Got £38,000?...Buy an Alfa 4C

[Jim Prower]

Y'see, I think Matte is part of the problem. I think It'll look better in gloss rather than boilerplate undercoat.

 

[mafia_boy]

Not withstanding the looks, the performance figures for the car seem very favourable. 250hp turbo four, under 900kg......sounds like there will be some 911 owners who are going to get their butts spanked by this frisky little italian!! 👍

 

[astrosdude91]

Y'see, I think Matte is part of the problem. I think It'll look better in gloss rather than boilerplate undercoat.

Bingo. Personally I think matte red is ugly as sin. Slap on some gloss or metallic, and you've got a deal!

 

[Ibonibo]

why do i think that the price tag is not realistic??

I dig it, looks cool.
I would buy one. Now let's see if the price stays or gets increased... (looking at the price tag of an xbow, this seems to low targeted.

 

[Rotary Junkie]

Indeed, my first thoughts were that it looks like a less pretty Evora.

Mine were that someone had melted an Evora and stuck a few bits from an Alfa 8C on it.

 

[DK]

It looks like Alfa are plagiarising the Elise/Evora. I'm not a big fan of those headlights either.

 

[Dan_]

Fancy Elise lookalike, it has an Alfa grille and a reserved parking space in my heart. I really like it. 👍

 

[AarkonD]

On the whole i think its superb however i would change the bonnet to a more similar one to the 8c. The one on the 4c seems too sharp on its edges id rise the middle of the ridges? to fill it out more like the 8c. I also think it would be better with some chrome trim around the front inlets like the 8c it looks a bit naked without them at the very least around the diamond shaped "Alafa" grill.

 

[Luminis]

You're probably going to hate me for saying this, but... I dislike its looks. Big time. But (here comes the bomb) I seriously hate the design of the 8C as well and can't fathom why it's always described as an art, the epitome of a beautiful car and whatever.

Actually, none of the recent Alfa Romeos are catering to my personal taste. I somewhat liked the Brera (as in, I didn't think it was completely hideous), but that's about it.

 

[Dan_]

I honestly prefer the angry face of the Brera to the soft front end of the 8C, however, it quite matches the car as a whole, it's more classical and italian than the modern Brera.

Hating the styling of both cars is somewhat weird, I'd recommend you to see a doctor, though.

 

[Luminis]

Hating the styling of both cars is somewhat weird, I'd recommend you to see a doctor, though.

Well, I do like the Brera's front end. But... That hachback rear ruins it, in my opinion. If the rear end was more along the lines of the 156 to make the whole thing look like a sedan instead of an overblown hatchback, I'd be all over it.

 

[Danoff]

Not a great angle by any means, but what a fantastic looking car. Also liking the matte colour.

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

You're probably going to hate me for saying this, but... I dislike its looks. Big time. But (here comes the bomb) I seriously hate the design of the 8C as well and can't fathom why it's always described as an art, the epitome of a beautiful car and whatever.

Actually, none of the recent Alfa Romeos are catering to my personal taste. I somewhat liked the Brera (as in, I didn't think it was completely hideous), but that's about it.

I'm on the same boat. I don't hate the 8c design, but I don't really see it as being anything special; a bit different maybe.

 

[X-Power]

I've got to be honest... it's awful. The Brera, 159 and 8C were insanely pretty but the Mito, Guilietta and now this 4C are all really ugly in my opinion. Alfa need to get rid of the Mito nose and evolve the Brera nose instead. This Alfa 4C looks like a fat Evora. However, the looks won't matter if this thing drives good, so Alfa need to get the handling spot-on so that people look past the looks and buy it for it's handling.

 

[Cano]

know what I thought it was when I opened the link? A bad Photoshop render of a possible next Alfa based in a Exige or Evora. I then saw it was real and was like, damn, that's not good...

I'm also in for alfa staying with the Brera nose.

 

[Omnis]

This car is purty as hell.

 

[EmptySoul]

A very good looking car!
But is everything underneath the body as good as the design.

Because that is/was actually always an Issue with italian cars.

 

[Adamgp]

Chalk me up as someone who doesn't like it. Actually except for maybe the 8C, I'm not crazy about any new Alfa's.

 

[linkov]

the back is delicious. The picture angle you all keep posting is not very indicative.

Lotus's new management killed the elise and while not a pure replacement will definetely not make me miss it.

 

[Dan_]

Yep, and tipping the scales at only 850 kilos it may live to the legendary dynamics previously found in the baby Lotus. This is not just a light and looka Alfa, it's Alfa's redemption after years underneath Fiat wings.

