The Alfa Romeo 4C (Type 960) is a mid-engined, lightweight, rear-wheel drive sports car. Available in coupé and spider body style, it uses a carbon fiber tub, front and rear crash box, and hybrid rear subframe mainly out of aluminum to keep weight at 895 kilograms (1,973 lb) and 1,050 kilograms (2,315 lb) in the United States. The 4C is Alfa Romeo's first mass-produced vehicle of the 21st century to re-enter the North American automotive market.
History
Alfa Romeo 4C Concept (2011)
Alfa Romeo 4C Concept is a two-seater, rear-wheel drive coupé with technology and materials derived from the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione, with 1750 turbo petrol engine with direct injection, the "Alfa TCT" twin dry clutch transmission, and the Alfa DNA dynamic control selector.
The 4C concept version unveiled in the 81st Geneva Motor Show in March 2011, followed by Mille Miglia 2011 parade, Goodwood Festival of Speed 2011, 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show.
It was displayed for the first time outside in Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este in 2012. Compared to the production version, it is very similar, with the biggest differences being front lights, side vents and mirrors.
Awards
The Alfa Romeo 4C Concept was voted the 'Most Beautiful Concept Car of the Year' award by the readers of German magazine Auto Bild, and won the Auto Bild Design Award 2011. It was awarded the "Design Award for Concept Cars & Prototypes" by referendum of the public in Villa d'Este.
Launch
The production car was unveiled at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, followed by 2013 Essen 'Techno Classica', Goodwood Festival of Speed 2013, Moscow Raceway, 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show.
The bare '4C000' chassis was also shown at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show.
Ordering of European models began in October 2013 at Alfa Romeo dealerships in Europe.
Marketing
As part of Alfa Romeo 4C launch, Alfa Romeo Style Centre and Compagnia Ducale designed a 4C IFD (Innovative Frame Design) Bicycle, inspired by the Alfa Romeo 4C coupé. The vehicle went on sale in December 2013 and marketed in Europe, Asia and America.
Production
Production of 4C began May 2013 at Maserati's plant in Modena, with an expected production of up to 2500 units per year. It will be the first mass-produced Alfa Romeo car for re-entry into the US market.
Production of Alfa Romeo 4C was originally estimated to be over 1000 units per year, with an upper limit of 3500 units per year, depending on the quantity of carbon fiber chassis that can be built by the supplier Adler Plastic. Within the 3,500-unit quota, 1,000 units of which are earmarked for Europe.
Delivery of European Alfa Romeo 4C Launch Edition took place at Balocco (Vercelli, Italy) Test Centre, with vehicles delivered to Pierluigi De Silvestro (Switzerland), Philippe Walch (France), Carlos Diniz (Germany), Aldo Mariani (the Netherlands) and Stefano Zanotti (Italy).
Specifications
Body and chassis
The car was designed by Centro Stile Alfa Romeo (Style Centre) and developed by Alfa Romeo. The chassis is composed of a central carbon fiber tub, with aluminium subframes front and rear. The carbon fiber tub is produced by TTA (Tecno Tessile Adler) in Airola, as a joint venture between Adler Plastic and Lavorazione Materiali Compositi. The carbon fiber components that make up the chassis are cut using CNC technology.
The entire carbon-fiber monocoque chassis ("tub") of the car weighs a mere 143 lb (65 kg). Front and rear aluminum subrames combine with the tub, roof reinforcements and engine mounting to comprise the 4C chassis giving the vehicle a total chassis weight of 236 lb (107 kg) and a total vehicle curb weight of just 2,465 lb (1,118 kg). The 4C has a single carbon fiber body, similar to the body of many supercars. The outer body is made of a composite material (SMC for Sheet Moulding Compound) which is 20% lighter than steel. The stability is comparable to steel and better than aluminium.
The 4C employs double wishbone suspensions at the front and MacPherson struts at the rear. The resultant weight distribution is 38% on the front and 62% on the rear axle. Wheels and tyres have different diameters and widths front and rear: 205/45 R17 front and 235/40 R18 back as standard, with optional 205/40 R18 and 235/35 R19. Both wheel options come equipped with Pirelli P Zero tires. The 4C uses vented disc brakes on all wheels; Brembo 305 millimetres (12.0Â in) on the front and 292 millimetres (11.5Â in) on the rear. The car can stop from 100Â km/h (62Â mph) in 36 meters. To save weight and increase steering feel, the 4C has no power steering. Its center of gravity height is 40 centimetres (16Â in); lower than the Lotus Elise.
Powertrain and performance
The 4C uses a new all-aluminium 1.75 L (1,742 cc) inline 4 cylinder turbocharged engine producing 240 horsepower (180 kW) at 6000 rpm. The engine has been designed for minimum weight. The engine's combined fuel consumption 6.8 L/100 km (42 mpgâ€'imp; 35 mpgâ€'US). 0â€"62 miles per hour (0â€"100 km/h) acceleration is achieved in 4.5 seconds and the top speed is 258 km/h (160 mph), the power-to-weight-ratio being just 0.267 hp/kg (8.22 lb/hp). A journalist from Quattroruote car magazine demonstrated how the 4C accelerates from 0â€"100 kilometres per hour (0â€"62 mph) faster than 4.5 seconds. In race mode, with left foot on the brake pedal, if you pull the right shift paddle the engine will rev to 3500 rpm, but if you also pull the left paddle the engine will rev to 6000 rpm and 0â€"100 kilometres per hour (0â€"62 mph) time will go down to 4.2 seconds.
