07-10-2017:
Report of Alfa Romeo 4C "Bought from South London dealer" requiring a complete rebuild of its carbon fibre chassis costing £1,000 at its 12 month service. (The question here is why? Had it been damaged. If not, the rebuild should have been FoC.) Now Alfa dealer is recommending a brake fluid change.
05-03-2018:
Report of turbo of Alfa Romeo 4C failing at 14,000 miles at just over 3 years old. Alfa says owner must pay 50% of the cost. Probably from switching off the engine when the turbo was too hot. After track driving, motorway driving or a long ascent you need to idle the engine for a minute or two to keep oil circulating through the turbo bearing. If you don't, the oil in the turbo bearing oil supply and oil return pipes can carbonise, blocking the pipes and cutting off the oil supply to the turbo bearings.
March 2011
Alfa 4C made its first appearance
Rear-engined, carbon fibre coupe originally slated to go on sale in limited numbers at about £40,000 during 2012.
Originally had a 250PS version of the 1,750cc Multi Air engine. Carbon fibre tub, like the McClaren MP4-12C keeps weight right down to about 850kg. Alfa says 0-62mph in under 5 seconds and restricted 155mph top speed. By January 2012, price was estimated at £38,000, engine to be 235PS turbocharged 1,750 Multi Air, weight 900kg, 0-62mph 4.3 seconds. 18,000 to be built. On sale from mid 2013.
September 2013
Details announced with prices from £45,000
Designed, engineered and built as a pure driving machine, the all-new Alfa Romeo 4C is an uncompromised thoroughbred that marks the return to the world of lightweight sports coupe for the Alfa Romeo brand. Its natural beauty is defined by function; the need to wrap the engine and chassis in a compact, aerodynamically-efficient shape, making it a worthy descendent of one of the most beautiful coupes of all time: the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale. 3,989mm long x 1,864mm wide x 1,183mm high.
Designed and engineered by Alfa Romeo and built at the Maserati plant in Modena, the mid-engined Alfa Romeo 4C employs the latest technologies of Alfa Romeo's newest models: The new, all-aluminium 1750 Turbo Petrol engine; the latest-generation ALFA TCT dry twin clutch semi-automatic transmission and the Alfa D.N.A. driving mode selector - now with a new “Race” mode.
Power comes courtesy of a new four-cylinder turbo engine which, thanks to its aluminium block, is 22kg lighter than the engine that powers the Alfa Giulietta Cloverleaf. Turbo-charged and with direct injection, this new1750 Turbo Petrol unit sets new torque and specific power records for this size of engine, at over 200Nm- and 137 bhp-per-litre respectively. Its maximum power output is 240 bhp at 6,000 rpm while its maximum torque output is 350Nm (258 lb ft.), available between 2,100 and 4,000 rpm. To underline the flexible nature of this new engine, 80% of its torque is available from just 1800 rpm.
Accelerating from 0-62 mph takes just 4.5 seconds in the new Alfa Romeo 4C and top speed is 160 mph, but this supercar performance isn’t at the expense of the environment. Due to its light weight and advanced engine and transmission technologies, the emissions of the Alfa Romeo 4C fall well within the strict limits of Euro 6. Its official combined-cycle fuel economy figure is 41.5 mpg and its CO2emissions are just 157g/km.
Being an Alfa Romeo, the driving experience is more than just raw statistics. The exhaust has been tuned to emit a full, rich sound and particular attention paid to the seat design so the movement and reactions of the car can be 'felt' properly. The unassisted steering is progressive, direct and engineered to convey as much feedback and feel as possible. The steering ratio (16:2) is such as to allow 90% of bends to be taken without having to take your hands off the steering wheel. Both brake and throttle response have also been tuned to match the dynamic nature of the Alfa Romeo 4C.
Inside the Alfa Romeo 4C, the exposed carbon-fibre chassis and driver-oriented controls leave you in no doubt as the purposeful nature of the car. In place of traditional dials, a multi-function TFT digital display occupies the instrument panel and the steering wheel is a bespoke, flat-bottomed, two-spoke item with integrated gear-shifter paddles. The remaining controls are grouped together on the tunnel console, including the button-operated ALFA TCT transmission selector and the Alfa D.N.A. system selector, which alters the operational parameters of the engine, transmission, ESC and Electronic Q2 differential depending on the driver’s requirements. Composite bucket seats and aluminium pedals complete the minimalistic, drive-focussed cabin.
The Alfa Romeo 4C offers high levels of customisation including six exterior body colours; three pastel (Black, White and Alfa Red), one metallic (Basalt Grey) and two three-layer metallics (Madreperla White and Competizione Red). There are four different coloured brake calipers available and well as four different upholstery options.
