Tuesday 13th September 2011

Frankfurt: Alfa Romeo 4C

New colour for slinky mid-engined coupe

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It’s an old motor show trick – nothing new to stick on the stand? Then paint last year’s concept car a different colour. Okay, so the Alfa 4C first appeared at Geneva earlier this year, but the point still stands: this is the same car. Except it’s now finished in ‘fluid metal’. Which, to you and me, means instead of that funny fuzzy red it’s now silver.

Whatever’s happened in the spray booth, the 4C remains an exciting proposition – even if not all of you are exactly bubbling with praise for the way it looks. A technological showcase and smaller sibling to the sold-out 8C Competizione, Alfa continues to insist that it is going to build it, and that the compact two-seater weighs only ‘around 850kg’.

Given the lump mounted amidships is a version of the 1750 TBi turbo from the Giulietta Cloverleaf and is described as ‘topping’ 200hp, we don’t have to tell you the 4C will be pretty rapid.

In fact Alfa says the weight to power ratio (its words, not ours) is less than 4kg per hp – meaning, if our rudimentary maths is anything to go by, a power output closer to 215hp.

There’s engineering porn aplenty, either way, as the 4C borrows heavily from the technical achievements of its 8C big brother. Carbon and aluminium feature extensively.

That it also uses Alfa’s mildly maligned TCT twin-clutch transmission to transfer that power to the rear wheels is perhaps less reason to celebrate, but here’s hoping the DNA dynamic control selector will actually be of some use in this instance.

Real thing by Geneva 2012, puh-lease.

[thewheelman]

Now we're talking, i'll take mine in matte red please. I wonder how small the car is, as those models make it look tiny, & they're not exactly overweight women are they.

[pb63]

Very nice shape this. And the car's not bad either...

[R500POP]

Is the model in the background of the second pic squeezing a spot on her shoulder?

[Moospeed]

R500POP said:

Is the model in the background of the second pic squeezing a spot on her shoulder?

Other one appears to have dirty knees as well

They do look a bit "unnecessary", if I were there by the side of the stand with my camera I'd definitely be asking for them to get out the way.

[Ian156]

Lovely! Bring Alfa to Canada now! Might import a GTV from Europe next year and in 15 years import one of these!

[rutthenut]

Very nice-looking indeed.

Oh, there is a car in these pics too? :-o

[Proxy]

Not really a fan of this at all to be honest.
Front end just looks hideous, and those rear lights look "chav" as fk.

I'll take an 8c over this any day please!

[MrTappets]

Very nice, but I can't help thinking that there's too much metal ahead of the front wheel.

[Esseesse]

MrTappets said:

Very nice, but I can't help thinking that there's too much metal ahead of the front wheel.

I guess it's the boot so maybe the car will be practical too.

[Mini1275]

Proxy said:

Not really a fan of this at all to be honest.
Front end just looks hideous, and those rear lights look "chav" as fk.

I'll take an 8c over this any day please!

I agree, it looks ugly in my opinion.

[anonymous-user]

Proxy said:

I'll take an 8c over this any day please!

No st, Sherlock

[Hellbound]

The Italians really do have the best models at these events.

[soad]

A bit gorgeous!

[Nano2nd]

Are alfa dealers taking orders or letters of intent on these? I want one! How much is it gonna cost that's the question!

[craigjm]

Nano2nd said:

Are alfa dealers taking orders or letters of intent on these? I want one! How much is it gonna cost that's the question!

About 40k apparently and its the size of an Elise.

[Le Man]

Alfa Dealers like us are accepting letters of intent although several, ignoring advice from Alfa Romeo can't resist taking deposits. The price is likely to be closer to £50,000 with options meaning that you could spend more.
Puzzled by the comment about the mildly maligned TCT transmission! Seamless changes in 8 milliseconds without hands leaving the wheel. Also, I wouldn't be without DNA for all the world, but then I am in Blackburn where it rains every day.The all-weather setting glues Mitos to the tarmac.

[Nano2nd]

If it's 40k I'm interested, but £50k ? I dunno that's a awful lot of cash!

[craigjm]

Nano2nd said:

If it's 40k I'm interested, but £50k ? I dunno that's a awful lot of cash!

40k would probably get you a base car but you can put over 10k of options on a Guilietta these days so don't be surprised on a final invoice of 50

[craigjm]

Le Man said:

Puzzled by the comment about the mildly maligned TCT transmission! Seamless changes in 8 milliseconds without hands leaving the wheel.

It is getting mixed reviews in the current range and at 50k it will be compared with porsches wet clutch PDK which is by far the best gearbox of it's kind available.

[Le Man]

Talk of £40,000 is just plain misguided