Stretching 157 inches long, 46 inches high and 78 inches wide, the 4C is nearly identical to the award-winning concept that bowed at the Geneva Motor Show two years ago. Outside, the differences between the show car and the production model are very minor and include the headlights, the door handles, the exterior mirrors and the tail lamps. The rest of the car stays roughly unchanged, a daring move on Alfa’s part.
To save weight, the 4C is built out of aluminum, steel, carbon fiber and fiberglass-reinforced composites. 40 percent of the car’s 1,973-pound mass lies on the front axle and 60 percent rests on the rear. The car’s low weight makes it possible for Alfa to eliminate the power steering system.
Inside, the car offers a driver-focused cockpit with two bucket seats. Behind the two-spoke flat-bottomed steering wheel lies a thin-film transistor (TFT) screen that replaces the traditional instrument cluster, and unpainted carbon fiber on the center console and below the doors helps create a sporty ambiance. There is no infotainment or touch screen to speak of, but the 4C is available with Bluetooth audio streaming.
Mopar-Tuned
Thanks to the tie-up between Fiat and Chrysler, buyers will be able to deck out their 4C with a full catalog of Mopar-designed accessories including a rear spoiler, large wheels finished in black or gray, painted brake calipers all around, chrome-plated mirror skins, a sporty tail pipe for the exhaust and a colored engine cover. Race tires developed by Pirelli specifically for the 4C are also available.
Under the Hood
Under the 4C’s rear decklid lies a turbocharged and direct-injected four-cylinder engine with a displacement of precisely 1750 cubic centimeters, a number chose for its historic resonance. An evolution of the mill that powers the Giulietta Quadrifoglio Verde, the four-banger features several model-specific parts including the intake manifold and the entirely exhaust system and Alfa’s “scavenging” technology, which maximizes low-end torque and reduces turbo lag.
The mid-mounted engine sends 240 horsepower and 258 lb-ft. of torque to the rear wheels via a six-speed TCT dual-clutch transmission equipped with launch control. The sprint from zero to 62 mph takes 4.5 seconds and top speed is reached at over 155 mph. Rumors indicate a more powerful 270-horsepower variant will arrive later in the production run but Alfa has not commented on the matter.
Brembo brakes all around help keep the engine’s power in check and slow the 4C from 62 mph to a full stop in 118 feet.
The 4C comes with a thoroughly revised version of the DNA switch introduced several years ago on the MiTo hatchback. It allows the driver to choose one of four distinctinly driving modes: Dynamic, Natural, All-Weather and Race. Each setting automatically adjusts the car’s throttle response, steering feedback and suspension.
With production capped at 3,500 units annually, Alfa’s latest sports car will be assembled in a purpose-built area of Maserati’s Modena, Italy, plant. While a few examples might start trickling into the United States later this year, look for the 4C to arrive in showrooms early next year. Pricing information will be revealed closer to its launch. <![CDATA[
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