Contact: Alfa Romeo 4C, technical information and driving impressions

In the first part of this test, we told you all the details regarding the exterior and interior design of the Alfa Romeo 4C.

In this second article, we will unpack all the technical secrets hidden in this small sports car, and tell you how they work when we put it on the tarmac. Let’s get started!

Technical details

As we previewed in the first part, the foundation of this Alfa Romeo is its central chassis built in carbon fibre. Two further sub-chassis, at the front and rear, are bolted to it. This assembly forms the primary structure of the 4C. Afterwards, a roll bar is added just behind the occupants’ heads, to which part of the roof structure is attached. The weight of the vehicle is distributed 38% to the front and the remaining 62% to the rear.

Another key point of this very special vehicle is its engine. We are talking about the “heart” -or cuore, as the Italians say- of the Alfa. It is a 1,748 cc engine with an inline 4-cylinder layout. Its compression ratio is not especially high (9.5:1), which speaks in favour of its current performance and a possible power increase in the not-too-distant future.

With a maximum turbo boost pressure of 1.5 bar (including atmospheric pressure), the Alfa Romeo 4C delivers 240 CV and 350 Nm, figures that give this small sports car one of the most favourable power-to-weight ratios on the market, at 3.83 kg/CV. To put this in perspective, this figure is better than that of the all-powerful Audi R8 V8.

The engine is mounted just behind the cabin, in a mid-rear position. It is coupled to a dual-clutch TCT gearbox with six ratios, capable of making gear changes virtually instantaneously. Several features found on other models, such as the Parking button or the “creeping” function, which allowed the car to start moving simply by releasing the brake, emulating the operation of a torque-converter automatic transmission, have been removed.

As we noted in the first article, this Alfa enjoys a design in which beauty and engineering go hand in hand. This is the case of the two air intakes found on the sides of the vehicle. Both serve to cool the engine, one being the intercooler air intake and the other a dynamic turbo cooling duct.

The engine is fed by a direct injection system operating across a pressure range of 20 to 200 bar. Other “delicacies” of this engine include the block, made entirely of aluminium, as well as an electronically controlled thermostat and an electric pump system that keeps cooling the turbocharger even after the engine has been switched off.

The steering has no power assistance of any kind, which brings advantages and disadvantages that we will discuss later. As for the suspension, at the front axle the Alfa uses a superimposed wishbone layout, similar to that found on F1 cars, while at the rear it is a Multilink system which also allows individual adjustment of both camber and toe.

Driving impressions

Now it is time to get behind the wheel and check whether all the theory I have explained above translates into thrilling driving, as Alfa Romeo suggests. The answer is a resounding “yes”. Alfa Romeo has put on the road one of the most exciting, efficient and sporty vehicles currently available.

Absolutely every system in the car gives the driver a large dose of sportiness, involving the pilot in every movement. To begin with, the engine is an absolute torpedo. Just pulling the left paddle a couple of times takes you from driving gently to feeling your neck and back pressed into the seat backrests.

The sound is also worth mentioning, because the Alfa Romeo leaves no one indifferent who hears it from outside (with a whole symphony of gurgles, backfires and assorted resonances). Its occupants will enjoy it just as much, able, if they listen closely, to distinguish the sound of the injection, the high-pressure pump or the turbo blow-off valve.

The suspension is extremely firm, though it does not become too uncomfortable once on the move. The steering is also one of the standout points of the package, since, thanks to the absence of the mechanical and electronic filters we are used to in today’s vehicles, it conveys every inch of the terrain the tyres are running over with total fidelity. It is very direct, slightly heavy to turn when stationary, but very easy to control on the move. It is advisable, however, to grip the steering wheel firmly when hitting imperfections, since the lack of weight over the front axle can cause you to deviate from your line.

The braking system, made up of ventilated and drilled discs measuring 305 mm at the front and Brembo fixed 4-piston calipers, brings the car to a stop with commendable ease (which is hardly surprising given the low weight to be stopped). They also have a very pleasant feel, as they are not heavily assisted and allow braking to be modulated very precisely. The ABS activation threshold is calibrated so that it only intervenes when strictly necessary, avoiding lengthening the stopping distance more than needed.

In short, the Alfa Romeo 4C is one of those sports cars that take us back in time, pursuing performance through weight reduction and eliminating everything superfluous that filters out the sporting sensations, something that, unfortunately, is disappearing a little more every day.

Source | Highmotor and Alfa Romeo