There are a handful of cars we've really looked forward to over the past several years--the new 911 and Cayman, the new Corvette Stingray, and, a bit farther from the beaten path, the return of Alfa Romeo to the U.S. in the form of the 4C.

Gorgeous styling, enticing light weight (even if it will weigh about 200 pounds more here in the U.S.), and impressive power stats from a small four-cylinder turbo engine all make the Alfa 4C an interesting car. And now, even better, a surprisingly affordable one.

According to Road & Track, from the Alfa 4C's launch event this week, the new pint-sized supercar will start at just $54,000 in the U.S.

That's a bit more expensive than Porsche's junior sports coupe, the Cayman, and the 2014 Corvette Stingray, too, but it's considerably cheaper than we might have expected.

Of course, only a small allotment of the 3,500 total 4Cs to be built each year will end up in the U.S., and that scarcity may well drive the real-world price up beyond the base sticker--but even then, it's the least expensive carbon fiber monocoque car you can buy in America.

So, what would (or will) you do with your $54,000? Go German, stay American, or risk it all on Italy?