Alfa Romeo has finally announced pricing for the highly anticipated 4C.

Priced from £45,000 the 4C goes on sale here in the UK in October with the worldwide production limited to roughly 3,500 examples a year.

The 4C is less than 4 metres in length with a wheelbase of 2.38 metres. Power comes from a mid-mounted 240bhp 1.75-litre turbo petrol engine with 350Nm of torque. TCT twin-clutchgearbox sends power to the rear wheels, enabling the 895kg sports car hit 0-62mph in just 4.5 seconds and continue to a top speed of 160mph.

Average fuel economy is 41.4mpg with CO2 emissions of 157g/km.

The 4C’s carbon fibre monocoque weighs just 65 kg. The weight/power ratio is less than 4 kg/HP and 10% of 4C is carbon fibre, which represents 25% of the 4C overall volume.

Hybrid brakes also save 2kg per disc, window are 10 per cent thinner than normal and a special lightweight plastic is used for the bumpers and wings.

The body is built from a material called Sheet Moulding Compound, that is about 20 per cent lighter than sheet steel.