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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(gè)月前，菲亞特克萊斯勒公司（Fiat Chrysler）首席執(zhí)行官塞爾吉奧o馬爾基翁就曾經(jīng)宣布，經(jīng)過多次推遲之后，阿爾法o羅密歐（Alfa Romeo）4C終于做好了最后的準(zhǔn)備，迎接自己在美國即將到來的黃金時(shí)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.
上周四，菲亞特克萊斯勒公司提供了這款迷人的意大利產(chǎn)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(yàn)場進(jìn)行試駕。除了例行公事的吹毛求疵之外，汽車業(yè)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(gè)月后，500輛“首發(fā)版”將在北美地區(qū)銷售，售價(jià)低于70,000美元。首發(fā)版中將包括許多額外的裝飾，例如碳纖維內(nèi)飾等。這家公司預(yù)計(jì)銷售不超過1000輛手工打造的4C。普通版的價(jià)格較低，起售價(jià)為55,000美元；兩版車型的目標(biāo)客戶都是已經(jīng)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(jì)劃至2018年推出另外八款阿爾法車型，全部在意大利生產(chǎn)，全部具有法拉利的工程與設(shè)計(jì)特點(diǎn)。即將由85家阿爾法o羅密歐經(jīng)銷商銷售的4C只是阿爾法擴(kuò)充計(jì)劃的第一步。在切爾西，菲亞特克萊斯勒的高管表示，特許經(jīng)銷權(quán)可能意味著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(chǎn)品分析經(jīng)理戴維o蘇利文說：“4C將比蓮花集團(tuán)（Lotus）的任何車型都要更為引人注目?！鄙徎瘓F(tuán)是生產(chǎn)異國情調(diào)跑車的英國制造商。
“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著裙子從這輛車上下來?！?/div>
Its limitations notwithstanding, Sullivan said he’s “excited to see it on the road.”
但盡管有這些局限性，蘇利文還是表示，自己對于“能看到它上路感到異常興奮?！?/div>
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，采用1.7升發(fā)動(dòng)機(jī)，額定功率為237馬力，扭矩為259英尺-磅，擁有超高的動(dòng)力-重量比。雖然這款汽車還達(dá)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采用碳纖維座艙和鋁制車身框架，而外部則使用了塑料復(fù)合材料，使車身達(dá)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(chǎn)之后，由馬爾基翁接管。他的管理和策略，以及與菲亞特（Fiat）的合并，產(chǎn)生了神奇的效果。但要想保證菲亞特克萊斯勒成為風(fēng)投目標(biāo)，還有許多工作要做；其中最艱巨的任務(wù)之一就是打造一個(gè)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(guān)鍵是關(guān)注阿爾法——看看它會(huì)產(chǎn)生什么樣的話題，以及投資者在其他產(chǎn)品投入資金的熱情。
| 重點(diǎn)單詞 | 查看全部解釋 | |||
| particular | [pə'tikjulə] |
想一想再看 adj. 特殊的，特別的，特定的，挑剔的 |
聯(lián)想記憶 | |
| luxury | ['lʌkʃəri] |
想一想再看 n. 奢侈，豪華，奢侈品 |
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| dose | [dəus] |
想一想再看 n. 劑量，一劑，一服 |
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| awe | [ɔ:] |
想一想再看 n. 敬畏，恐懼 |
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| exotic | [eg'zɔtik] |
想一想再看 adj. 異國的，外來的，奇異的，脫衣舞的 |
聯(lián)想記憶 | |
| prime | [praim] |
想一想再看 adj. 最初的，首要的，最好的，典型的 |
聯(lián)想記憶 | |
| executive | [ig'zekjutiv] |
想一想再看 adj. 行政的，決策的，經(jīng)營的，[計(jì)算機(jī)]執(zhí)行指令 |
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| magical | ['mædʒikəl] |
想一想再看 adj. 魔術(shù)的，有魔力的，神奇的 |
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| routine | [ru:'ti:n] |
想一想再看 n. 例行公事，常規(guī)，無聊 |
聯(lián)想記憶 | |
| extensive | [iks'tensiv] |
想一想再看 adj. 廣泛的，廣闊的，廣大的 |
聯(lián)想記憶 |
