For those that thought famed Italian carmaker, Alfa Romeo, had lost their mojo of late, feast your eyes on this thing of absolute beauty. It’s Alfa’s new halo car and it’s called the 4C Coupe.
The design, by Lorenzo Ramaciotti – who also penned the Ferrari Enzo – is a simply a work of art. Let me show what I mean - back here, under this beautifully designed glass-covered engine bay, is a state-of-the-art 1.75-litre turbocharged, direct-injection four-cylinder petrol engine that can catapult this Alfa from zero to 100km/h in 4.5 seconds flat.
Alfa Romeos of the past, more than any other make of car, were universally lauded for their superior feel and driver feedback. Alfa says the 4C marks a return to those days to superior driver engagement and as such, there’s no power steering and the high gearing means minimal steering lock when cornering – just the way we like it.
Step inside and the carbon fibre chassis is the first indication that this car is all about power-to-weight. It’s minimalistic and driver centric to the extreme, the weave left exposed to be seen and admired, which is a real treat.
If you want luxuries and directions, this isn’t your kind of car. There’s no seat heaters, sat nav, or even a glovebox, just the basics. A radio with Bluetooth, air conditioning, and the drive and gearbox controls are all you get.
With such jaw-dropping looks, a mid-engine design and a proper carbon fibre monocoque, don’t think of this as an $89,000 Alfa Romeo, but rather, as an $89,000 Italian super car.
