Alfa Romeo 4C
 

http://asset2.cbsistatic.com/cnwk.1d...01_610x394.jpg
http://asset3.cbsistatic.com/cnwk.1d...02_610x457.jpg
http://asset3.cbsistatic.com/cnwk.1d...02_610x457.jpg

Some specs:

• 4-cylinder, direct injection, turbocharged 1.75-liter engine with variable valve timing for both intake and exhaust.
• Roughly 13 feet long, 6.5 feet wide, and under 4 feet high
• Dual-clutch transmission
• Mid-engine RWD
• 8.8 pounds per horsepower (no official word on weight/power)

I've gotta say, depending on the price tag on this guy, I may have a bit of envy for whomever may purchase one. It's a brilliant looking car in my opinion, and while it trades off a lot of practicality that the Twins have to offer, it's still an excellent looking car.

I agree that it looks great, I don't think I can get into a much smaller car then the FR-S (I'm 6'3''). May be a bit of envy from me as well, especially with the transmission.

Price: about 60k

At least I won't have buyer's remorse at that price point. :thumbup:

Fantastic point, hadn't even thought of that!

Looks great, unfortunately it's an Alfa (will break down), which is owned by Fiat, who also owns Ferrari (it will self-immolate). Seriously though, I figured they would be gunning for the Cayman, but that displacement doesn't look like it'll be able to come close to Cayman power.

Not in terms of power output, but supposedly the 4C is only about 2000lbs, so it could be similar to the cayman in terms of power/weight

Wow. How does anyone make a production car that light nowadays? There are so many regulations and essentially mandatory conveniences they have to put in the car, that would be incredible.

Lotus' still weigh 2000lbs. It will be interesting to see what the final announced curb weight is. I've read anywhere between 1800-2200. It'll be on the higher side for sure, but even at 2200lb, that is super light for today's standards. It probably won't be very comfortable, though. I can tolerate a lot of compromises in a sports car, but a Lotus is the one car I couldn't see myself driving on the street. Great track car, but for the street it's just not comfortable enough

You got me on Lotus, though I always assumed they were trying to make something that was a little easier to tolerate when the driver isn't pushing it. Regardless, I'll be very interested to see more details and especially the reviews when it comes out.

Have you ever owned an Alfa?

Not if he's smart.

Never owned one, but we were renting for a while from a guy who kept his Alfa Spider at the house. In a little over a year there it broke down at least 4 or 5 times. That thing was just a money pit for him.

Cars aren't really big and heavy today because of regs. FR-S/BRZ are a case in point. Modern S13 240SX, weighs no more than that car did in 1991 while being much stiffer and also meeting more stringent safety regs. Likewise, modern Corvette weighs no more than one from the 60s! Possible because of progress in the state of the art.

Cars are big/heavy today because big, dumb, heavy Americans must have big, dumb, heavy cars. And because CAFE regs remained at the same level for about 20 years, so any improvements in engine/driveline efficiency were squandered on making cars bigger/heavier.

Never would have dreamed I'd be saying this, as when I was a kid I hated the idea of CAFE regs. But looking at cars today, I honestly think that the true sports/sporty car enthusiast would have a MUCH better selection of cars today if they had just kept jacking up CAFE every year. Instead we get a 3-series as big/heavy as a Buick, and "hot hatches" well over 3000 lb.

Here's to the new Alfa! A truly lightweight modern sports car. It *can* still happen!

Don't forget the Alfa 4C has CF chassis, this is where mostly where the price comes from. The engine is turbocharged and is good for 300 PS, in stock form. Autodelta UK wil definitely have tuning options, so I'd expect this car to be even fast on straight line. As for handling, if the info I got is correct, the 4C has no power steering at all. Interior should be to a large amount, exposed CF.
Only a few days till full reveal.



:bs:

I have owned several Alfa's and I didn't have any major problems till now. The previous Alfa I has was from 1994, it was in very bad condition, the previous owner drove the car very badly (diesel way) and never did proper maintenance. When I got it it was crap and didn't drive. I did maintenance and dispite the used engine it drove well, it even oversteered, I could "drift" with it. LOL. Later I rapped it to death, it just did not die. Very reliable IMO. I did +1000 km trips with it from France to Italy. What scary but nothing happend.

There is more lie than truth about Alfa reliablity. Issue is that most can't drive.

I wouldn't really say the FRS/BRZ is considered lightweight though Zdan. The AE86 was about 500-600 lbs lighter with a bigger backseat and a non aluminum engine. So regs do play a part in weight gain.

Alfa's are tricky.

Since its always warm in Italy, they don't really need to warm up their engines since the oil tends to be around room temp. In colder temps or overall in places where it doesn't get hot the car doesn't get properly warmed up.
If you ever met someone whos owned a number of Alfa's, they tend to let the car warm up intill the the temp gauge is 1/4 there, then you slowly drive the car till its at normal (half) and then you can rev it crazy.

