2015 Alfa Romeo 4C

2015 Alfa Romeo 4C

The Alfa Romeo 4C is the car charged with reviving the Italian brand in America, starting in 2014. It’s a mid-engined two-seater, with a carbon-fiber body, an aluminum suspension, powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder engine that sends power to the rear wheels through a dual-clutch gearbox. It’s a semi-exotic, from just about $55,000 base.

The 4C began life as a concept car at the Geneva Motor Show in 2011, and it’s translated almost perfectly to reality. It’s low-slung and outrageously sexy. Alfa says it’s inspired by its Sixties racing efforts and the 33 Stradale, but it bears more than a passing resemblance to Ferrari’s Dino, too. It’s composed entirely of scoops, curves, cat-eyed side glass, round LED taillamps, and Alfa’s trademark beaky overbite. Inside, there’s a stark cabin dotted with red details, a flat-bottom steering wheel, and plastics textured to look like the road surface, intermingled with exposed carbon-fiber surfaces. The gauges are a 7-inch LCD display that changes color according to driving mode.


Some of its primary competition includes the Porsche Cayman, the Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG, even the Chevy Corvette and Jaguar F-Type.
Power comes from a direct-injected and turbocharged 1.7-liter four-cylinder engine, rated at 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. It’s a raucous powerplant, better sounding outside than in, and there’s just a touch of turbocharger lag. Each horsepower has only 10.3 pounds to accelerate, given the 4C’s 2,495-pound curb weight, and acceleration is breathtaking, at 4.5 seconds to 60 mph. Top speed is set at 155 mph.

The rear-drive 4C comes only with a six-speed dual-clutch gearbox, and it works better than any manual might in the same circumstance. Alfa provides a “DNA” switch that changes shift and throttle pacing and gauge colors from dynamic (red), to natural (grey), to all-weather (blue).There’s also the yellow-screen Race mode that turns off the stability control entirely; it’s recommended for track days only.

Epic levels of grip and a compliant ride give the Alfa a great handling profile. The suspension features double wishbones in front and MacPherson struts in the back, much of it made out of aluminum. A Track package gets stiffer anti-roll bars and shocks. There’s massive grip on hand, with the usual mid-engine caveat–don’t lay on the brakes too much transitioning through corners. The 4C’s manual steering is heavy, but lightens up at speed without feeling darty.

The brakes are made by Brembo, four-pistoned and vented in front. The tires are staggered; stocks are Pirelli P Zero ARs, 205/45ZR-17 front, 235/40ZR-18 rear–a three-season setup, winter not welcome–or 205/40ZR-18 fronts, 235-35ZR-19s in back, the standard setup on Launch Edition 4Cs. Stopping power is ferocious but the brake pedal feels hard, doesn’t have much travel, and is difficult to modulate.

Interior space and storage are supercar-worthy, too–it’s small. The body is wrapped around a tub made from carbon fiber, and it sits just 46.6 inches high. Getting in or out of it takes focus, and a medium build helps. The hard-bolstered seats can pinch too much rear end–it’s Italian, after all–and the roof pillars are very close to the passengers. The right-seater also gets the added-on A/C pressing into their shin. Head room is, surprisingly, pretty good, but the 4C’s cabin looks chintzier than it is, real carbon fiber mingling with low-rent mirror controls and an aftermarket radio ready for the Best Buy clearance table.

It’s also exceptionally difficult to back into parking spaces, what with its trucklike turning circle of 40.5 feet and sliver of rearward visibility.

The 4C will initially be sold at select Fiat and Maserati dealerships. Pricing will begin at $55,195 for the standard car; it gets standard manual air conditioning, power windows and locks, USB connectivity, cruise control, black cloth seats (red leather is an option). Options include painted brake calipers in black or red or yellow; a racing exhaust; a track package with sport suspension and a choice of wheels. Paint colors include variations of white, grey, black, and of course, red.

Some 500 Launch Edition cars will be sold, priced from $69,695. They come with bi-xenon headlights, LED daytime running lights, carbon fiber on the rear spoiler and side mirror caps, an aluminum rear diffuser, a sports exhaust, staggered 18-inch wheels up front and 19-inch wheels in the rear, red brake calipers, leather trim on the steering wheel and door innards, and a serialized dashboard plaque.
Photo Gallery: Alfa Romeo

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