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Photography by: Afshin Behnia & Nima Karamati
There was a time when “sports car” meant a car designed for sport, that is, a car whose primary, and often singular purpose was the sport of driving. Carrying groceries or kids was secondary, and the idea of integrating a purpose-built receptacle for your beverage would have been laughed at.
Over the years the sports car has evolved, or more accurately, devolved, into a comically over-engineered, overweight, luxury status symbol whose list of design goals place things like iPhone connectivity and multi-zone air conditioning systems above driving pleasure. Hence why so many of us have turned to vintage cars to get our excitement out of driving. How else are you going to feel connected with the road, the car, and the elements? Some of us still enjoy the sense of danger that comes with pushing a purely mechanical object to its limits and those of our own.
It’s in this context that regardless of where your brand loyalty lies, if you are a true driving enthusiast, you must have deep respect for FCA for taking such a risk and developing the Alfa Romeo 4C and 4C Spider — cars whose singular purpose is pure driving pleasure.
The 4C Spider is not designed to be a roadster, but hopes to be a true sports car with a Targa top, providing that extra sense of openness. Both the Coupe and the Spider were designed with a simple philosophy of favoring lightness and efficiency over brute force and heft to yield a great driving experience. To get an idea of how light it is, consider the fact that two 4C Spiders weigh less than one BMW M4 convertible!
This incredible lightness is made possible thanks to an all-aluminum subframe, Sheet Molded Compound for the body, and most importantly, a carbon-fiber monocoque chassis, the likes of which can only be found in a handful of supercars each costing well over $300,000. The 4C coupe starts at about $55,000. Think about that for a moment.
Propelling this feather-weight (by modern standards) go-kart is a 1,750-cc turbocharged four cylinder mid-mounted engine. For those of you who are new to the Alfa Romeo world, 1,750-cc is a magical number in Alfa history. It’s the displacement used in some of Alfa Romeo’s legendary sports cars and sport sedans of the ’60s and early ’70s, such as the 1969 Duetto or the mighty GTAm that dominated the European Touring Car Championships.
Some critics have complained that the 4C lacks luxury. To me, complaining about lack of luxury in a sports car is akin to complaining that a supermodel lacks a mustache.
I love the fact that it doesn’t have a slew of useless features that compromise its sporting nature.
Does it have motorized 83-way adjustable seats with integrated A/C rendering them twice as heavy as the driver sitting on them? Nope. Instead it has lightweight manually-adjustable seats that hug you with soft Italian leather featuring beautiful contrasting stitching.
Does it pump fake exhaust noises via its speakers to fool you into thinking the engine has character? No chance. The exhaust note is pure, authentic, and flaunts the turbocharger, giving you even more reason to keep the top off and take the revs to the redline.
You certainly won’t find a giant LCD screen in the middle of the dash with a control wheel so you can send text messages and download apps. It has a no-nonsense, driver-oriented clutter-free center console angled towards the driver, allowing you to stay focused on driving.
The list of useless and often weight-adding gadgets that the 4C Spider thankfully does not have goes on: no e-brake, no power folding mirrors, no lane assist, no stop-start, you get the idea. Best of all, it does not have power-assisted steering, a “feature” that definitely has no business existing on a car this light.
Perhaps the only useless feature is the radio which I never turned on, as I quickly became addicted to the sound of the exhaust. Kidding aside, there is one feature that an enthusiast could gripe about: the lack of a manual transmission. More on this later.
On paper, we have the ingredients of what should be a great driver’s car. But does it live up to its promise? To find out, I borrowed an Alfa Romeo 4C Spider from FCA for the weekend, and organized a drive with eight of my Alfisti friends early on Friday morning. The plan was to meet at 7AM in Brentwood in the heart of Los Angeles and drive up to Los Olivos for brunch, taking the back roads and staying off the highways as much as possible. Round trip, this was about 300 miles and six hours of spirited driving in some beautiful winding hills with little traffic this early in the morning.
