The Alfa Romeo 4C: adding lightness the Alfa way

An event held by the Lopresto Collection always exceeds your own expectations. As a matter of fact, aside from the stunning cars of the Collection, there was an entire grid of brand new Alfa Romeo and Abarth cars for the participants to drive. Imagine being handed over the keys to the 4c with no restrictions to driving on the track. What a joy! Despite the numerous drivers at the event, I mostly had a free fire zone in front of me, so I could make the tires scream in protest and not hurt anybody else.
The fog and the wet track were not to a restraining factor to test those machines properly so I got a chance to drive like a hoonigan and not to pay the legal consequences (car wrecks not included).
The 4C in real life steals the show like no other. On the grid, it was the second lowest car after a tiny Lotus 23. Its sleek white body looks much better in reality than in photographs. It has its own presence, and it does not compare to any other car on the road. The car has such harmonious volumes and it promises a great fun. To me plays the "serious driver's car package" role.

Lotus Elise be warned! The 4C spartan finishing, you can even touch the carbon fiber frame and it has minimal seats. But it definitely has lots of character, and that's what Italians want!

The model I tested was a "Launch Edition", so it had the controversial carbon headlights that nobody has ever liked. As I saw the car moving and appearing out of the fog with the lights on, it made a perfect sense to me and felt it had a unique touch. I also recognize I would probably be the very first to say this. Enough with this pornographic automotive sightseeing, let's get in and head out for a drive.

Getting into a car like this is a challenge per se. The light, composite door opens and to reach the low seat (you're sitting right on the floor) I have to fight my way in between the steering wheel and the thick layers of carbon fiber that compose the chassis. Once I let my body slide in the cocooned seat, I have a look around and everything seems to be a stylish spartan design that has written "performance" all over it. The steering wheel is thick and unassisted, and the pedals are properly angled and feel grat. No fancy huge brake pedal here, just proper racing stuff. The seat has no height adjustment, as it only slides back and forward, and it is ultra thin. What's surprising is that it wasn't that uncomfortable as many journalists pointed out before. It is a lightweight shell that supports the driver's body very well. Also there is no storage space in the back, just a plain black light panel divides me from the engine compartment. When you rev the engine, the whole cockpit resonates beautifully.

 I am also impressed by the visibility I have in front of me. Certainly it is not the best visibility on the market, but in sports car terms, they are exceptional. As I turn on the key, a typical 4 cylinder rumble erupts behind the black panel behind my shoulder, awaiting my command. It is not a beastly sound, but a nice straight 4 rumble tells you the car is ready. So, off we go, 1st gear in and we ease off to the track.

I decide to familiarize with the 4c and leave it in Normal mode on the DNA switch for a whole lap. Driving this car is for me a relief from modern cars. In many ways, it seems that I have a car that behaves like an analogical model from the late 80ies. It's all about the chassis, the engine and the handling. It's essential, and the unassisted steering wheel helps me figure out exactly what the car is doing. Opposite to common belief, it doesn't drain all of your stamina in seconds. It's heavy but not impossible to steer. Driving the car in Normal mode, the ride is not too harsh, and you can still feel the properly balanced chassis. Transmission is not super quick, but it's smooth and acts precisely as we go down the road. I complete the lap of the twisty Castelletto di Branduzzo circuit, and I decide to increase the pace and try to reach the car limits. Power delivery is smooth and consistent through the rev range, and the 237 hp of the 1750cc turbo definitely feel like more and they are easily manageable. Flooring the throttle pedal in such a car is a joy and puts a smile on your face: the acceleration squeezes you in the seats and there is little jaw of the nose in the air. Traction is superb even on a wet surface and the car allows to play a bit with its natural oversteer. Such an exhilarating package! The sound is fantastic: the turbine hisses in anger and the tiny interior resonate with the loud intake noise. Simply orgasmic. The chassis is very well balanced and the car is neutral during cornering and allows you to drive precisely and take advantage of the great balanced chassis. In a track like Castelletto di Branduzzo with tight corners, the car transfers its weight smoothly and you never feel like being thrown around. 

The car feels very tight and there's a lot of communication between front and rear suspension. 

Braking power is really good and allows for proper modulation and do not seem to fade away after many laps. They are precise and do not bite violently after you lightly touch them. The feel is superb and inspires confidence right away.

Gear shifts are handled smoothly and the transmission responds quickly to the inputs on the paddles. On the DNA, different settings do not lead to a drastic change in the car's behavior. The only difference I noticed in Dynamic mode is a more aggressive power delivery.

the 4C has a high mounted engine in a very stiff chassis: this accentuates the natural tendency to oversteer when you exit the corner.  A bit too much throttle can make the tail snap out of your control, but with some experience on your back and a few laps in the car, you can predict it and control it easily as it would return into its place easily.
In the end, it does not bother me: you could use the throttle to come out a corner and have plenty of fun by swinging its tail.
The car is not too nervous and allows you to explore its limits without taking too many risks. The unassisted steering wheel is the icing on the cake that will make any driving enthusiast smile: so connected, you feel the road like in a proper sports car. Just what we driving junkies like. 

The 4C is a car that stands on its own. Despite being designed a sports car made to be competing against the Lotus Elise and the Porsche Cayman, it's a properly balanced product: not as spartan as the Elise, but not as practical as a Porsche Cayman. The 4C has a seductive interior with an unassisted steering rack, a carbon frame which you see trough the interior, yet the thin seats are made of leather, and the voluptuous shape of the exterior adds to the elegance and sportiness of this car. In my opinion, it feels at home on the racetrack but its elegance won't look too bad in the gardens of Villa d'Este.

It feels like a track day car but is not as extreme. Yes, it has a tiny boot, and poor rear visibility, but has air con, good front visibility and is not too big. I felt special driving it, as I got all eyes on me.
Everyone was looking at it when it was moving through the pit lane, everyone waited their turn to take the test drive and I've never seen so many eyes gazing at the bright white composite bodywork. It was the star of the show and it deserves to be so.
Allow me to make two wishes: with the new Cayman GT4 lapping the 'Ring at 7:40, I really want to see a GTA version of the 4C. Just imagine how cool would it be! And second, would you make a racing version, Alfa Romeo?
Driving this famed 4C makes me positive about the future that is ahead of us: for the first time in 20 years, it happens to be brighter. It's definitely a first-step forward to what it'll be the rebirth of the great Alfa Romeo history.