Got £38,000?...Buy an Alfa 4C

[Beeblebrox237]

Though I agree, that front end doesn't really work on many cars. I'm not even sure it totally worked on the 8C truth be told.

I was never a huge fan of the way the 8C looked, and I don't know why. I've never seen one in real life, but in photos it always seemed like they missed something.

I do think the 8C pulled that nose off brilliantly, but that's IT. I don't like it even in the C4, let alone a hatch or two. Alfa must have pushed the Brera-style front end harder. That thing looked awesome.

The Brera style front end is gorgeous. they should have stayed with that. Actually, the one car I love that Alfa currently sells is the Giulietta. I never thought much of it in photos, but in person I think it's among the most beautiful cars ever built.

 

[Nessy]

I do think the 8C pulled that nose off brilliantly, but that's IT. I don't like it even in the C4, let alone a hatch or two. Alfa must have pushed the Brera-style front end harder. That thing looked awesome.

Yeah, i'm not too keen on the 8C style front end on a hatch, (I think the front of the Mito looks awful). I really like the Brera front end, but at the same time feel it wouldn't suit the silhouette of an MR like the 4C, though a Brera style front would look great on a FR, would remind me of a Monteal.

Overall, i think the 8C style front really fits well with the 4C.

 

[homeforsummer]

I do think the 8C pulled that nose off brilliantly, but that's IT. I don't like it even in the C4, let alone a hatch or two. Alfa must have pushed the Brera-style front end harder. That thing looked awesome.

It did surprise me that Alfa used that front end only on the 159 and Brera and nothing else. 147 and 156 facelifts got a toned-down version but they definitely could have expanded it to other models.

but at the same time feel it wouldn't suit the silhouette of an MR like the 4C

You're right there, though they could perhaps use it in part. On the 4C, I actually think the grille itself is fine - there's nothing inherently wrong with how low it dips, nor the grilles that flank it.

The main issue is the too-high, too-surprised and too-widely-spaced headlights. I strongly suspect horizontal lights, more in line with the grille would work better. Unfortunately, I think that's partly hampered by some regulation or another - the 4C is a low car, and its headlights may be that high to ensure they're at a regulation height. Even then, I reckon narrower, more horizontal units would work better. A bit like the 2uettottanta concept (which I love) but with less of an expression like Mo from Wall-e.

(I dunno, they look similar to me!)

 

[Nessy]

*pics snipped*
(I dunno, they look similar to me!)

Yeah, i see it too now you mention it

Yes, a 2uettottanta style front would result in cascades of drool from me, but i think you may be right in regards to the headlight regs affecting it. I know that the Audi R8 manages to pull it off, as well the new NSX. It would definitely be interesting to see some aftermarket company attempt it.

 

[Stotty]

Anyway, this boot looks big enough for the tailored luggage of me and a lady friend, so I'm sure I'd manage

Carbon tub or not, the Alfa is ridiculously light for its type.

Wouldn't get my wife's shoe requirements for a weekend in that

It might be big enough for a weekend away, but you'd hardly call it practical compared to a Cayman/Boxster... a mate with a Boxster gets a full set of golf clubs in a tour bag in the rear boot and an electric trolley in the front boot. We had 2 sets of clubs and 2 trolleys in my Brother-in-laws Cayman some years back. Both of those are suitable for proper European jaunts... the Alfa is not!

It is ridiculously (I might even say suspiciously) light in absolute terms, never mind compared to a Caymen/Evora. Let's see what it actually weighs once the mags get one on the scales with leather seats, big wheels and extras

However, the Alfa is definitely prettier, sexier, cooler and it may have a smaller engine but its more than a second faster from 0-60 tha the Cayman.

Aesthetics are a matter of personal taste.

The car certainly looks good (at least it does without the hideous optional lights), but before going all gooey eyed over it let's see what it's like to drive 1st - when it comes to Alfa's, the image has far outweighed the reality of ownership for far too long.

 

[homeforsummer]

It might be big enough for a weekend away, but you'd hardly call it practical compared to a Cayman/Boxster... a mate with a Boxster gets a full set of golf clubs in a tour bag in the rear boot and an electric trolley in the front boot. We had 2 sets of clubs and 2 trolleys in my Brother-in-laws Cayman some years back.

I don't play golf. Problem solved

Both of those are suitable for proper European jaunts... the Alfa is not!

