Best show in concept form at the 2011 Geneva motor show, the 2014 Alfa Romeo 4C heralds the company's return, Lightness and affordability were the engineers' watchwords during 4C design, with the resulting road car built around a carbon-fiber central chassis tub that weighs just 143 pounds; in fact, the dry weight of the entire 4C is under 2,000 pounds. Final curb weight sans passengers is likely to come in under 2,500.
Alfa Romeo is currently on a drip feed. The Fiat-owned brand fields a two models lineup in its home market: the slow-selling MiTo subcompact, which missed the hearts of most Alfisti by a substantial margin, and the Giulietta, which turned out to be a stylish but otherwise inferior Volkswagen Golf competitor. The 8C Competizione, released six years ago, was an overpriced and short-lived glimmer of hope, but it did plant the seed for the 4C, which was conceived as a more affordable but in many ways even more extreme brand shaper. The uncompromising mid engine two seater is skin over bones light and focuses primarily on performance and handling. Exciting to drive and yet surprisingly efficient, it scores a ten out of ten for head turning style, and yet it won't deplete your bank account like all those big name super cars that are essentially built to the same format. Did Alfa achieve the squaring of the circle, or is the 4C a pretty phony that will fall apart in the real world only now.
Alfa Romeo is currently on a drip feed. The Fiat-owned brand fields a two models lineup in its home market: the slow-selling MiTo subcompact, which missed the hearts of most Alfisti by a substantial margin, and the Giulietta, which turned out to be a stylish but otherwise inferior Volkswagen Golf competitor. The 8C Competizione, released six years ago, was an overpriced and short-lived glimmer of hope, but it did plant the seed for the 4C, which was conceived as a more affordable but in many ways even more extreme brand shaper. The uncompromising mid engine two seater is skin over bones light and focuses primarily on performance and handling. Exciting to drive and yet surprisingly efficient, it scores a ten out of ten for head turning style, and yet it won't deplete your bank account like all those big name super cars that are essentially built to the same format. Did Alfa achieve the squaring of the circle, or is the 4C a pretty phony that will fall apart in the real world only now.
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