Hot new Alfa Romeo 4C Quadrifoglio Verde spied testing

Alfa Romeo's new 4C sports car has only been around in limited numbers in the UK for a few months, so its very much fresh to the market. In fact, we tested the 4C coupe with the 'softer' chassis option on British roads just last week. Yet the Italian marque is already planning a racier 'QV' version, as our spy shots show.

Alfa announced just after the launch of the 4C that it would be bringing 'something new' to the range with every passing year, but didn't specify what exactly. The soon-to-be-launched Spider roadster was the first 'something new' to materialise earlier this year.

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But now spy photographers have caught what will become the 'Quadrifoglio Verde' version of the 4C. The performance arm of the brand used to be called 'Cloverleaf' until Alfa dropped this British name type, reverting instead to the Italian naming of the division. The name still refers to the traditional four-leaf clover badge, however.

Details of the 4C QV are sketchy so far, but it is highly likely it will bring a slight power boost, as well as some minor chassis tweaks to exploit the extra power. Additional air intakes in front of the rear wheels hint at the extra performance on offer.

Further exterior changes include new air scoops front and rear, revised bumpers and a lower body skirt. A different exhaust design and new 10-spoke wheels complete the look, as well as the iconic triangle Cloverleaf badge.

We suspect Alfa Romeo may be addressing some media criticism that the 4C could perform better on a track with the QV. Expect a limited run of this model to appear in late 2015, with a price increase over the standard 4C.

Now check out our video review of the Alfa Romeo 4C coupe.