For you, perhaps. I'm almost certain I could tour Europe with that sort of space - I'd have done so in my MX-5 had it not been half-inched, and I'd be surprised if the '5 was vastly more practical (and it almost certainly wouldn't have the touring legs of something with double the power).

It is ridiculously (I might even say suspiciously) light in absolute terms, never mind compared to a Caymen/Evora. Let's see what it actually weighs once the mags get one on the scales with leather seats, big wheels and extras

You mean, exactly like the Porsche? I can't remember the last time I read an Autocar road test where the measured weight was the same as the quoted kerb weight. Even the Dacia Sandero ended up 50kg heavier despite the only optional equipment being a stereo!

Actually, I can find one, after a quick scan of the mags on my shelf: The Toyota GT86 was 40kg lighter on the scales than quoted.

 

[Stotty]

I don't play golf. Problem solved

For you, perhaps. I'm almost certain I could tour Europe with that sort of space - I'd have done so in my MX-5 had it not been half-inched, and I'd be surprised if the '5 was vastly more practical (and it almost certainly wouldn't have the touring legs of something with double the power).

Even without the gold clubs, I wouldn't be able to bring back several cases of nice wine

You mean, exactly like the Porsche? I can't remember the last time I read an Autocar road test where the measured weight was the same as the quoted kerb weight. Even the Dacia Sandero ended up 50kg heavier despite the only optional equipment being a stereo!

Actually, I can find one, after a quick scan of the mags on my shelf: The Toyota GT86 was 40kg lighter on the scales than quoted.

Hmmm, not trying to come across as the Porsche fanboy that I clearly am, but I'm pretty sure Porsche quoted weights are reasonably accurate - just like their quoted performance stats are generally conservative! Though I'm guessing after the usual minimum £10K+ of extras a Cayman might weight a bit more than 1,310kg

The worst I saw recently was the new Range Rover, with the manufacturer claiming it was 400kg lighter than the old model... turned out to weight pretty much the same IIRC

Not sure why manufacturers quote dry weights as they are a bit meaningless.

 

[homeforsummer]

Even without the gold clubs, I wouldn't be able to bring back several cases of nice wine

Who buys cases of nice wine? Cases are for cheap plonk

Hmmm, not trying to come across as the Porsche fanboy that I clearly am, but I'm pretty sure Porsche quoted weights are reasonably accurate - just like their quoted performance stats are generally conservative! Though I'm guessing after the usual minimum £10K+ of extras a Cayman might weight a bit more than 1,310kg

I don't have the Autocar with a Cayman review on but I do have the 991 somewhere. Couldn't find it during my hunt but if I come across it I'll return with the measured weight.

The worst I saw recently was the new Range Rover, with the manufacturer claiming it was 400kg lighter than the old model... turned out to weight pretty much the same IIRC

Wouldn't surprise me, though that really is a car affected by fluids, equipment etc.

Not sure why manufacturers quote dry weights as they are a bit meaningless.

The obvious answer here is "publicity". And we're talking about it, so it's working But largely my point is that a closed-roof coupe not expressly designed as a pared-down no-equipment sort of car, weighing less than a ton in this day and age, is impressive whichever way you spin it.

Though after you mentioned the Cayman's flat six it did make me wonder what they could do if they put their mind to it, shed a bit of body weight and gave it a turbo'd flat four. Modern day 356...

 

[Beeblebrox237]

Though after you mentioned the Cayman's flat six it did make me wonder what they could do if they put their mind to it, shed a bit of body weight and gave it a turbo'd flat four. Modern day 356...

That, or put the Carrera S's engine in it, make it more hardcore, and call it a Cayman GT3. That would be awesome.

 

[Sage Ages]

....Now that I think about it, there should be more Mo-faced cars in the world.

 

[ExigeEvan]

This will be mine...

Maybe for my 30th Birthday. Or 40th...

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

I saw one cruise through downtown Ann Arbor in camo last night. They are very sexy and surprisingly loud for a stock car. I've never been sold on the styling until I saw one in person. They are very pretty and more exotic looking than an Elise or Boxster.

 

[Beeblebrox237]

A 4C in Ann Arbor in camo? Why are they testing it in Ann Arbor?

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

Well, we are only 30 mins from Detroit and Fiat owns Chrysler. Who knows?

A friend of mine who is a race engineer for Pratt & Miller has also seen a few cruising around the Detroit metro area. I also got to see the C7-R in person.