 

[Rotary Junkie]

Holy crap, only 850kg?

Okay, I want it. Now.

 

[Imari]

It does look better from other angles. I echo the sentiment about about developing the Brera front design. That thing was sexy as.

 

[X-Power]

Well, I do like the Brera's front end. But... That hachback rear ruins it, in my opinion. If the rear end was more along the lines of the 156 to make the whole thing look like a sedan instead of an overblown hatchback, I'd be all over it.

Meet the 159...

On-Topic: The styling of the new Alfa 4C has grown on me a little, it reminds me of a second-gen Elise. It's still not pretty but it is unique and stands out amongst the sea of black/silver/grey repmobiles.

 

[sumbrownkid]

This better not be another 8C where it has glorious design, but horrible handling qualities.

 

[Dan_]

Well, the chassi comes straight out from a KTM X-Bow, which is a track toy car rival to the Ariel Atom, it can't be bad.

On another note I would like to see more specs to judge it's badassness, it's clear that the 4C will be getting Fiat's twin clutch gearbox ( I would rather have a stick ), but no world on which other gizmos will be there to make it easier to drive, will it ever inherit Ferrari's infamous manettino and thus carry dozens of adjustments to the vehicle dynamics? Or is this a more pure and straightforward sportscar?

I think that the main question is:

Is this a Alfa based on an X-Bow, or an X-Bow wearing an expensive italian suit? I'd rather have the latter.

 

[GT Pro]

£38,000 there and probably nudging $200,000AU here. How I hate Australia.

 

[sumbrownkid]

Well, the chassi comes straight out from a KTM X-Bow, which is a track toy car rival to the Ariel Atom, it can't be bad.

On another note I would like to see more specs to judge it's badassness, it's clear that the 4C will be getting Fiat's twin clutch gearbox ( I would rather have a stick ), but no world on which other gizmos will be there to make it easier to drive, will it ever inherit Ferrari's infamous manettino and thus carry dozens of adjustments to the vehicle dynamics? Or is this a more pure and straightforward sportscar?

I think that the main question is:

Is this a Alfa based on an X-Bow, or an X-Bow wearing an expensive italian suit? I'd rather have the latter.

Speaking of Ferrari, will they ever produce a car without all those electronic gizmos?

I always thought that the last pure Ferrari was the F40. Now it's all electronics with driver input.

 

[Piket]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_g_uQ5zJRVs

 

[Neal]

Just rumour so take it with a pinch of salt...

Porsche engines in VW/Alfa deal

Volkswagen already has a plan in place for Alfa Romeo’s development should it acquire the marque from Fiat.

Rumours from Germany claim Alfa is likely to receive direct assistance from Porsche, which is developing a new flat-four engine for a new entry-level roadster that will sit below the Boxster.

That engine could be installed in mainstream Alfas, bringin a useful historical link to models such as the Alfasud and 33 and setting the brand’s cars apart from VWs, Seats, Skodas and Audis. Such a deal would benefit Porsche too, since it would increase the economies of scale on the motor’s production.

VW is said to view Alfa as a key potential asset in its bid to become the world’s largest car manufacturing group by 2018. It also has spare production capacity, notably at Seat’s Martorell facility.

A Fiat Group spokesman told Autocar that the firm has “drawn a line” under any sell-off. “We shut the door in their [VW’s] faces and now they’re trying to get in the window,” he said.

The spokesman also dismissed rumours that representatives, including VW chairman Ferdinand Piech and CEO Martin Winterkorn, met with local government representatives in the Lombardi region of Italy, where Alfa’s mothballed Arese plant is situated. “That is complete and utter fantasy,” he said.

Autocar understands that among the sticking points in any discussions would be the future of the Pomigliano plant in Naples (earmarked for the delayed next-gen Panda, but plagued by industrial relations issues), Alfa’s extensive and expensive classic car collection, and the Balocco test track.

At the recent Geneva motor show, Piech used VW’s press evening to predict that it could increase Alfa’s sales fourfold within five years. He also dismissed Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne’s insistence that the brand was not for sale, saying, “Volkswagen has time”.

 

[Vince_Fiero]

I'd missed all of this, just discovered it at the doctors in an old AutoBild.

Looked great to me and reasonably prized.
Looked at accounts, oups, not that reasonable is it. Oh well, will look out for a second hand one around 2015.

Still great, midengine, 850kg, 1.7 turbo 4in line, 200bph, carbon, available in 2012, ....

P.S.: I drive company cars since 1999, so buying a car is not calculated in my personal budget.