I met the Alfa Romeo 4C with mixed feelings. For certain, I was excited to drive the exclusive little Alfa; just look at how gorgeous it is. But I wasn't sure what frame of reference was most appropriate for evaluating it. There isn't much like it on the road. It's priced to compete with the likes of the Porsche Cayman, but it looks like it should be going wheel-to-wheel with a McLaren 650S. But to which class does the 4C belong?
To find out, I (awkwardly) climbed into the driver's seat and disappeared over a long weekend with the gorgeous and rare Alfa. What I learned is that the 4C is the missing link between the two classes with the head-turning looks, single-minded design, and all of the impracticalities of a supercar, but with a driving character and performance that's as accessible and rewarding as my favorite sports models.
Uncompromisingly compromised
The 4C is uncompromisingly designed for the business of a thrilling drive and equally thrilling look. This single-mindedness means that there is a mountain of compromises where daily driving is concerned. However, to my enthusiast's eye, these compromises are easily remedied.
Space is at a premium in the compact 4C. The two-seater configuration only leaves room to share your driving enjoyment with one passenger, and the small trunk behind the engine compartment -- there's no front trunk, like you'd think -- has space for only one carry-on size bag; so you won't be taking much wherever you head. You've nowhere to safely stow a phone while driving as there isn't a proper glove compartment -- only a thin leather pouch beneath the dashboard - and the cup holders are too small to even fit a drink. Beverages, gloves, phones, and luggage would only weigh the 4C down; leave them at home.
View full gallery (35 Photos)
To call the 4C "low slung" is an understatement; you'll be sitting at road level. Entrance and egress are complicated by the extra wide door sill that you'll have to step over and into. One doesn't just enter the little coupe; it's more like sliding into a pair of exotic carbon-fiber sports trousers. Needless to say, your first few times getting in or out of the Alfa Romeo 4C will be embarrassingly awkward and clumsy affairs. And as my driving companion learned, retaining your dignity while getting out of the 4C in a dress or skirt is almost out of the question. My solution: get into the Alfa Romeo 4C once and then never get out again. Trust me, you won't want to.
Rearward and over-the-shoulder visibility is nil. You get a pretty good view of the engine cover in the center mirror, but not much of the road behind you. That said, I didn't have very much trouble negotiating tight spots and traffic in the compact 4C. One of the benefits of the car being so small is that there's not much of a blind spot because there's not much car behind you. Alfa has thoughtfully included rear parking sensors that beep when you approach an obstruction while reversing to keep you from damaging the exotic bodywork, but the lack of a rear camera is a gross safety and convenience omission. Rearward visibility is less of an issue on a closed circuit, so always drive the 4C on a racetrack. Another problem solved.
Perched at the center of the dashboard is the familiar Parrot Asteroid Classic, which serves as the infotainment hub for the Alfa. This is a quirky little single-DIN unit that I reviewed back in 2012. You can check out my full review to learn about the an assortment of Android apps that can be installed to enable navigation, audio streaming and more, but none of this matters because the four-speaker setup (two tweeters and two midrange drivers) is impossible to hear when the 4C is moving. To keep weight down, the Alfa uses very little (if any) sound deadening and very thin glass for the windows. This means you'll be getting lots of road, wind and engine noise even at moderate speeds, and the afterthought of an audio setup is woefully inadequate in the face of the 4C's cacophonous ride. My solution: Turn off the radio and listen to the engine over your shoulder along with the whoosh and whistle of the turbo instead. In fact, just remove the stereo and speakers for weight savings.
View full gallery (35 Photos)
No, the 4C is not a good daily driver; it's a special occasion car and a showpiece. The coupe is good for only one thing: driving fast.
Exotic looks, exotic chassis
It's fun to crack wise about the 4C's impracticality, but at the end of the day, it is probably the most gorgeous car I'll ever have the pleasure of driving.
