It's been a long time since Italian luxury carmaker Alfa Romeo got us excited with a new car, but it has finally done it with the 4C coupe. What better way to kick off its global expansion plan than with the stunning two-seater sports car?
The chic city-focused MiTo compact and Giulietta hatchback were nice, but they just didn't pack enough charisma in them to measure up to Alfa Romeos of yore. But Alfa Romeo has said that the raft of models that will be launched in the coming years will have their designs based on the evocative 4C. That, and platform-sharing with premium marques like Maserati, and Alfa Romeo may just take the fight to the Germans in the premium luxury segment.
Developed to embody the Alfa Romeo values of a stunning design, performance and unique handling, the supercar you see here has been designed entirely from scratch by designers and engineers in the Alfa Romeo Centro Stile design centre in Turin. As the halo model in Alfa Romeo's new lineup, the company has ensured that the car has been built to exacting standards, at the Maserati factory in Modena, Italy, no less.
Exterior
Easily one of the best-looking sports cars in the market, the 4C is both bold and beautiful.
The beauty of this machine comes from the fact that it's been designed to be light and fast. To achieve that, the car has been built around a lightweight (65kg) carbon fibre monocoque with lightweight sheet moulded compound body panels sculpted following wind tunnel testing.
The chic city-focused MiTo compact and Giulietta hatchback were nice, but they just didn't pack enough charisma in them to measure up to Alfa Romeos of yore. But Alfa Romeo has said that the raft of models that will be launched in the coming years will have their designs based on the evocative 4C. That, and platform-sharing with premium marques like Maserati, and Alfa Romeo may just take the fight to the Germans in the premium luxury segment.
Developed to embody the Alfa Romeo values of a stunning design, performance and unique handling, the supercar you see here has been designed entirely from scratch by designers and engineers in the Alfa Romeo Centro Stile design centre in Turin. As the halo model in Alfa Romeo's new lineup, the company has ensured that the car has been built to exacting standards, at the Maserati factory in Modena, Italy, no less.
Exterior
Easily one of the best-looking sports cars in the market, the 4C is both bold and beautiful.
The beauty of this machine comes from the fact that it's been designed to be light and fast. To achieve that, the car has been built around a lightweight (65kg) carbon fibre monocoque with lightweight sheet moulded compound body panels sculpted following wind tunnel testing.
As for the car's boldness, it's a throwback to classic Alfa Romeo styling cues. The two robust ribs running across the 4C's bonnet end in a deep 'V' on the car's nose where the marque's badge sits on point. Coupled with the side intakes, this makes up the brand's famous 'Trefoil' feature. From the back, the muscular haunches and taillight design resemble that of a Ferrari 599, except that in this case, it complements the rear diffuser for enhanced aerodynamic efficiency.
Regarded in its entirety, the car's sculpted form and biomorphic-inspired bi-LED head light design come together beautifully in a compact, 3,989mm long, 1,864mm wide and 1,183mm tall, two-seater coupe that's ideally sized to take on both track and street.
Granted, this may not be the biggest sports car around, but its visual appeal, judging by the number of stares our Madreperla White launch edition test car drew, will hold its own in any enthusiast gathering. If exclusivity does help, the limited allocation of 4Cs in Singapore will score it points for rarity. The first run of 4Cs saw three cars come to Singapore, and the next will only see five more follow suit.
Regarded in its entirety, the car's sculpted form and biomorphic-inspired bi-LED head light design come together beautifully in a compact, 3,989mm long, 1,864mm wide and 1,183mm tall, two-seater coupe that's ideally sized to take on both track and street.
Granted, this may not be the biggest sports car around, but its visual appeal, judging by the number of stares our Madreperla White launch edition test car drew, will hold its own in any enthusiast gathering. If exclusivity does help, the limited allocation of 4Cs in Singapore will score it points for rarity. The first run of 4Cs saw three cars come to Singapore, and the next will only see five more follow suit.
