Alfa Romeo 4C

The Alfa Romeo 4C is a small, lightweight rear wheel drive two seater Coupé sports car, similar in size to the Alfa Romeo MiTo. 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).

After debuting at the 81st Geneva Motor Show in March 2011, it will be the first mass-produced Alfa Romeo car for re-entry into the US market by 2014.

Body and Design

Designed by Alfa Romeo Centro Stile (Style Centre), the car was developed independently by Alfa Romeo with construction methods that were used for the KTM X-Bow and Lotus Elise before.

The carbon fiber tub is produced by TTA (Tecno Tessile Adler) in Airola, a joint venture between Adler and Lavorazione Materiali Compositi (Lmc). The body will not be made entirely of carbon fiber, with the front and rear frames being aluminium. This increases the weight to around 900 kilograms (2,000 lb).

The chassis of the car weighs only 65 kilograms (140 lb) and is a single carbon fibre body, just like that in supercars. Outer body is made of composite material which is 20 % lighter than steel body, stability is comparable to steel and better than aluminium.

Powertrain and performance

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. The engine has been designed for minimum weight, and will probably also appear in the 159 replacement, the Giulia. The engine CO₂ emissions are 157 g/km and combined fuel consumption 6.8 L/100 km (42 mpg_-imp; 35 mpg_-US). 0-62 miles per hour (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 0.33 hp/kg. Alfa Romeo has also confirmed a new 1.8 litre, 300 PS (221 kW) engine, which may appear in the 4C.

The 4C is equipped with 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 behaviour of engine, brakes, steering, throttle response, suspension and gearbox. In addition to the modes already seen in Giulietta, the 4C has a new "Race" mode.

Suspension, brakes, wheels and steering

The 4C has a high quadrilateral suspension at the front and MacPherson struts in the rear. Resultant weight distribution is 40% on the front and 60% on the rear axle. To ensure best possible grip to the road a Pirelli P Zero tyres with a different diameter and width is fitted to the rear and front, either 205/45-17 in front and in the back 235/40-18 (205/40-18 and 235/35-19 is available as optional). The 4C has ventilated disc brakes in all corners, in front Brembo 305 millimetres and in the rear 292 millimetres. The car can stop from 100 km/h to 0 in only 36 metres. To save in weight and to guarantee best feel the car has no power steering.

Production

The 4C is going to production in May 2013 at Maserati's plant in Modena, with an expected production of up to 2,500 units per year. and will be the first mass-produced Alfa Romeo car for re-entry into the US market. The car will be sold at first as Launch Edition , produced as a numbered edition: 400 in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, 500 in North America and 100 in the rest of the world. The Launch Edition is available in 'Carrara White' or 'Rosso Alfa' (red) fitted with carbon fibre trim and other extra accessories. Price tag for Launch Edition is 60,000 euros including VAT.