Earmarked for launch in Europe during 2013, The Alfa Romeo 4C Concept supercar is all “Ambassador DNA Technology”; an ambassador of the engineering heritage that distinguishes the Alfa Romeo vehicles of today and tomorrow.
Voted by Germany’s Auto Bild magazine readers as “Most Beautiful Concept Car of the Year”, the Alfa Romeo 4C Concept is distinguished by a new and exclusive “Fluid Metal” exterior colour.
The concept presents the formula of the two-seater, rear-wheel drive coupé with its central engine, a length of approximately four metres and a wheelbase of less than 2.4 metres. These dimensions emphasise the car’s compact attributes while also accentuating its agility. Distinguished by its clean and graceful lines, the same principles are also applied to the inside, with the 4C’s specific trim level, maintaining features and devices which more directly reflect the car’s sporting spirit.
Born from the experience acquired through the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione and 8C Spider models, the new concept car shares its rear-wheel drive with the exclusive supercars as well as its philosophy based on achieving maximum driving pleasure and the proverbial Alfa Romeo road handling. This is an objective which the 8C Competizione and the 8C Spider pursue mainly through their increased power, while the Alfa Romeo 4C Concept follows the route of limited weight, made possible by extensive use of carbon, which also plays a structural role and guarantees exceptional agility with a weight/power ratio which is lower than 4kg/HP.
The chassis supports a body and inside which is crafted completely from carbon, while the rear frame structure and the crash boxes use aluminium extensively. The final result is a significant reduction in weight, limited to roughly 850kg, as well as the optimisation of the vehicle’s centre of gravity, which gives the advantage of increased agility and drivability on the most challenging roads.
The name “4C Concept” is suggestive of the sporting driving pleasure, in which the spectacular “4 cylinder” 1750 turbo petrol engine offers over 200 HP/147kW of power. Already featured on a number of models in production, for example the Giulietta Quadrifoglio Verde, the engine boasts cutting-edge technical solutions such as direct fuel injection, dual continuous variable valve timing, a turbocharger and a revolutionary scavenging control system which eliminates any turbo lag.
Located centrally in the rear of the vehicle, the engine in the Alfa Romeo 4C Concept ensures performance which matches or exceeds that of a 3-litre engine, whilst still delivering the moderate fuel consumption which is typical of a compact, 4-cylinder engine. Coupled with the new automatic “Alfa TCT” twin dry clutch transmission, now available on the MiTo and Giulietta, the powerful 1750 turbo petrol engine allows the 4C Concept to reach a top speed of over 250km/h and to accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in under five seconds.
The Alfa Romeo 4C Concept has an extremely sophisticated suspension layout (high quadrilateral at the front, MacPherson at the rear) to ensure maximum agility and road holding. This solution, along with the rear-wheel drive and the extraordinary weight to power ratio, ensures Alfa Romeo driving pleasure, enhanced even further by the weight distribution (40% on the front axle and 60% on the rear axle).
The Concept takes up the brand’s sporting tradition, taking us back to its origins when agility and the weight to power ratio were the keys to a successful racing vehicle, and combining these aspects with the Alfa Romeos which take to the road every day.