The little red coupe flaunts a sexy Italian design with curves that rival those of a Ferrari. The proportions remind me of the Lancia Stratos, and I even managed to get a thumbs-up from a rubbernecking gentleman in a Maserati Gran Turismo. Actually, for better or worse, the 4C turned heads and thumbs everywhere it went. To my horror, I'd catch other drivers in traffic taking cameraphone shots of the car. Funny old guys with funny mustaches stopped me to chat about "Alfa Romeo's triumphant return to the US." Most annoyingly, every dude in a lightly modded Accord V6 wanted to have a go at outrunning the Alfa. If you're the kind of person who's made uncomfortable by a lot of attention, this isn't the car for you.
View full gallery (35 Photos)
Behind the beautiful form is purpose and function. The chassis is a lightweight carbon-fiber monocoque that tips the scales at a scant 236 pounds before the engine, suspension, and other support systems are added. Here and there, exposed in the door jamb and behind the seats, you'll see the bare carbon weave exposed. This lightweight and stiff structure gives the suspension (double wishbone up front and multilink in the rear) an excellent platform to work from.
The short body is shaped around a mid-engine configuration which puts the powerplant behind the passenger compartment, but still ahead of the rear wheels. This allows the engine to be showcased under the rear glass, but also gives the car a very neutral weight distribution. The wide and low stance looks race-car cool but also keeps the center of gravity low.
It's no surprise that the 4C's ride is stiff, but with such a good platform it's not punishing (unless you hit a pothole; you'll want to dodge those). The 4C is both predictable and joyful when swaying back and forth between apexes on my favorite mountainous testing grounds. With my rear just inches above the tarmac, it's also no surprise that the 4C boasts some of the best seat-of-the-pants road feel that I've experienced in a long time. You'll feel every pebble on the road, every change in the pavement's camber, every adjustment of the car's attitude as you rotate through a turn. And you'll be able to react to those changes quickly and deftly.
I met the Alfa Romeo 4C with mixed feelings. For certain, I was excited to drive the exclusive little Alfa; just look at how gorgeous it is. But I wasn't
2015 Alfa Romeo 4C Review - Kelley Blue Book
2015 Alfa Romeo 4C overview with 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C Expert Review. while a well-equipped Launch Edition tops $70,000. The Alfa Romeo 4C Spider starts at
2015 Alfa Romeo 4C Coupe First Drive Review Car and Driver
News and Reviews + 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider + Feast Your Eyes on Our 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C Launch Edition Mega Gallery Future Cars 2015 Alfa Romeo Spider Spy
2015 Alfa Romeo 4C Launch Edition Start Up, Exhaust, and In Depth Review
Hello and welcome to Saabkyle04! YouTube's largest collection of automotive variety! In today's video, we'll take an up close and personal, in depth look
2015 Alfa Romeo 4C 2dr Cpe Launch Edition Specs, Price ...
Click here to build your 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C 2dr Cpe Launch Edition. 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C 2dr Cpe Launch Edition User Reviews. The 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C is
2015 Alfa Romeo 4C Launch Edition Start Up, Exhaust, and ...
Alfa Romeo 4C Forums > Alfa Romeo 4C Forums > Alfa Romeo 4C Reviews > 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C Launch Edition Start Up, Exhaust, and In Depth Review 1Likes. Top; All;
Alfa Romeo 4C Review - Motor Trend
2015 Alfa Romeo 4C Launch Edition Track Package First Test Don't Call It a Comeback
2015 Alfa Romeo 4C Launch Edition Coupe Review & Ratings ...
Edmunds Expert Review of the 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C Launch Edition Coupe
2015 Alfa Romeo 4C Specifications, Pricing, Photos - Motor ...
Find complete 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C specifications, Review; Specs / Options; 2015 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C Launch Edition Coupe =
2015 Alfa Romeo 4c Launch Edition Review | CarAdvice
Nice review. I agree with the style of the car, but is it really 3x better than a toybaru 86 or mx5 (40k costs) in the real world with speed limits, speed humps and