Thats mostly just a theory, but Alfa's are still wonderful, its a way different experience then any Jap car can offer.

:thanks:

Thank you for mentioning that. It is such a normal thing for me to do, that I even forgot to mention that. Indeed I always warm the engine before driving. Even short distances. And in Rome, I didn't have to do that except a few months in winter.

There is one another theory...


If your not wearing leather gloves, a good watch and sun glasses while driving an Alfa, they tend to break down...


:lol:

To me, the FR-S/BRZ are not really a modern AE86 (which was a sporty version of a small rwd economy car, which is a GREAT idea for somebody to do now!). They are *spot on* a modern S13 240SX (dedicated rwd sport coupe platform, with IRS). The twins got some inspiration from the AE86, sure, but it's much more similar to the S13 than AE86.
A REAL "modern" AE86 would be more of a lower-slung rwd Yaris without the "Lumpy Space Princess" styling (not Corolla, which has moved upmarket).

Without crash regs, cars *could* be lighter-weight than equivalents from years gone by instead of same weight. But the real problem for those of us who like small, lightweight cars is that *most* people like gigantic hulking overweight behemoths, so that's exactly what the market is flooded with :(

Thank you, Toyobaru and Alfa, for *proving* that new cars do not HAVE to be so oversized and overweight! I hope all the other manufacturers are taking notes...

Haha, so true. I'm just lacking a good watch. That is maybe why it is not that fast. :party0030: :happy0180:

I hope the car succeeds. I want to see the next MX-5 platform which will be based on the Alfa 4C but more affordable. I hope Mazda and Alfa hit a home run. God knows we more cars like the twins on the road!

??? I dont' think this is the case at all. I think that Alfa will have its version of the next Miata, which will be an FR car and will NOT be the 4C platform. Maybe the Alfa Miata will use the same engine as the 4C?

The next MX-5 is being co-devolved by both Mazda and Alfa. Very similar to how the twins came to be. They even stated Mazda will be building(I think) I could be wrong.

And it will NOT be based on the 4C! As far as I can tell, effectively Alfa is selling their version of the next Miata, possibly with Alfa power (hopefully MORE power).

Don't really know how it snows on the dolomitis (Italian Alps with glaciar snow even during summer) if it's always warm in Itali.

Alfa had a really bad period, all modern alfas are at least industry average in terms of reliability.

I would consider getting 4c, but it's definitelly out of my budget. Hope it has that classic Alfa looks.

Looks great imo

Mazda is building the chassis. The Alfa version will have an Alfa powertrain in the same chassis. It MIGHT share some drivetrain components, but it's aiming for a price point about $15-20,000 less than the 4C, so I would expect less horsepower than the 4C.

I drive it in NFS Most Wanted, because it looks like my FRS!

Well, this is the future for sports car. Not so much hp and weight, but lightness and more purpose build platforms (maybe co development with 2 different manufacturer). Hot hatches has nowdays so much power that i think they are pain in the ass to run when they get older, but light RWD sports car with reasonable hp can be quite cheap to maintain. And sports car must be 2+2 seater cos it has better changes to sell enough. I think older porches did have everything right, 2+2 seater, enough power and superb chassis. Like 944 and so on...

But this alfa is way too expensive... I don't know how they have money to do this kind of thing cos they don't have one single car wich sell well. I hope that they will get good sales with 4 c so we would see alfa in business in the future too.

Drat, I was hoping this was the Mazda/Alfa collaboration car. I can't affo'd dat $#!t!

I have been watching and wanting this car since the prototype was released 2 years ago. Having owned Alfa's for years reliability is great as long as you maintain the car properly. Your never really driven a car until your drive an "Alfa" they don't call them Alfaholics for nothing it is truly addicting and so precise to drive. I really hope they can keep the price is the 50k range and 2000lbs with 300hp and I'll lay a deposit today.

The Dealership here in town won't take a deposit on the 4C. I tried and was told that they don't know if they'll get the Alfas or not. So apparently it hasn't been flushed out quite yet.

Fleshed out: To bring details to fruition, to complete sorting of information, to finalize.

Flushed out: To expel something, to force something or someone out of hiding.


"Yes boss, all the details of the project have been fleshed out and we're ready to move forward."

"Sir, the gunman is barricaded in that stronghold and we don't how to flush him out."


And now I've met today's quota of public service. Finally I can clock out :)

It will not be in a 50k range..

i saw one of these the other day driving around the chrysler HQ! minimal camo on it. Sounded pretty sick

Right. More like 60k and 250-270HP

Too bad it will be so expensive. That picture looks so hot.

Let's hope Mazda helps with the design, setup and tuning of the chassis, because Alfa managed a big fail when it did the 8c, it was widely acknowledged to handle poorly.

I don't think Fiat needs Mazda to help with handling and design considering that they own Ferrari, Maserati, and Chrysler (which includes SRT). Pretty sure they have some in-house expertise.