The manual top comes off easily, and stows away in a bespoke duffel bag. The catch is that with the top in the trunk, there is no room for anything else. This being July in drought-stricken Southern California, I took the top off and left it at home for the whole time I had the car.
One by one, my Alfisti friends arrive at the cafe that was our meeting point. We ended up with nice eclectic group of vintage Alfas, Brandon’s 4C Launch Edition, and my loaner 4C Spider. All of these guys are serious drivers with numerous vintage races under their belts, and they love to drive fast.
We set off and headed west on Sunset Blvd towards Pacific Coast Highway.
I said this in my review of the 4C Launch Edition, and I’ll say it again for the 4C Spider: as soon as you drive your first few yards, the lightness of the car combined with the manual steering will make a much-welcomed impression. It’s a sensation that as a driving enthusiast you will be familiar with, but it’s surprising nonetheless in a new car—almost foreign. You feel it whether you are maneuvering out of a parking spot or diving into a tight corner at speed.
As we start our drive, I notice that other cars look slightly different. I realize that this is because I’m sitting so incredibly low to the ground that I literally have a new perspective on the other cars on the road. Coming up on a new Porsche I thought to myself, “the new Panamera looks pretty good!” only to realize I was looking up at a 991’s rear.
After making our way through scenic but uneventful Pacific Coast Highway, we turn off on the 33 and again immediately get off at a road that takes us all the way around Lake Casitas, and we start to have some serious fun. The twisties and hillclimbs begin, and with no traffic ahead of us, we all open it up.
Like many drivers, I’m no fan of turbocharged engines and prefer the direct response and high-revs of a normally aspirated one. Unfortunately, this preference is something we all need to come to terms with as the majority of new cars are now turbo-charged to meet CAFE requirements. The 4C does suffer from significant turbo-lag, but on a drive like this, one in which you’re actively driving and pushing the car and looking forward to the next corner, that became much less of an issue as the turbo was well spooled most of the time, thereby practically eliminating any lag. Where the turbo four-cylinder does especially excel is how freely it revs. The 6,500 redline comes up very quickly in first and second gears. And the exhaust note is intoxicating! My loaner 4C Spider had the optional Racing Exhaust, a $500 option that is worth every penny. The note is as mean as it could get without sounding artificial or overly massaged.
As we wound our way through the hills and canyons, taking in the natural beauty, I kept gently pushing the limits, entering corners faster with each turn as I got to know the car better. The stiff carbon fiber tub, tight suspension, and the very low center of gravity combined together form a superhero jumpsuit—you slip it on and you have superhuman powers. Whatever you imagine you want the 4C to do it does it. And just like a paradoxically masculine spandex bodysuit, the chassis feels like your second skin, communicating every miniscule aspect of the road through the unassisted steering.
The stiff chassis and tight suspension somehow don’t compromise ride quality, either. On several occasions I faced unavoidable potholes, and each time I braced myself for a big thunk and for the car to get unsettled, especially when the pothole snuck up during a corner, but the 4C swallowed up the potholes with grace and stayed well composed.
This brings us to the controversial part of the 4C Spider: the transmission. Sure, the 6-speed twin-clutch sequential transmission can shift in the blink of an eye, faster than humanly possible, but so what? A manual transmission is simply more fun and more rewarding. That said, I could not see how fitting a manual in the 4C would be physically possible. There is absolutely no room for a clutch pedal without widening the car, and there is no room for a stick shift. Can we forgive Alfa Romeo for having compromised the manual in favor of a smaller car? That’s something each driver will need to answer for themselves. For me, after the 300-mile road trip, though I certainly would have enjoyed the manual more, I didn’t think for one second that I wasn’t in driving heaven!
