A Dreamlike Interlude

To test an Italian brand, one must travel to Italy. This always fills the heart with anticipation. For sports car enthusiasts, it's an experience of the highest caliber of excitement.


I've visited Italy numerous times this year already, test-driving various Italian sports models. If you had asked me at the beginning of the year what my greatest "anticipation" was, I would have unhesitatingly answered: the star of today's feature, the Alfa Romeo "4C."


Indeed, on the morning of the test drive, as I awoke in a room at a golf resort hotel near Varano (the sacred ground for Alfa Romeo, and now a test development circuit for the entire Fiat Group), the first image that came to mind was the lustrous styling of a bright red 4C...

The dreamlike interlude began with a spectacular presentation.


A peculiar square building stood on the Varano circuit. The logo and "4C" were emblazoned on its side. Greeting us outside were the legendary supercar Alfa Romeo "Tipo 33 Stradale" and its racing version. The white building, built to partially overhang the track surface, housed a press area resembling a main grandstand, facing the tarmac.


With a roar, a racing version of the 4C burst into the building. In front of the arriving car, Alfa Romeo & Maserati Brand CEO Harald Wester began his presentation.

Following this, the designer and engineers detailed their respective fields using the actual car. A video combining the real vehicle with virtual images of its internal structure was displayed on monitors, accompanied by a grand exhaust note echoing "indoors," and a spectacular launch start and impressive full braking were demonstrated before the media.


This was the most thrilling presentation I had ever experienced.
And then, the Alfa Romeo development team repeatedly emphasized:
This is "a supercar that anyone can own."

Vehicle Weight: A Mere 895 kg

The goal was not to simply increase engine power, but to achieve supercar-level performance by reducing the weight-to-power ratio. This is the technical highlight of the 4C.


The weight reduction is indeed thorough (evident in compromises in interior finish quality and the absence of dampers on the engine hood, for example), but the fact that it's not as stoic as some British cars suggests a certain Italian sensibility.

The biggest contributor to this weight reduction is the monocoque body structure made of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP). Furthermore, it employs the "pre-preg" method using an autoclave, the most robust molding technique in the CFRP world.


The monocoque body alone weighs a mere 65 kg. The total vehicle weight is just 895 kg, and the crucial power-to-weight ratio is under 4 kg/ps (3.85 kg/ps in the lightest specification). Even with the Italian dry weight specification without air conditioning, these are astonishing figures.

Everything for Weight Reduction

Positioned behind the driver is a 1,750cc all-aluminum, direct-injection, turbocharged inline-4 engine. While its basic design is shared with the Giulietta, numerous components, including the block, cylinder liners, intake and exhaust systems, and a full-counter crankshaft, are custom-designed, resulting in a unit weight that is 22 kg lighter.


It is paired with a dry 6-speed TCT (2-pedal dual-clutch transmission) that has been updated with a dedicated program and now includes launch control. The shift-up time at full throttle is an astonishing 130 milliseconds.

The performance specifications of the Alfa Romeo 4C undoubtedly approach those of a supercar. While its top speed of 258 km/h, limited by its engine displacement, is modest, its 0-100 km/h acceleration of 4.5 seconds rivals that of high-end V8 front-engine sports cars.


The test car was a "Racing Package" option finished in Rosso Competizione. Both front and rear tires and wheels were upsized by one inch, and it was equipped with a sports exhaust, sports suspension, and a leather and microfiber steering wheel. Carbon headlight bases and bi-LED headlights were also optional.

Upon opening the door, the exposed carbon fiber sill plates immediately catch the eye. This is a testament to its status as a special sports car. Once you step over the slightly high sill and settle in, the cockpit space is ample. The seating position is quite low.


All controls and gauges are compactly arranged. While the dashboard area has a very sporty, motorcycle-like feel, the perceived quality is not particularly high. In fact, it might feel cheap. However, this too is a result of the focus on weight reduction.

