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Alfa Romeo’s new 4C sports coupe will be priced from £45,000 when it goes on sale in October.

The new model has been designed and engineered by Alfa Romeo and built at the Maserati plant in Modena.

The 4C is powered by a four-cylinder 1.7-litre turbo petrol mated to a Alfa TCT dry twin clutch transmission. Accelerating from 0 to 62mph takes 4.5 and the 4C will go on to a top speed of 160mph.

The use of carbonfibre for the 4Cs bodywork means the car weighs less than some Fiat 500 models at 895kg. The weight saving measures in the body design also help to deliver 41.5mpg and CO2 emissions of 157g/km.

Standard equipment includes 17-inch front and 18-inch rear wheels are standard, while 18/19-inch wheels with Alfa Romeo’s signature, five-hole “telephone dial” design are optional.

Alfa Romeo will make 3,500 units of the 4C a year and first deliveries in the UK are expected in early 2014.

Alfa has released a promotional video to mark the launch of the 4C with a drive by F1 and Ferrari driver Giancarlo Fisichella.