Alfa Romeo 4C


The Alfa Romeo 4C 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 and 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)

The Alfa Romeo 4C Concept is a two-seater, rear-wheel drive coupé with technology and materials derived from the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione, with a 1750 cc turbo petrol engine with direct injection, the "Alfa TCT" twin dry clutch transmission, and the Alfa DNA dynamic control selector.
The 4C concept version was unveiled in the 81st Geneva Motor Show in March 2011, followed by the 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 the Alfa Romeo 4C launch, Alfa Romeo Style Centre and Compagnia Ducale designed a 4C IFD 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 the 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 the 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 the European Alfa Romeo 4C Launch Edition took place at Balocco Test Centre, with vehicles delivered to Pierluigi De Silvestro, Philippe Walch, Carlos Diniz, Aldo Mariani and Stefano Zanotti. In 2018 4C, in its coupé form, will no longer be available in United States. 4C Spider will however continue to be sold there. As of 2019 both models are still in production for the full year at least. For 2020, the 4C is still in production.

Specifications

Body and chassis

The car was designed by Centro Stile Alfa Romeo 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 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 of the car weighs. Front and rear aluminum subframes combine with the tub, roof reinforcements and engine mounting to comprise the 4C chassis giving the vehicle a total chassis weight of and a total vehicle curb weight of just. The 4C has a single carbon fiber body, similar to the body of many supercars. The outer body is made of a composite material 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 tires 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 on the front and on the rear. The car can stop from in 36 meters. To save weight and increase steering feel, the 4C has no power steering. Its center of gravity height, at off the ground, is lower than that of the Lotus Elise.

Powertrain and performance

The 4C uses a new all-aluminium 1.75 L inline 4 cylinder turbocharged engine producing at 6000 rpm. The engine has been designed for minimum weight. The engine's combined fuel consumption.
acceleration is achieved in 4.5 seconds and the top speed is, the power-to-weight-ratio being just 0.267 hp/kg. A journalist from Quattroruote car magazine demonstrated how the 4C accelerates from 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 time will go down to 4.2 seconds.
Italian car magazine Quattroruote published the lap time of 4C around Nürburgring. 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.
Top speed
0–4.5 seconds
TypeTurbocharged straight-4
Displacement
Power at 6,000 rpm
torque at 2,100-3,750 rpm
Lateral Acceleration1.1 g

Variants

North American version

The U.S. version of the 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 U.S. model includes extra bracing and strengthening required to meet U.S. crash regulations, resulting in of weight increase. This version also has new headlamps similar to those seen before in the 4C Spider version.
The coupe was discontinued after the 2018 model year but the Spider model was kept on the market.

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 weight increase,. In the US, the weight difference is listed at only, however. Top speed is quoted at and acceleration from 0 to at 4.5 seconds. Novelty to the 4C range is an optional yellow colour for the Spider.

Limited Editions

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. 400 examples were reserved for Europe, Africa and the Middle East, 500 for North America and 100 for the rest of the world. Distinguishing features of the Launch Edition were carbon fiber trim, 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.

4C Competizione

The 4C Competizione is a limited edition 2018 version of the 4C introduced in the 2018 Geneva Motor Show, finished in matte Vesuvio Grey, with carbon details on the roof, rear spoiler, mirror caps, side air vents and headlight moulding. The Japanese market received 25 units of this limited edition, 10 units were assigned to Australia, and the US-market received no Competizione allocations.

4C Spider Italia

First introduced in 2018, it was a limited edition of 108 cars available worldwide.
This limited version has Misano Blue Metallic paint; and front air intake and rear diffuser finished in Piano Black. A special Spider Italia emblem adorns the rear fenders, and the design features the Italian flag. The inside has an aluminum 4C Spider Italia plaque on the center console. Japan received 15 units of Italia limited edition for their customers and the US also received 15 examples as 2020 models.

Motorsport

On September 12, 2013, an Alfa Romeo 4C driven by Horst von Saurma completed the Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit in 8 minutes 4 seconds.
The Alfa Romeo 4C has been used as the official safety car of the SBK Superbike World Championship since the 2013 season, except at Laguna Seca, where another FCA product, the Dodge Challenger, is used, owing to FCA 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 engine with 600 horsepower and equipped with a Hewland sequential semi automatic gearbox operated with steering wheel controls and suspension redesigned for use with 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 except for a new bucket seat and race harness.
The prototype of this car is being used in Italian Hillclimb events, though customers can specify to have their own car built to order at a price of 296,000 euros.

Awards

Worldwide awards the Alfa Romeo 4C has received include: