菲亞特豪車品牌阿爾法·羅密歐4C千呼萬喚始出來

Less than two months ago Sergio Marchionne, Fiat Chrysler’s chief executive, announced that the Alfa Romeo 4C was finally ready for prime time in the U.S., following several delays.

早在兩個月前，菲亞特克萊斯勒公司（Fiat Chrysler）首席執行官塞爾吉奧o馬爾基翁就曾經宣佈，經過多次推遲之後，阿爾法o羅密歐（Alfa Romeo）4C終於做好了最後的準備，迎接自己在美國即將到來的黃金時代。

On Thursday, several copies of the sexy Italian two-seater were available for test laps at FCA’s proving grounds in Chelsea, Mich. Aside from routine nitpicking, automotive journalists registered respect, if not awe, at the 4C’s performance and especially its low-slung, curvy exterior.

上週四，菲亞特克萊斯勒公司提供了這款迷人的意大利產雙座汽車的幾輛樣車，供外界在密歇根州切爾西的汽車試驗場進行試駕。除了例行公事的吹毛求疵之外，汽車業記者們紛紛被4C的性能，尤其是它流線型的低車身外觀所折服。

Within a few months, 500 of Alfa’s “Launch Edition” of the 4C — featuring a few extra frills, such as carbon fiber accents in the interior — will go on sale for just under $70,000 in North America. The company doesn’t expect to sell more than a thousand or so of the hand-built 4Cs. The regular edition will cost slightly less, starting at $55,000; both are aimed at well-heeled customers who probably already own a few vehicles.

幾個月後，500輛“首發版”將在北美地區銷售，售價低於70,000美元。首發版中將包括許多額外的裝飾，例如碳纖維內飾等。這家公司預計銷售不超過1000輛手工打造的4C。普通版的價格較低，起售價爲55,000美元；兩版車型的目標客戶都是已經擁有多輛汽車的富裕階層。

Fiat Chrysler has much bigger ambitions than this particular model. The 4C, to be sold at 85 Alfa Romeo dealerships, is the precursor of eight more Alfa models through 2018, all built in Italy and all containing a dose of Ferrari engineering and design expertise. Fiat Chrysler executives in Chelsea said the franchise could represent a $5 billion investment. Fiat Chrysler and Marchionne still must raise much of the capital that is needed.

除了4C外，菲亞特克萊斯勒還有更大的野心。它計劃至2018年推出另外八款阿爾法車型，全部在意大利生產，全部具有法拉利的工程與設計特點。即將由85家阿爾法o羅密歐經銷商銷售的4C只是阿爾法擴充計劃的第一步。在切爾西，菲亞特克萊斯勒的高管表示，特許經銷權可能意味着50億美元的投資。菲亞特克萊斯勒與馬爾基翁仍然需要通過融資來獲得所需要的大部分資金。

Dave Sullivan, manager of product analysis for AutoPacific, said “the 4C will turn more heads than anything from Lotus,” the British maker of exotic sports cars.

太平洋汽車公司（AutoPacific）產品分析經理戴維o蘇利文說：“4C將比蓮花集團（Lotus）的任何車型都要更爲引人注目。”蓮花集團是生產異國情調跑車的英國製造商。

“I am six foot, three inches, though, and I can’t drive it. My line of vision is above the sun visor. I also had a very difficult time trying to climb/roll out of it. This is not a car you’d want your wife trying to get out of in a skirt,” he said.

他說：“雖然我的身高是六英尺三英寸，但我沒法開這款車。我的視線在防曬板上方。此外，上下車也非常困難。大家肯定不希望自己的妻子穿着裙子從這輛車上下來。”

Its limitations notwithstanding, Sullivan said he’s “excited to see it on the road.”

但儘管有這些侷限性，蘇利文還是表示，自己對於“能看到它上路感到異常興奮。”

At 2,465 pounds and powered by a 1.7-liter engine rated at 237 horsepower and 258 foot-pounds of torque, the car has an extremely high power-to-weight ratio. It’s not blindingly fast, but it’s certainly quick enough to raise your pulse. Its light weight is achieved by a carbon fiber cockpit, extensive use of aluminum in the structure and plastic composite for the exterior.

4C車身重2,465英鎊，採用1.7升發動機，額定功率爲237馬力，扭矩爲259英尺-磅，擁有超高的動力-重量比。雖然這款汽車還達不到令人目眩的速度，但也卻足以讓人心跳加快。阿爾法o羅密歐4C採用碳纖維座艙和鋁製車身框架，而外部則使用了塑料複合材料，使車身達到極度輕量化。

Marchionne’s management and strategy since taking over Chrysler following its 2009 bankruptcy, and uniting the company with Fiat, have been magical. Much work remains, though, to ensure Fiat Chrysler can remain a going venture; one of the most formidable tasks is the creation of a luxury franchise, which is Alfa’s mission.

2009年克萊斯勒（Chrysler）破產之後，由馬爾基翁接管。他的管理和策略，以及與菲亞特（Fiat）的合併，產生了神奇的效果。但要想保證菲亞特克萊斯勒成爲風投目標，還有許多工作要做；其中最艱鉅的任務之一就是打造一個豪華品牌，而這正是阿爾法的使命。

Keeping an eye on Alfa — on what kind of buzz it generates and on how eager investors are to risk capital on the rest of product line — are key to understanding Fiat Chrysler’s future.

要想了解菲亞特克萊斯勒的未來，關鍵是關注阿爾法——看看它會產生什麼樣的話題，以及投資者在其他產品投入資金的熱情。