Interior
An honest-to-goodness full blooded sports car, carbon fibre accents on the dashboard and a plush D-shaped leather-wrapped steering wheel are about the only 'luxury' materials in a cockpit dominated by hard plastics.
But in here, the naked carbon fibre of the undisguised tub conveys a simple yet strong message about a 'pure driving' experience. And weight has been saved wherever possible, which includes having a single windscreen wiper to shave off the unnecessary weight of having a second windscreen motor and wiper blade.
The amenities are spartan and the missus (unless she's a driving enthusiast as well) will not be thrilled at its 'rawness'. But to the driving enthusiast, you wouldn't have it any other way. After all, who needs a radio when the deliberate lack of sound-proofing lets you appreciate every single note in the engine's aural repertoire?
An honest-to-goodness full blooded sports car, carbon fibre accents on the dashboard and a plush D-shaped leather-wrapped steering wheel are about the only 'luxury' materials in a cockpit dominated by hard plastics.
But in here, the naked carbon fibre of the undisguised tub conveys a simple yet strong message about a 'pure driving' experience. And weight has been saved wherever possible, which includes having a single windscreen wiper to shave off the unnecessary weight of having a second windscreen motor and wiper blade.
The amenities are spartan and the missus (unless she's a driving enthusiast as well) will not be thrilled at its 'rawness'. But to the driving enthusiast, you wouldn't have it any other way. After all, who needs a radio when the deliberate lack of sound-proofing lets you appreciate every single note in the engine's aural repertoire?
Along the centre console, buttons take the place of a gear lever along the centre console. You can toggle between Automatic, Manual (you'd use the paddle shifters by the steering to switch gears), Neutral and Reverse here. And depending on how you would want the car to react, there's the Alfa Romeo DNA (Dynamic, Normal, All-weather) switch that lets you toggle driving modes, which alters the car's throttle and boost response, to suit the prevailing driving conditions.
That said, we found the car's Parrot infotainment system to be an afterthought after the designers realised that the 4C will be used on the road more often than it will be on track.
Plus, given the car's compact size, it comes as no surprise that storage space is rather measly with some cubby holes for keys and wallets, and a mere 105 litres of space in the rear (just in front of the engine) for small bags.
That said, we found the car's Parrot infotainment system to be an afterthought after the designers realised that the 4C will be used on the road more often than it will be on track.
Plus, given the car's compact size, it comes as no surprise that storage space is rather measly with some cubby holes for keys and wallets, and a mere 105 litres of space in the rear (just in front of the engine) for small bags.
The Drive
Engineered to be light and fast, the abundance of carbon fibre, aluminium and plastic compounds have combined to let the 4C tip the scales at a mere 895kg (unladen and without fluids). Powering the car is a mid-mounted 1.8-litre turbocharged powerplant with 240bhp and 350Nm of torque on tap.
And from the moment you ease yourself bum first into the car and turn the ignition, being in the 4C becomes an occasion to remember. As the engine roars to life with a single purpose - pure driving exhilaration - and you push the button or tap the paddle shifters to engage first gear and drive off, the engine makes it known to all around that it's on the move with a mixture of roars, growls and whooshes as the air exits the wastegate on gear changes.
240bhp may not sound like much, but given the car's lightness, it packs in more than enough power to see you shoot off like a catapult, with peak torque hitting you squarely in the chest from just 2,200rpm. The century sprint is despatched easily, possibly even quicker than the published 4.5 seconds before the car maxes out at 258km/h.
Drivers who like getting it on hard and fast will easily get hooked on how easily the 4C's six-speed dual-clutch gearbox deals out speed. It's like taking shots of tequila and getting the 'high' kicked in instantly - tremendously intoxicating. You'd want to come back for second, third and fourth, except that when you're flat out on third gear, you find yourself way above the legal speed limits and in need of slowing down.
