake in the rear fender, but made it much less dramatic. Hopefully, the eye will be more drawn to the clean fender side surfacing than the flashy, overdone detailing they had.  The last big change I made was the the C pillar. I feel like the current car's pillar is way too thick and is like a mashup of an Enzo and a Lotus.  I tried to give it more of a Cayman or 458 Italia feel.  I don't think the result of my efforts is a beautiful car, but I hope it's a little more refined and understated than what Alfa did. Please Alfa, if you are launching with the 4C, please redesign it!

Alfa's Launch Strategy Leaked: 4C to lead off full US lineup

Whether leaked intentionally or not, this chart detailing Alfa's next few years of product planning tells an interesting story.  Much to my relief, the current (mediocre) MiTo will not be the car that Alfa returns to the US with, nor will the (decent) Giulietta be the launch vehicle. Instead the first car to come here will be a production version of the mid-engined 4C show car.  Now I particularly detested the design of that show car but I think it will do a good job of creating the proper sporting halo for the brand as it is re-launched stateside. Since most Americans old enough to remember Alfa associate the marque with the Spider, I think it's important for a small, fun sports car to be the emotional center of the lineup.  It seems that Alfa is planning a full line of vehicles, including a hatchback (facelifted MiTo) as well as a sedan and wagon (replacing the drop-dead-gorgeous 159), plus a small SUV.  Later the Giulietta will be updated and launched here.  I strongly disagree with the SUV component of this mix, but it seems like an inevitablility at this point that every brand in the US market needs to have one.

One more thought: It seems apparent that the Alfa folks intend to use the Giulia and Giulietta names here for the planned sedan, wagon, and hatchback, but although those names have huge resonance for me as an Alfista, it seems they haven't realized that Americans have no idea how to pronounce those names (Julia and Julietta, not Geela and Geeletta, dammit!). I think Alfa should stick to a 159-style numbering system for the sedans, and 4C, 8C style system for the sporting models.

Via the Alfa BB

Elf Scan 20: Patrick Depailler

This is one of my favorite photos in the entire Elf Scan series.  A 25 year old Depailler looks past the camera with a gaze of intensity and focus.  Born in 1944, Patrick Depailler was one of the few drivers whose parents fully supported his interest in racing, and encouraged it.  He began by racing motorcycles, but after meeting Alpine boss Jean Rédélé, he transitioned to 4 wheels.  He began at Alpine as a mechanic, then a test driver, and finally a works racing driver.  At the time of this photo, his F1 career was still ahead of him.  His talent was never fully rewarded with a top-line drive, but he did manage 2 wins and 19 podiums in his 95 races in F1 -- most of them for Tyrell and Ligier.  Tragically he was killed in 1980, at age 35 during a test session at Hockenheim.

Now who's the Smart One?

It's not every day that you see this random pairing on the streets of any American city. I must say that I was surprised to see that the Smart Car is actually even shorter than the original Mini.  But I'll take the Mini hands down, thanks.

Greenwich Concours 2011 - Big Gallery!

Sunday was the European car day at the Greenwich Concours D'Elegance. As always, it was great to get up close with some fantastic and rare machinery.  This year's event was a little short on real show-stoppers.  For example, there was only 1 Bugatti present, whereas in previous years there have been numerous significant ones like Peter Williamson's T57 Atlantic. I felt that some of the corrals were being filled out by lesser examples of the respective marques.  For example there were 2 XJS examples in the Jaguar area, and no truly rare Jags on display (like C-types or D-types). Overall, the event felt more regional than in previous years, but I still had a good time.  As often is the case at car shows, the parking lot provided many unexpected and exciting car sightings, from a perfectly restored Lancia Fulvia HF to a really great vintage Maserati Quattroporte.  For me, the highlight of the show itself was a fascinating and diminutive Lotus Mark VI with polished aluminum body and snappy red leather interior.  What a cool and historically significant machine! Plenty of pics of it in the gallery. See the full 2-page gallery HERE or click on the photos above!