Following the announcement of the 86 dealerships where the 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C sports car will initially be sold in North America, the Italian carmaker has finally announced pricing and released the first photos of the US-spec model.

The Alfa Romeo 4C arrives this summer in the U.S. with a limited edition of 500 units of the 4C Launch Edition, each carrying a MSRP of $68,400. The standard 4C model will arrive in the fall with a MSRP of $53,900. Both prices exclude a $1,295 destination charge.

If you are wondering why the 2015 Alfa 4C Launch Edition is considerably more expensive than the standard model, it is because of its extensive list of additional features.

These include serialized “Launch Edition” plaque, bi-xenon headlights with LED DRLs, carbon fiber rear spoiler and mirror caps, race suspension tuning, racing exhaust, staggered 18-inch (front) and 19-inch (rear) forged wheels painted in Matte Black, red lacquered brake calipers, sport seats with black microfiber, leather wrapped instrument panel and door panels and other interior refinements.

There are a few differences between the Euro-spec model and the one that will go on sale in the U.S., with the most obvious being the standard clamshell headlights, which replace the controversial insect-inspired headlamps offered in Europe. As an European, I have to say I envy Americans for this, but I definitely don’t envy them for getting a “fatter” 4C.

Tipping the scales at 2,315 lbs (1,050 kg), the U.S.-spec 4C is a hefty 155 kg (342 lbs) heavier than in Europe, where it has a dry weight of just 895kg (1,973lbs). As Fiat’s European product development head, Mauro Pierallini, said last year, the added weight is due to the addition of aluminum inserts into the carbon fiber chassis in order to comply with federal crash test regulations and rules covering the gasoline tank, fuel lines and emissions.

The obvious question is how the added weight affects performance. According to Alfa Romeo, the 2015 4C reaches a top speed of 160 mph (257.5 km/h) and sprints from 0 to 60 mph (96 km/h) in the “mid-4 second range”. In comparison, the Euro-spec 4C sprints from 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 4.5 seconds, so we should expect a 0-62 mph time of around 5 seconds for the U.S. model.

Just like the European model, the 4C offered in the U.S. is powered by an all-aluminum 1.75-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 237 hp and 258 lb-ft (350 Nm) of peak torque, 80 percent of which is available from as low as 1,700 rpm.

The engine is mated to a paddle-shifting Alfa TCT twin-clutch transmission, which also integrates a “launch control” mode and the Alfa DNA selector with four modes: All-weather, Natural, Dynamic and Race.

By Dan Mihalascu

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