Alfa Romeo 4C details revealed

Alfa Romeo has been teasing us with the 4C performance car for a while now and the company has at last officially revealed details of the mid-engined car. Without further ado, let’s talk about numbers. The engine is an all-aluminium unit displacing 1,750cc and thanks aluminium block it weighs 22 kg less than the same engine that powers the Alfa Romeo Giulietta QV. The direct injection turbo petrol motor generates 243PS of power @ 6,000 rpm and 350Nm between 2,100 and 4,000 rpm. 0-100 km/h is dealt with in 4.5 seconds and top speed has been pegged at 256 km/h. 

The engine is mated to a new Alfa TCT dry twin clutch transmission. The company’s DNA drive mode selector is fitted to the car as well, only now with a ‘Race’ mode.

To exploit maximum potential from the engine Alfa has built a one-piece monocoque body shell from carbon fibre to keep weight as low as possible and at 895 kg in dry weight, the 4C is going to offer some serious performance. The car has a 40:60 front-to-rear weight distribution and is capable of generating 1.1g of lateral acceleration and in excess of 1.2g of deceleration force. 

In order to optimise handling and deal with the g forces the Alfa 4C gets double-wishbone front suspension is secured directly to the monocoque while the rear uses a performance-tuned McPherson arrangement. 

Such is the pursuit for driving excellence that the steering has been kept unassisted to be extremely progressive and provide as much direct feedback as possible. The steering ratio (16.2) is claimed to allow 90 per cent of bends to be taken without having to take your hands off the steering wheel.

Stopping power comes from patented aluminium and cast iron hybrid construction brake discs that are cross drilled and have Brembo callipers. The wheels are 17 inch upfront and 18 inch at the back, Alfa Romeo’s signature, five-hole “telephone dial” design will be optional with 18 inch rims at the front and 19 inch ones at the rear. 

This being an Alfa, the performance car’s gorgeous curves and impressive going power are to be matched by an evocative exhaust note. 

Inside the Alfa Romeo 4C, the exposed carbon-fibre chassis and driver-oriented controls indicate this car’s purposeful nature. A multi-function, digital display occupies the instrument binnacle and the steering wheel is a bespoke two-spoke unit with a flat-bottomed with integrated paddle gear-shifters. The remaining controls are grouped together on the tunnel console, including the button-operated TCT transmission selector and the DNA system selector. Composite bucket seats and aluminium pedals complete the minimalist, drive-focussed cabin.

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The Alfa Romeo 4C will go on sale in the UK in October of 2013 and on-road prices are expected to begin from £45,000 (Rs 44.90 lakh), deliveries are expected to begin early in 2014. 

Designed and engineered by Alfa Romeo and built at the Maserati plant in Modena, the Alfa Romeo 4C looks to a sensational driver’s car, sadly, global production for the Alfa Romeo 4C is limited to just 3,500 units.