I could fault the engine for the turbo-lag at low RPMs, I could fault the transmission for not being a manual, and the chassis, well, actually, the chassis is simply flawless, but what makes the 4C such a wonderful driver’s car is how all these ingredients seem to have been designed to work with each other to make a well-balanced properly engineered sports car, without the distractions of useless gadgetry or “luxury”, and without a ridiculous engine that overpowers the rest of the car. Like some of the great sports cars of the past, the incredible acceleration and handling is due in large part to fineness and lightness, not brawn.
The philosophy of lightness and efficiency really does pay off in this package, so much so that upon my return home at the end of the day after six hours of active spirited driving, my wife commented on how happy and relaxed I looked. I reassured her that I behaved.
The last time I was truly excited about a new car that didn’t cost a ridiculous fortune was in 1999 when BMW introduced the M Coupe. I bought that car, and it spoiled me. It was a true driver’s car with excellent performance and fit like a glove. As a bonus, its controversial looks and impracticality made it a rare car, despite its reasonable price. I guess you could say its raw nature filtered out the wannabe’s.
The Alfa Romeo 4C Spider gets me excited again. Though very different in its execution, it does remind me a lot about why I loved the M Coupe. It’s raw. It’s built for the driver. It simply feels the way a sports car should. And it looks like nothing else on the road.
Its very limited storage space makes it impractical for most, but that’s good news for the driving enthusiasts. The 4C will be a highly exclusive car, not because of an astronomical price tag, but because it’s not a car that the poseur will be able to understand or appreciate. I’ll be ordering mine as a Spider.
A great write up of a great looking car. I also enjoyed the dismissal of many of the ‘essentials’ found in modern convertible cars (no point in calling them sports cars) my favourite being the ‘air scarf’ in (I believe) a Mercedes. Presumably for the driver who wants the roof down but finds the whole experience a bit chilly. Perhaps an article on the most useless/unnecessary additions to modern cars to follow?
It’s a shame that it is crazy expensive. The ad for a 1972 115 GTV that is tacked to my garage wall has the sticker price of $5,299 US West Coast. Translated to 2015 dollars that is $30,275.
I would prefer something like a modern 105/115 GTV or Spider, but I guess that is not what Alfa thinks the market wants. I will probably buy an ND Miata when the hype dies down and keep it next to my ’73 GTV.
To compare an Elise with a 4C is unfair to both of them. It is like pitting a bull-terrier against a greyhound. They are similar but different animals. The 4C is faster, more brutal, more exuberant, and hilarious. The Elise has the benefit of two decades of honing, is more fluent and more precise steering.
In short one is a true Alfa and the other is a true Lotus. Faites vos choix.
What people that bring up porky Porsche “epas” Caymans are thinking, I’ll never understand.
Quite amusing how uniformed many of these comments are. So many are simply cribbing what the British press has written about the 4c. “The Elise runs circles around the 4c.” HA! You apparently have never seen the 2 pitted against each other. “For the price of a 4c you could get a Cayman S….” HA! You apparently have never owned a new Porsche, been to a dealership in the last 20 years or configured one online. A comparable Cayman S is US $10k – $15k MORE expensive than a non-launch edition (LE) 4c. Buy a 4c – spend 10k in upgrades, and then proceed to simply destroy any sub $100k car that Porsche makes, as well as an Exige (forget the Elise).
And whether or not the 4c looks good…that’s a matter of personal taste. Like how some guys would say Jennifer Aniston is the most beautiful woman in the world, and dismiss Monica Bellucci… One last time — HA!
What makes me laugh at this article, is that this doesn’t look like some bare bones drivers car. Look at that interior, so many padded surfaces, so much heavy leather, that dash is HUGE!
But then again, I did own a 2005 Lotus Exige…..now to ME…that is a perfect hard core daily driver DRIVERS car. This C4 is way to luxurious!!!!
I do love it though, and hope to own one some day!!!!
p.s.Dear my old Lotus,I’m sorry I didn’t bring you with me to London. I MISS YOU SO MUCH!
