Drive On: Alfa Romeo shows off its U.S.-bound supercar

America, meet the first Alfa Romeo that you'll see in a showroom since the Clinton administration.

For its reintroduction to the U.S., Italy's Fiat is showing a sexy new Alfa Romeo 4C, a compact midengine supercar ahead of its debut in Geneva at the big auto show.

About the last thing that anyone remembers about Alfas in the U.S. was the prominent role of one as Dustin Hoffman's roadster in The Graduate.

But Fiat has been itching to bring Alfas back to the U.S. ever since it took control of Chrysler Group a couple of years ago. Now, the 4C will be its first entry later this year, the forefront of which will probably be a whole model line.

Fiat says the new Alfa "represents the true essence of a sports car at the heart of Alfa Romeo's DNA: performance, Italian style and technical excellence, offering maximum driving satisfaction in total safety." It will be produced in Modena, Italy, and sold worldwide.

The Alfa will be powered by a turbocharged gas all-aluminium engine with direct injection. While few other details are being released for now, Fiat is making this much known: Besides settings for dynamic, natural and all-weather driving, there will be a fourth mode for racing.

Great way to establish Alfas return to America: on the raceway.