So here we are on Balocco. To drive the new Alfa 4C as one of the first in the world.
It is a very important car for Alfa Romeo, the first of a new badge. The want to grow, go back to the USA.
So they went back to Alfa-basics: design (I think it looks great) driving fun, and lightness. It has less than 4 kg/horsepower.
It weighs 895 kg and we have 240 PS of power. And a mid-engine car on top of that.
That really is a light car. The new Lotus Exige S weighs way more than that.
This I don't like, the smart roadster headlights. The concept looked better. However, Alfa did it to save weight: that is a good excuse.
Apart from that they kept it low by use of carbon: the whole monocoque is made from it.
Not much stuff, here, no power steering! And mechanical stuff to open the boot like this.
And here the 1750 turbo engine. We know it from the Giulietta QV, but they changed a lot of stuff for this car. It weighs 20 kg less.
Is has 240 PS, but the technical people here explain it they can do more than that in the future. Maybe we can even reach 300 PS...
So I've driving for a while now and actually tired! you really feel it in your arms, in your back...
The weight distribution is 40-60, so the nose is really light and nervous. You really have to pay attention and keep your hands on the wheel.
You are really working in this car all the time.
That engine really is important. It makes the car. It is a turbo engine with enough power but I must say, I miss a high reving engine.
In a engine like that you can control the power more. Here it is more like a on/off switch.
HIt the throttle, wait... and there is the boost! Like a two stage rocket.
But exiting a corner, sometimes you miss the instant power to control the car.
Of course they didn't have that many options. They wanted a lot of power and a light engine. Hard to do without a turbo.
If you aren't driving in the edge, it does provide fun because of the constant power boost you can create.
But in the high revs, the power doesn't incline like you want it to.
Change gear goes through a double clutch gearbox with paddles. No manual gear avaible.
It is okay. Better than in a lot of hothatches, but not as good as Porsches PDK or in the Nissan GT-R.
Upshifting is good enough, but sometimes it cannot keep up with shifting back when braking. It is to slow.
The sound is nice though, of course high reving sounds great, but here you here that turbo spinning up.
And the waste gate sound like in old Lancer Evo's. A plus for excitement!
With driving they focussed on grip. It does has RDW, but this isn't a drift car. On dry tarmac it is really hard to brake traction with power.
That also because of the 40-60 weight and the big rear wheel tyres. So plenty room for more power in the future!
you can loose the rear of you play with the balance when lifting in corners. Also because of that weight in the rear.
The interior is what it should be in a car like this. Basic, but better looking than in a Lotus or so.
those buttons for the gearbox look nice, although they aren't that good on ergonomics.
The DNA-button doesn't really change that much, steering and damping stay the same. A little power and gearbox difference is all.
You have however a new racemode if you hold Dynamic for a longer time. Here ESP is 100% off.
No longer Alfa-speedomethers, but a digital screen like a motorbike. With a little TO much info for my taste.
So we noticed: Alfa didn't bluff when they claimed driving pleasure. Not a compromise, but fun to drive: that's it
And since they claim this car is the beginning of more Alfa's like this: the future Alfa-wise really is looking good!
+very light, great design - engine should be more agressive, gearbox sometimes to slow.