Alfa Romeo 4C Coupe and 4C Spider, with their captivating mix of progressive technology, race-inspired performance and seductive styling, have come ashore to thrill Alfa Romeo devotees, performance enthusiasts and car connoisseurs alike. Born in Milan, Italy, each 4C model features interior and exterior design elements that conspire to rouse the senses, channeling the unique Alfa Romeo spirit that is over one-hundred years in the making.
Alfa Romeo produced just 18 examples of the 33 Stradale, the street-legal version of the racing Type 33. It was packed with the era’s most innovative technology, including a mixed-structure chassis derived from aeronautical technology using magnesium alloy and steel tubing. As seen at first glance, 33 Stradale and the 4C share the same lines, in which every single element has an essential function, and nothing is superfluous. Both convey the pure automotive passion held by every designer, engineer, driver and enthusiast that has influenced the brand, past and present.
For over a century, the fierce competitive spirit that is the driving force behind Alfa Romeo racetrack wins, has translated to its leading status as a world-class automaker. Engineering and design innovations led to the development of lightweight but durable chassis systems for race cars. These advancements have been incorporated into the Alfa Romeo street production cars, making them not only fast, but agile, responsive and perfectly balanced. In bringing these racing innovations to production street cars, Alfa Romeo can name a number of engineering firsts:
- 1940 GP Tipo 512 had the first Flat-12 engine in the world
- Won the first two Formula One World Championships in1950 and 1951
- Built the first large production all-alloy engine for the 1954 Giulietta Sprint
- Developed racing’s first safety fuel tank
- Introduced a 5-speed manual and front crumple zones on the 1962 Giulia TI
- Patented Hydraulic-Variable Camshaft Timing in 1982
- Put the Cylinder-On-Demand engine in a production car for the 1983 Alfetta 2.0 CEM
- Designed the V10 engine for racing in 1986
- Introduced the Twin Spark engine for production road-use cars
- Initiated the Common Rail system for diesel engines with the Alfa 156
Alfa Romeo has a long history of creating racetrack-inspired vehicles for the street. That is why designers incorporated some of the same innovative materials and technology found in Formula One cars and supercars.
The success Alfa Romeo has enjoyed over the years can be attributed to our long dedication to making the most efficient use of both power and weight. This challenge underlies the design of every component of the car. The latest outcome is amazing: a kerb weight of under 1,118 kg propelled by 177 kW, giving a weight-to-power ratio of 4.7 kg:1. This is a figure that promises genuine supercar agility and performance. This impressively low weight has been achieved by using ultralight materials like carbon fiber, aluminium and composites, all chosen for maximum dynamic efficiency. Just over 4 metres in length, 2 metres in width and 118 centimetres in height, the design choices of the 4C are just as bold as its dimensions. The result is fast, powerful and evolved.
The Alfa Romeo 4C Coupe and 4C Spider make their mark with aggressive performance that’s owed to innovative technology and new levels of efficiency. Their mid-engine-mounted 1750 turbocharged inline powerplant churns out some impressive numbers.
The 4C boasts 177 kW and a blazing top speed of 258 km/h. A quick look reveals an all-aluminium design with 4 valves per cylinder, a new-generation turbocharger, ultra-high-pressure direct fuel injection and a dual-core intercooler that cools intake air before it reaches the turbocharger. A quick spin reveals an exhilarating 0 – 100 km/h in just 4.1 seconds — and large, cross-drilled, ventilated brakes take it from 100 - 0 km/h in under 30 metres.