 

[homeforsummer]

I saw one cruise through downtown Ann Arbor in camo last night. They are very sexy and surprisingly loud for a stock car. I've never been sold on the styling until I saw one in person. They are very pretty and more exotic looking than an Elise or Boxster.

I'm looking forward to seeing them on the road, as I've only seen them on auto show stands so far.

The proportions are very dramatic, more supercar-like than a traditional sports car. It's over 6.5 feet wide, which is Ferrari 458 territory, and actually lower than a 458, though a bit shorter too.

Despite my reservations over the styling, I strongly suspect it's going to make the Evora and Cayman look very ordinary on the road. Cars that low and wide do attract the attention quite easily.

 

[Stotty]

Who buys cases of nice wine? Cases are for cheap plonk

I think you might be confusing cases with boxes... a box is 3l of 'plonk', a case is 12 bottles of wine.

 

[homeforsummer]

I think you might be confusing cases with boxes... a box is 3l of 'plonk', a case is 12 bottles of wine.

Nah, the true wine drinker would select individual bottles of fine wines rather than picking up a case full of the same stuff

Either way I think we've probably gone off on a tangent here

 

[Dennisch]

Alfa Romeo 4C To Be 220 Lbs Heavier In US.

The key to performance in a car like the new Alfa Romeo 4C is its low curb weight. That's why Alfa made its chassis out of carbon fiber, the subframes and engine from aluminum and the bodywork out of composites, helping to keep the whole package down below the 2,000-pound mark. But that magic number will only hold true overseas. In the US, it'll be a good 220 lbs heavier.

That's because US safety regulations, according to reports, will add an extra 100 kilograms to the car's curb weight, now expected to come in at 2,204 lbs. In order to comply with those regulations and earn its certification for use on the Great American Road, Alfa's engineers had to add some aluminum reinforcement to the carbon monocoque, modify the substructures for impact absorption and fit a new fuel system as well.

 

[Beeblebrox237]

Hmm. That does make me wonder about the safety of the Euro-spec car. I'd still rather have the Euro one, though, safety be damned.

 

[TheCracker]

Lol. Alfa 4C with 'Federal' bumpers

 

[Stotty]

Hmm. That does make me wonder about the safety of the Euro-spec car. I'd still rather have the Euro one, though, safety be damned.

Carbon tubbed cars tend to do very well in crash tests... I would imagine this is caused by strict on-paper regs in the US than any shortfall in the 4C's crashworthyness.

 

[Beeblebrox237]

Carbon tubbed cars tend to do very well in crash tests... I would imagine this is caused by strict on-paper regs in the US than any shortfall in the 4C's crashworthyness.

It could be that the car doesn't absorb enough of the impact and that the decelerative forces would be enough to injure someone. It's sort of like a Smart ForTwo: the safety cell remains intact after a 70 MPH impact with a wall, but the passengers would be killed because their bodies can't take the extreme g forces.

 

[motortrend]

^there are other ways of channeling the energy, like in the smart when you see that test you see the car continues accelerating sideways along the wall from the amount of force. Anyway, like you said, as technological as anything may be at the end of the day there is no replacement for a big crumple zone

 

[psntomaz]

Alfa's 4C Laps the Ring in just 8.04!

http://www.quattroruote.it/notizie/auto-novita/alfa-romeo-4c-tutti-i-dettagli-della-nuova-sportiva

 

[Leonidae@MFT]

Chris Harris: "Um.. um.. UM.. YES PLEASE!"

Sums it up pretty well.

 

[dsgerbc]

Too bad it's gonna cost as much as P-cars.

 

[Beeblebrox237]

Something about that video ignited a desire for the 4C in me. I guess I was just waiting to make sure it's as good as it was supposed to be.

 

[Badasp5.0]

Makes me wonder how will it be sold in the US, is Alfa going to build a dealer network or use another brands network?

 

[dsgerbc]

Something about that video ignited a desire for the 4C in me. I guess I was just waiting to make sure it's as good as it was supposed to be.

And for me it was the opposite. I've heard enough negatives (steering wheel, seats, finicky boost control).

 

[Ingram]

Love it. Want it. As much as I don't mind the Cayman, this is so much more interesting, and it'll be much rarer too, what with only about 200 a year coming to the UK. The profile view looks fantastic, the proportions are spot on in my eyes.