Pure Driving Joy

Perhaps it's the optional racing exhaust system, but the sound from behind is ferocious. Even the subtle vibrations are transmitted without mercy, but this is at a level that sports car enthusiasts will likely find exhilarating.


With the "Alfa Romeo D.N.A." drive mode selector set to N (Normal), I started driving in full automatic. Due to the lack of power steering, the steering is quite heavy when starting off, but once in motion, its lightness becomes apparent. It's a lightness that feels grounded, as if the wheels are firmly planted on the road. The chassis has a substantial sense of rigidity, which contributes to a pleasing directness.

For a while, I enjoyed the country roads and village lanes around Varano in automatic mode. The ride is flat and firm. The chassis reacts rigidly with every bump, but it's not unpleasantly harsh for the driver.


The road ahead opened up. Unable to resist, I long-pressed the D.N.A. switch to D (Dynamic) and attempted a full-throttle run in Race mode. The acceleration was simply immense. It reached nearly 200 km/h in an instant. Moreover, its stability eliminated any sense of fear. The brakes were also superb and controllable.

The upshifts themselves were incredibly fast. While I felt they could have been delivered with a bit more crispness, the shift times are indeed remarkably short. The sound of the turbocharger spooling down on deceleration might be considered a bit crude by today's standards.


There was almost no perceptible turbo lag. It felt like a naturally aspirated engine with abundant torque. Combined with the car's light weight, it responds beautifully to even the slightest throttle input, making it incredibly fun to drive by modulating the accelerator.

However, the engine's character above 5,000 rpm is not particularly captivating. It's a shame, for an Alfa Romeo, that the engine isn't as enjoyable when revved out.

A Realizable Supercar for the Everyday

I also had the opportunity to test drive it on a special circuit at Varano.


The handling, which remained consistently flat, left a lasting impression. The sense of security during high-speed cornering and the feeling of rotating around the hips were incredibly satisfying.


It's so easy to handle due to its cohesive feel. There's none of the peakiness often associated with mid-engine cars. The front wheels constantly grip the road, allowing you to push hard without worrying about the rear breaking loose. The car responds obediently to inputs from your right foot, including the brake pedal, with precise lateral and longitudinal movements, making it fun and, consequently, fast.

Despite being a mid-engine car, often considered difficult to drive, its remarkable depth allows anyone to enjoy it to the fullest – another significant charm of the 4C.


The price for the Launch Edition (limited to 1,200 units worldwide, 200 for Asia, with the allocation for Japan yet to be announced) has been set at 7.3 million yen. This suggests that the base model for the Japanese market will certainly carry a price tag in the high 6 million yen range. Indeed, this is a realizable, everyday supercar.


The official announcement of the Japanese specifications, including pricing and equipment, will be made next year. Deliveries are expected to begin as early as next spring, or by early summer at the latest.

Alfa Romeo 4C | アルファ ロメオ 4C
Body Dimensions | Length 3,989 x Width 1,864 x Height 1,183 mm
Wheelbase | 2,380 mm
Weight | 895 kg
Engine | 1,742cc Inline-4 Direct Injection DOHC Turbo
Max Output | 177 kW (240 ps) / 6,000 rpm
Max Torque | 350 Nm / 2,200-4,250 rpm
Transmission | 6-speed Automatic (6-speed Alfa TCT)
Drivetrain | MR
Front Suspension | Double Wishbone
Rear Suspension | Strut
Tires Front/Rear | 205/45R17 / 235/40R18
Front Brakes | Ventilated Discs 305x28 mm
Rear Brakes | Ventilated Discs 292x22 mm
Top Speed | 258 km/h
0-100 km/h Acceleration | 4.5 seconds
100-0 km/h Deceleration | 36 m
Fuel Economy (NEDC) | 6.8 ℓ/100km (approx. 14.7 km/ℓ)
CO2 Emissions | 157 g/km
Fuel Tank Capacity | 40 ℓ
Trunk Capacity | 110 liters
Price | 56,000 Euros