Alfa Romeo has also confirmed a new 1.8 litre, 300Â PS (221Â kW) engine, which may appear in the 4C.
Italian car magazine Quattroruote published the lap time of 4C around Nurburgring. It lapped the ring in 8:04.
The 4C is equipped with a six speed Alfa TCT Dual Dry Clutch Transmission, and can be operated via gearshift paddles on the steering wheel. It also has an Alfa 'DNA' dynamic control selector which controls the behavior of engine, brakes, throttle response, suspension and gearbox. In addition to the modes already seen in Giulietta, the 4C has a new "Race" mode.
Models
4C Launch Edition
The 4C Launch Edition was a limited and numbered edition, unveiled at the vehicle's launch at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show. The vehicle came in a choice of four paint colours (Rosso Alfa, Rosso Competizione tri-coat, Madreperla White tri-coat or Carrara White matt). 400 examples were reserved for Europe, Africa and the Middle East, 500 for North America and 100 for the rest of the world (88 delivered to Australiaâ€"in Rosso Alfa and Madreperla White only). Distinguishing features of the Launch Edition were carbon fiber trim (including headlight housings, spoiler and door mirror caps), rear aluminium extractor with dark finishing, Bi-LED headlights, dark painted 18-inch front and 19-inch rear alloy wheels, additional air intakes on the front fascia, red brake calipers, racing exhaust system, BMC air cleaner, specific calibration for shock absorbers and rear anti-roll bar, leather/fabric sports seats with parts in Alcantara and a numbered plaque. Alfa Red coloured cars got matching red stitching on the steering wheel, handbrake, mats, handles and sports seats.
In Europe the vehicle went on sale for 60,000 euros including VAT.
North American version
The US version of 4C was introduced in the 2014 New York International Auto Show with the first 100 4C's being shipped to the U.S. early July, with a total of 850 being shipped by the end of 2014. The US model includes extra bracing and strengthening required to meet U.S. crash regulations (including aluminium inserts in the carbon fiber chassis), resulting in 100 kilograms (220Â lb) of weight increase. This version also has new headlamps similar to those seen before in the 4C Spider version.
Alfa Romeo 4C Spider
The Spider version of the 4C was previewed showing a pre-production prototype at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show. Sharing its engine with the Coupé version, the 4C Spider has different external parts such as the headlights, exhaust and engine hood, as well as a different roof section that features a removable roof panel. Alfa admits it has had to make some strengthening tweaks to the 4C to cope with the removal of the top, with the net result being a 45 kg (99 lb) weight increase (dry weight 940 kg),. In the US, the weight difference is listed at only 22 lb (10 kg), however (2,465 lbs: 2,487 lbs). Top speed is quoted at 257 km/h (160 mph) and acceleration at 4,5 seconds to 100 km/h (62 mph). Novelty to 4C range is an option of yellow colour for Spider.
Awards
Worldwide awards the Alfa Romeo 4C has received include:
- "Performance Car of the Year 2015" in the inaugural Association of Professional Motoring Press (APMP) Car and Van of the Year Awards in Ireland.
- Joint "Overall Best Car" award in the Sunday Times Ireland/CompleteCar.ie Best Cars Guide 2015 and "Best Driver’s Car Under €75,000".
- "Most Beautiful Car of the Year 2013" at the 29th International Automobile Festival in Franceâ€"with 41 percent of the votes, ahead of the BMW 4 Series (25% of the votes), Mercedes-Benz CLA (22%), and Mazda3 (12%). More than 100,000 votes were cast in more than 50 countries.
- Import sports car category in the Auto Motor und Sport "Best Cars 2014" awardsâ€"barely edging out the previous winner, Aston Martin Rapide S.
- "Best Sports Car 2013" under the compact supercar category by El Economista vote.
- Readers of Auto Zeitung named it winner of the "Sportscars/Imported" category of the 26th edition of "Auto Trophy" with 17.2% of the votesâ€"beating out more expensive models like the Aston Martin V8 Vantage (16.6%) and the Jaguar F-Type (15.8%).
- What Car? Reader Award for "the most exciting car to be launched in 2013".
- FHM magazine named it 2013 Car of the Year.
- WhichCar Australia Most Stylish Car for 2016
Motorsport
On September 12, 2013, Alfa Romeo 4C (with Pirelli P Zero Trofeo tyres) driven by Horst von Saurma completed the Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit in 8 minutes 4 seconds.
The Alfa Romeo 4C has been used as official safety car of the SBK Superbike World Championship since the 2013 season, except at Laguna Seca, where another Fiat product, the Dodge Challenger, is used, owing to Fiat traditionally giving the Dodge brand exposure since the Alfa Romeo was not available in the United States at the time.
Alfa Romeo 4C Picchio
A private tuning and racing firm, Picchio S.p.a. , created a limited production race prepared Alfa Romeo 4C. The Alfa Romeo 4C Picchio is powered by a new 4-cylinder turbo 1750 cc with 600 horsepower (CV) with a Hewland sequential semi automatic gearbox at steering wheel controls and suspensions redesigned for use with the Pirelli PZero 13 inch tires. The car is fully race prepared with FIA certificate and contains the mandatory roll cage, cut-off switches, and with all interior removed bar a new bucket seat and race harness. The prototype of this car is being used in Italian Hilclimb events, though customers can specify to have their own car built to order at a price of 296.000 euro.
Notes
External links
- Official website
- Alfa Romeo 4C Australia
- Official page Alfa Romeo 4C Facebook
- How It's Made on YouTube
