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First Alfa Romeo 4C Promo Touts Brand's Return to the U.S., Configurator Launches in June

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There's a lot to like about the production Alfa Romeo 4C, from its ultra-lightweight construction that uses carbon fiber components to keep the dry weight at a surprisingly low 895kg or 1,973 pounds, to its nicely crafted body, and one thing to hate: those spider eye-style headlamps that look like a bad afterthought.
Of course, it could be just us and a bunch of other gearheads we talked to and who said the same thing, so if you disagree, don't be shy to share your feelings in the comments.
Now, the reason why we're coming back to the 236HP (240PS) Alfa 4C that was unwrapped earlier today at the Geneva Auto Show isn't to talk about its lights, but to tell you that the Italian brand has released the first promotion videos of the mid-engine sports car, and launched a primitive online configurator.
Alfa tells us in one of the videos that the full-spec configurator will be available in June. The one that's online now, only gives the chance to choose from two colors for the body and interior trim.
At Alfa Romeo's Geneva motor show press conference, the Italian company's CEO Harald Wester confirmed the 4C's North American premiere at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November, with first deliveries before the end of the year.
While Alfa won't reveal pricing for the United States until the LA show, Wester did say that the 4C Launch Edition shown in Geneva will be priced at €60,000 (US$78,000) in Europe where it goes on sale in September.

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Mercedes-Benz B-Class Comes to U.S., But Only as an Electric Vehicle

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The 2013 New York International Auto Show hosted the world premiere of the Mercedes-BenzB-Class Electric Drive in final production trim. With a driving range of around 115 miles (200 km), the electric B-Class will first launch in the USA at the beginning of 2014 as the brand’s first luxury electric car on the market.
Based on the conventionally powered B-Class, the Electric Drive version will in fact be the only B-Class model available in the United States. Powered by an electric motor generating more than 100 kW (134 HP) and 310 Nm (228.6 lb-ft) of peak torque, the B-Class Electric Drive covers the 0 to 60 mph (96 km/h) sprint in “considerably less than 10 seconds,” according to Mercedes’ press release. Top speed is limited to 100 mph (160 km/h).
The engine draws its energy from a lithium-ion battery that is placed in the vehicle’s underfloor, in the so-called “Energy Space”, a solution that helps save space and make the car safer in case of an impact. Thanks to this solution, the B-Class Electric Drive has the same interior and luggage space as the regular model.
The electric hatch can be recharged at any standard household power socket, with charging time for a range of about 60 miles (96 km) standing at less than 2 hours at 240V/40A in the USA (1.5 hours at 400V in Europe).
One of the highlights of the B-Class EV is the Vehicle Homepage, which allows the driver to easily access the vehicle via the Internet, using a PC or smartphone. With this feature, it is possible to check the current charge status of the lithium-ion battery or to verify the vehicle's current range on a map. The driver can also set pre-heating or cooling of the vehicle’s interior.
The exterior and interior are almost identical to those of the conventionally-powered B-Class models sold in Europe, except for the EV-specific features. The new B-Class Electric Drive will be available in the USA in early 2014 with Europe to follow later in the year.
By Dan Mihalascu

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