Great write up! But in order to keep the weight low you do not need that exotic materials. The new Miata MX5 is in the same region of weight. Having seen the Coupe in reality I think it is very nice but a little bit of a “washed too hot” Lotus Evora, es the lines of the rear glass and the surrounding nearly look the same. But a great thank you to Alfa for building a sports car not a SUV etc. Today the market for sport cars is very tight because most people want a rolling gadget box. Tastes are different but things like me some time ago having to listen to a conversation of business people arguing tha an Audi A 8 is much better with a heated steering wheel are r e a l l y disgusting! The lack of a manual would be a deal braker for me, but that is the future I am afraid………
The car looks nice, but doesn’t strike you as completely new/different/original car. It’s seems like just another small powerful coupe/spyder…
You see a Porsche, a Lamborghini, a Ferrari… and it’s seems there’s history there, a continuous work troughout decades that makes the driver of a classic 911 smile back at another driver in full-technology 911 out of the factory now. I don’t believe it happens with the 4C.
As much as they might say it, FCA doesn’t really give a damn about the Alfa legacy or the classic Alfa drivers, they just want to get rich kids, middle aged men and a few businesswomen to buy 99\% of the 4C cars. The last 1\% might go to Alfa fans or car collectors in general
I enjoyed the write up. Interesting perspective and being an alfisti since the early 60 s as a kid I have a special place for all things alfa. That said corvettes are priced to close to get the 4c for me. I think the 4c is ten grand to high as they seem to be optioning out in America. Maybe with 300 hp I’d pony up the coin for the 4c. I have to say it but the upcoming mx5 derivative with the 200 hp 1.7 turbo s peaking my interest at a more balanced price.
I’ll manage without the mid engine location and the carbon fiber tub to say ten or twenty. I’m sure the driving experience won’t be as “Alfa” like but I’ll be able to rationalize the purchase a little easier.
I admire the sportscar focus of the 4c…..and realize that I’m not that guy.
At present I own both a mint 1994 miata and a c6 z51 m6 corvette. I get the allure of the 4c. I just think it’s in need of 65 more ponies and a price under 50 large. Jmo
I first saw the 4C in person last year at Concorso Italiano in Monterey, CA. I commented to a friend how much I adored it’s looks and he opined that my 6’1″, 210lb self couldn’t even fit in it. So we walked up to the display model and I just sort of jumped in. Having previously owned an NB Miata I could tell just by looking at the 4C that I’d be comfortable in it, and I was right. My friend happens to be more of a truck kinda guy so of course, to him, this thing couldn’t possibly fit anyone larger than an F1 driver. Fast forward to this past spring and I finally had the great good fortune to drive a 4C. I’ve never been smitten by a car so fast in my life. The soundstage bursting from the engine bay was akin to being able to pick out the placement of various instruments on stage through a high end audio system, only in this case it was the whoosh of the intake over here, the blow off valve… just…. there! I loved the minimalist yet gorgeous interior as well, but mostly it was that sound. That glorious sound. Oh, and Afshin, you’re spot on about the instant impression presented by the steering. The simple act of pulling out of the parking lot told me this was something special indeed. I think Alfa nailed this in a way that nobody has nailed a sports car in a very long time. Bravo!
I have to laugh every time I read about how a car isn’t what it should be because it lacks a third pedal. Note I didn’t say it lacked a manual as the dual clutch is a manual transmission. I can hear all the nasayers as a new Ferrari or a new Porsche GT3 is left in their driveway: “Please take it away! It has no third pedal!”. It’s called progress people. I own a 4C. It is brilliant! It isn’t made to drive to work. It isn’t made to drive on a cross country vacation. It is made to go out and enjoy the road. Driving fast with the hopes that it will take a long time to get to your destination even if it is just back to your own garage. I own a 911 C4S. I own a BMW M3. I also own a BMW 1M. All with manual transmissions (third pedal). The 4C is nothing like any of them. The closest car it reminds me of is a 1971 Alfa 1750 GTV. A pure drivers car. If you have not driven either of these cars then you really are not qualified to judge. If you get a chance drive a 4C. If it doesn’t strike a cord with you buy a Corvette by all means.