ENGINE
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Type
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1750 cc, aluminium, 4 cylinders, turbocharged tbtturbochargedturbocharged
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Position
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Central
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Orientation
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Transverse
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Displacement (cm³)
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1742
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Maximum power bhp (kW-EC) at rpm
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240 (177) 6000
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Maximum torque Nm at rpm
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350 between 2200 and 4250
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DRIVING MODE SELECTOR
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Type
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Evolved Alfa D.N.A.
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Positions
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All Weather, Natural, Dynamic, Race
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Transmission
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Gearbox
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ALFA TCT with dual dry clutch, paddle controls and Launch Control
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Number of gears
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6 + R
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Drive
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Rear
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Differential
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Electronic Q2
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CHASSIS
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Type
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Carbon fibre monocoque
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Front suspension
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Double wishbone
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Rear suspension
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Evolved MacPherson
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Front brakes (mm)
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Dual-cast, perforated, self-ventilated, 305x28
with Brembo fixed 4 piston calipers
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Rear brakes (mm)
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Perforated, self-ventilated 292x22 discs
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Standard front tyres
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205/45 R17
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Standard rear tyres
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235/40 R18
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STEERING
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Steering box
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Rack and pinion
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PERFORMANCE
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Acceleration 0 – 62 mph (secs)
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4.5
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Braking distance 62 - 0 mph (m)
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36
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Top speed (mph)
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160
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Maximum deceleration when braking (g)
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1.25
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Maximum lateral acceleration (g)
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1.1
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CAPACITIES - WEIGHTS
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Unladen weight (kg)
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895
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Fuel tank (litres)
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40
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*CONSUMPTION - EMISSIONS
ACCORDING TO DIRECTIVE 1999/100/EC
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Urban cycle mpg (l/100km)
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28.8 (9.8)
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Extra-urban cycle mpg (l/100km)
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56.5 (5.0)
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Combined cycle mpg (l/100km)
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41.5 (6.8)
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CO 2 emissions (g/km)
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157
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Environmental classification
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Euro 6
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DIMENSIONS
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Number of seats
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2
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Length (mm)
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3989
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Width (mm)
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1864
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Height (mm)
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1183
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Wheelbase (mm)
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2380
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Luggage compartment capacity (dm³)
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110
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May 2015
Alfa Romeo 4C Spider goes on sale
Like the coupe, the new Alfa Romeo 4C Spider is built around a carbon fibre monocoque with minimal structural enhancements required in the transition from Coupe to Spider. The main developments include a new aluminium rollover structure, which is nestled underneath a black “halo”; a specially-developed carbon fibre windscreen frame and an engine compartment cross-member made from high-strength steel.
The Coupe’s fastback rear end is replaced by classic and distinctive Spider buttresses and a new engine cover which also features three heat extractors and a subtle rear spoiler. There are significant changes to the front, too, with new, covered, projector-style xenon headlamps as standard on the Spider (and optional on the Coupé).
Special attention has been paid to the aerodynamic characteristics of the Spider to ensure minimal wind and noise intrusion when the cloth roof is removed and stowed away, and for those owners who want to use their Spider all year round, a carbon fibre hardtop will be available as an optional accessory at a later date.
A new carbon-fibre air intake system, engineered to provide additional transmission cooling for track-focussed drivers, also joins the options list, while a number of all-new wheel designs debut on the 4C Spider too, either in 17/18-inch (front/rear) or 18/19-inch sizes in silver or dark finishes. The exterior features are rounded out with a vibrant new pastel Giallo Prototipo (yellow) paint option.
Inside, a new Alpine head unit and standard Alfa Hi Fi sound system offer improved audio quality, usability and device connectivity, and to further enhance the Spider’s cabin ambience, new options such as premium leather with accent stitching and matching door cards will be offered later in the year.
Powered by the same, all-aluminium, 240hp, 258lb.-ft., 1750 TBi engine as the Coupé, performance is on a par with the hardtop model, with a top speed of 160mph and a 0 to 60mph time of less than 4.5 seconds, as well as the capability to generate the same 1.1g of lateral acceleration and 1.25g of braking deceleration as the Coupé.
The Alfa Romeo 4C Spider is priced from £59,500 OTR with an enhanced standard specification in line with the revised Coupé, including the upgraded audio system; luxury floor mats; glove compartment with leather cover; bespoke car cover and car care kit - plus parking sensors and cruise control available as free options – in addition to its carbon fibre windscreen frame, new wheels and fared-in xenon headlamps, which are standard on the Spider.