Alfa Romeo 4C

The Alfa Romeo 4C (Type 960) is a small, lightweight, rear wheel drive sports car, similar in size to the Alfa Romeo MiTo, that is available in coupe and spider bodystyles.[8] It uses a carbon fiber tub, front and rear crash box, and hybrid rear frame mainly out of aluminium to keep its weight at 895 kilograms (1,973 lb), 995 kilograms (2,194 lb) in the United States[9] and 1025 kg in Australia.[10] The 4C is the first mass-produced Alfa Romeo car to re-enter into the United States marketHistory
Alfa Romeo 4C Concept (2011)[edit]

4C Concept.

Differences between the 4C concept (left) and the European spec production model 4C (right).
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, the Alfa DNA dynamic control selector.

The 4C concept version unveiled in the 81st Geneva Motor Show in March 2011,[11][12] followed by Mille Miglia 2011 parade,[13] Goodwood Festival of Speed 2011,[14] 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show.[15]

It was displayed first time outside in Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este in 2012. Compared to the production version, it's very similar, with the biggest differences being front lights, side vents and mirrors.

Awards[edit]
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.[16] It was awarded the "Design Award for Concept Cars & Prototypes" by referendum of the public in Villa d'Este.[17][18]

Launch[edit]
The production car was unveiled at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show,[19] followed by 2013 Essen 'Techno Classica',[20] Goodwood Festival of Speed 2013,[21] Moscow Raceway,[22] 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show.[23]

The bare '4C000' chassis was also shown at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show.[24]

Ordering of European models began in October 2013 at Alfa Romeo dealerships in Europe.[25]

Marketing[edit]
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.[26][27]

Production[edit]

Production of 4C began May 2013 at Maserati's plant in Modena, with an expected production of up to 2500 units per year.[28] It will be the first mass-produced Alfa Romeo car for re-entry into the US market.[29]

Production of Alfa Romeo 4C was originally estimated to be over 1000 units per year,[30] 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.[31][32][33] Within the 3,500-unit quota, 1,000 units of which are earmarked for Europe.[25]

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).[34]

Specifications[edit]
Body and chassis[edit]

4C carbon frame.
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.[35] The carbon fiber tub is produced by TTA (Tecno Tessile Adler) in Airola, as a joint venture between Adler Plastic and Lavorazione Materiali Compositi.[36] The carbon fiber components that make up the chassis are cut using CNC technology.[37]

The chassis of the car weighs 65 kilograms (143 lb) (Spider's chassis weights 107 kilograms (236 lb)) and is 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.[38] The resultant weight distribution is 38% on the front and 62% on the rear axle.[39][40] 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.[41] Both wheel options come equipped with Pirelli P Zero tires. The 4C uses vented disc brakes on all wheels; Brembo 305 millimetres (12.0 in) on the front and 292 millimetres (11.5 in) on the rear. The car can stop from 100 km/h (62 mph) in 36 meters.[5] To save weight and increase steering feel, the 4C has no power steering.

Powertrain and performance[edit]

4 cylinder 1750 TBi (direct injection turbo)
The 4C uses a new all-aluminium 1.75 L (1,742 cc) 240 horsepower (180 kW) at 6000 rpm inline 4 cylinder turbocharged engine.[42] The engine has been designed for minimum weight, and will probably also appear in the 159 replacement, the Giulia. The engine's CO2 emissions are 157 g/km and combined fuel consumption 6.8 L/100 km (42 mpg-imp; 35 mpg-US).[4] 0–62 miles per hour (0–100 km/h) acceleration is achieved in 4.5 seconds and the top speed is 258 km/h (160 mph),[5] the power-to-weight-ratio being just 0.33 hp/kg (8.22 lb/hp).[7] Journalist of the Quattroruote car magazine demonstrated how the 4C accelerates from 0–100 kilometres per hour (0–62 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 0–100 kilometres per hour (0–62 mph) time will go down to 4.2 seconds.[43]

Alfa Romeo has also confirmed a new 1.8 litre, 300 PS (221 kW) engine, which may appear in the 4C.[35]

Italian car magazine Quattroruote published the lap time of 4C around Nurburgring. It lapped the ring in 8:04.[44]

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.[45] In addition to the modes already seen in Giulietta, the 4C has a new "Race" mode.