Coupled with that carbon fibre tub of a chassis, it's immensely planted round corners. It helped that our test car was loaded with the Racing pack and the full shebang of racing springs, including 18-inch front, 19-inch rear alloys and custom-made Pirelli P Zeros rubbers.
Engineered to be light and fast, the abundance of carbon fibre, aluminium and plastic compounds have combined to let the 4C tip the scales at a mere 895kg (unladen and without fluids). Powering the car is a mid-mounted 1.8-litre turbocharged powerplant with 240bhp and 350Nm of torque on tap.
And from the moment you ease yourself bum first into the car and turn the ignition, being in the 4C becomes an occasion to remember. As the engine roars to life with a single purpose - pure driving exhilaration - and you push the button or tap the paddle shifters to engage first gear and drive off, the engine makes it known to all around that it's on the move with a mixture of roars, growls and whooshes as the air exits the wastegate on gear changes.
240bhp may not sound like much, but given the car's lightness, it packs in more than enough power to see you shoot off like a catapult, with peak torque hitting you squarely in the chest from just 2,200rpm. The century sprint is despatched easily, possibly even quicker than the published 4.5 seconds before the car maxes out at 258km/h.
Drivers who like getting it on hard and fast will easily get hooked on how easily the 4C's six-speed dual-clutch gearbox deals out speed. It's like taking shots of tequila and getting the 'high' kicked in instantly - tremendously intoxicating. You'd want to come back for second, third and fourth, except that when you're flat out on third gear, you find yourself way above the legal speed limits and in need of slowing down.
Coupled with that carbon fibre tub of a chassis, it's immensely planted round corners. It helped that our test car was loaded with the Racing pack and the full shebang of racing springs, including 18-inch front, 19-inch rear alloys and custom-made Pirelli P Zeros rubbers.
Thus, maximum grip is guaranteed. But the downside of that is a very harsh ride. You will get to soak in the road conditions, but when Singapore roads aren't the smoothest around, the car's stiffness becomes a fine love-hate line between a pure driving experience and pure driving hardship as your body gets jolted with each bump in the road.
Additionally, the rack and pinion steering can make it difficult to manoeuvre in tight spaces. At low speeds, moving the steering wheel can work up some sweat. Although once you get past that and hit cruising speeds, you'd get maximum steering feedback from the road. Driving purists will enjoy full control from their car, while the rest of us will have to deal with a heavy steering that has the propensity to twitch whenever it runs a bump on the road.
Conclusion
While the Alfa Romeo 4C is undeniably charming with all the right curves to set hearts on fire, it feels very much like a wild summer romance. The association with the unadulterated driving machine is simply thrilling, even rejuvenating, but we can't see ourselves living with it. Not unless we had an extra $360,000 (as of 5th March 2015) and an extra spot in our garage.
With that 1.8-litre engine, the 4C will return some 14.7km/L and attract a $920 yearly road tax bill - costs that are decently manageable compared to other larger-engined sports cars in the market. The only other thing in need of some management, then, will be the $180,000 downpayment.
Additionally, the rack and pinion steering can make it difficult to manoeuvre in tight spaces. At low speeds, moving the steering wheel can work up some sweat. Although once you get past that and hit cruising speeds, you'd get maximum steering feedback from the road. Driving purists will enjoy full control from their car, while the rest of us will have to deal with a heavy steering that has the propensity to twitch whenever it runs a bump on the road.
Conclusion
While the Alfa Romeo 4C is undeniably charming with all the right curves to set hearts on fire, it feels very much like a wild summer romance. The association with the unadulterated driving machine is simply thrilling, even rejuvenating, but we can't see ourselves living with it. Not unless we had an extra $360,000 (as of 5th March 2015) and an extra spot in our garage.
With that 1.8-litre engine, the 4C will return some 14.7km/L and attract a $920 yearly road tax bill - costs that are decently manageable compared to other larger-engined sports cars in the market. The only other thing in need of some management, then, will be the $180,000 downpayment.