How’d I miss this drive?! Having owned Alfa’s and owning a 67 and 64 now, I couldn’t imagine buying one without a manual trans. It’s why I bought my first one back in the day. Half the fun of driving and great machinery. Sometimes a lot of work but so much satisfaction in the effort. Heck, how can you play Fangio or Hill without it?
Look man, I really really wanted to want this car, and I really really want one. Except, I have one big problem with this car, the lack of proper manual transmission. The fake manual in this car doesn’t really work all that well in auto-mode, and it’s strangely disengaged in manual mode. It works really well on special occasions, like when I took it out to the favorite backroad, but I want to be engaged more than on special occasions. I don’t like that transmission, to me it was a deal breaker.
Does the 4C instill even a modicum of hope in me ? The answer in light of the ludicrous high price and absolutely abysmal quality for the discerning buyer must be a resounding No ! Consider this . First off what is it ? It is a Dallara built rather mediocre and poorly reviewed KTM X-Bow wearing a somewhat pretty albeit derivative Alfa Romeo party dress . That $55k price tag ? I dare anyone to walk out of the dealership for less than $65k and more likely $70k -80k . And just what might that amount of money buy you you might ask ? Try a well equipped C7 Z06 that’ll run rings around the 4C not to mention despite GM’s poor quality of late the C7 being substantially more reliable [ more on that at the end ] as well as enough change left over for a rather nice European vacation . Or a Porsche Cayman /Boxster more than reasonably well equipped that’ll run the 4C into the ground on road and track not to mention being much more reliable . Perhaps you’re craving a little more exotica ? Try a used Lotus Evora for pennies on the dollar or if more extreme is your desire Elise’s and Exiges are going at bargain basement prices with again better reliability [ due to the Toyota power trains ] Want something guaranteed to hold its value ? Try a nice used 911 with many years available at 4C prices or less and again much more reliable . Then add in FCA’s overall abysmal quality and reliability record that has become so bad the Italian national police just traded in all their Alfa’s for Skoda’s preferring German derived Spanish built over the cars of their homeland . Honestly I’d rather pay the premium for a nice well loved classic Alfa and deal with all the maintenance/restoration/parts etc hassles rather than so much as consider anything from any of FCA’s stables . By the way that includes any current Ferrari and Maseratis [ Ferrari is still under the FCA banner until Marchionne is finally able to sell them off as he is so desperate to do ]
So doe the 4C give me hope ? At those prices ? With those issues ? Suffice it to say if ones Eyes are Wide Open not to mention being a truly discerning buyer more concerned with reality than image then all one can say is to repeat my earlier resounding and hearty response of .. N-O I Will it sell ? My best guess is once the early adapters have adapted and the initial demand subsides the 4C will rapidly find its way into FCA’s rapidly expanding relegation bin . Assuming that is VW-Audi doesn’t take them over first . But in the mean time to borrow a phrase . Just Say No ! You’ll be glad you did !
Love the concept. As stated, on paper it’s everything that a driver’s car should be and sorely needed in the marketplace today with all of the 3800lbs “Sports Cars”. The looks are growing on me, though it’s not beautiful like the 8C. I think the shape just has a bit too much going on. Unfortunately, Alfa lost me with the transmission, and the turbo lag.
A funny thing . I remember back when Lotus finally brought the Elise over here [ US ] every FOC member and his/her brother and sister across the Nation was touting the Elise as THE baby Ferrari to have as well . That is until they owned one for a couple of months and found out just how much was missing at which point they all to a number put them up for sale at bargain basement prices . FYI ; I have [ driven one } And I don’t . Like it one solitary bit that is !