Specifications
Top speed 258 km/h (160 mph)
0–100 km/h (0–62 mph) 4.5 seconds
Type straight-4
Displacement 1.75 L 1,742 cc (106.3 cu in)
Power 240 PS (177 kW; 237 hp) @ 6,000 rpm[2][3]
Torque 350 Nm @ 2,100 rpm (US: 258 lb-ft @ 2,200 rpm)[2][3]
Lateral Acceleration 1.1 g
Models[edit]
4C Launch Edition[edit]

Alfa Romeo 4C Launch Edition (European model).
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 Australia—in Rosso Alfa and Madreperla White only)[citation needed]. 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.[34][46]

In Europe the vehicle went on sale for 60,000 euros including VAT.[47]

Features[edit]
The Alfa-Romeo 4C is meant to be a "driver's car", and is equipped with only the essential features. Any feature that adds weight or takes away from the driving experience has been omitted from the car. For example, interior door pull straps are utilized in lieu of traditional interior door handles. Necessary creature comforts, such as manual air conditioning, power windows and door locks, keyless entry, and a digital thin-film transistor (TFT) instrument cluster display are all standard equipment. The standard audio system is a four-speaker audio system with an A/M-F/M stereo that includes an iPod/USB port, 3.5-millimeter auxiliary audio input jack, and Bluetooth for hands-free calling and A2DP wireless stereo audio streaming. An upgraded sound system includes additional speakers and an external amplifier, and also adds a Parrot-sourced Asteroid head unit with color LCD display screen and an Android-like operating system and interface. SiriusXM Satellite Radio is also an option. Seventeen-inch front and eighteen-inch rear alloy wheels are standard, though eighteen-inch front and nineteen-inch rear alloy wheels are available. The seats are high-back sport bucket seats that are lightweight and fully manually-adjustable, and come standard with a cloth covering with leatherette accents (full leather-trimmed or leather-and-alcantara-trimmed high-back sport bucket seats are available) that include an embossed Alfa-Romeo emblem and red stitching, which also continues throughout the interior. The interior trim is aluminum, though can be upgraded to full carbon fiber. The exterior can also be optioned with carbon fiber parts, and the brake calipers can be finished in aluminum, red, yellow, or black. Track-spec performance tires are available with a sport-tuned, track-ready suspension package. The standard transmission is Alfa-Romeo's TCT gearbox that includes automatic and sport shifting, as well as steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters, and push-button operation so that 4C drivers can choose their own mode of shifting. The car is Rear-Wheel-Drive (RWD), and is mid-engined, due to a limited amount of space being available in front of the cockpit.

North American version[edit]

North American version of Alfa Romeo 4C
The US version of 4C was introduced in 2014 New York International Auto Show and the first 100 4C's will be shipped to the U.S. by late June or early July, with a total of 850 to be shipped by the end of this year.[48] 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 (220 lb) weight increase.[9] This version has also new headlamps similar as seen before in 4C Spider version.

Alfa Romeo 4C Spider[edit]

4C Spider preview at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show.
The Spider version of the 4C was previewed showing a pre-production prototype at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show.[49] Sharing its engine with the Coupé version, the 4C Spider has different external parts such as the headlights, exhaust and engine hood,[50] as well as a different roof section that features a removable roof panel.[3] 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),.[51] In the US, the weight difference is listed at only 22 lb (10 kg), however (2,465 lbs:[2] 2,487 lbs[3]). Top speed is quoted at 257 km/h (160 mph) and acceleration at 4,5 seconds to 100 km/h. Novelty to 4C range is an option of yellow colour for Spider.

Awards[edit]
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.[52]
Joint "Overall Best Car" award in the Sunday Times Ireland/CompleteCar.ie Best Cars Guide 2015 and "Best Driver’s Car Under €75,000".[53]
"Most Beautiful Car of the Year 2013" at the 29th International Automobile Festival in France—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.[54]
Import sports car category in the Auto Motor und Sport "Best Cars 2014" awards—barely edging out the previous winner, Aston Martin Rapide S.[55]
"Best Sports Car 2013" under the compact supercar category by El Economista vote.[56]
Readers of Auto Zeitung named it winner of the "Sportscars/Imported" category of the 26th edition of "Auto Trophy" with 17.2% of the votes—beating out more expensive models like the Aston Martin V8 Vantage (16.6%) and the Jaguar F-Type (15.8%).[57]
What Car? Reader Award for "the most exciting car to be launched in 2013".[58]
FHM magazine named it 2013 Car of the Year.[59]
Motorsport[edit]

4C 2013 SBK official safety car
On 2013-09-12, Alfa Romeo 4C (with Pirelli P Zero Trofeo tyres) driven by Horst von Saurma completed the Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit in 8 minutes 4 seconds, breaking the speed record for all production cars with engines under 250 HP.[60][61]

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.[62]