The largest automobile exhibition Geneva 2013 became the debut site of the new Alfa Romeo 4C 2014 model year - a significant event for the world of sports production cars in general and for the famous Italian brand in particular. The concept of this car was shown in the spring of 2011, also in Geneva. In October 2012, it became known that the car will go into series.
Alfa Romeo 4C (body code 970) is a compact two-seater sports car. The name of the car received by the number of cylinders in the engine, as well as the Alfa Romeo 6C in the first half of the last century and the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione in the late 2000s. The 4C is instantly recognizable as the true representative of Alfa Romeo and is characterized by a combination of impressive performance and modest weight.
The high-tech 1.75-liter four-cylinder engine, whose block is completely made of aluminum, is responsible for the characteristics of the coupe. The motor is able to develop 240 hp and 350 N • m peak torque. A worthy performance indicator is the merit of efficient turbocharging, separate for intake and exhaust valves, variable valve timing and an optimized intake and exhaust system.
According to the developer, 80 percent of engine torque is available almost from the spot, from 1,700 revolutions per minute. Given the small dry weight of the model, the engine power is enough for confident acceleration of the coupe from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour in 4.5 seconds. The maximum speed is limited to 250 km / h, but here the creators were guided by security considerations.
The engine is paired with a 6-speed TCT dual clutch transmission. As in any sports car, driving pleasure is in the first place, and therefore the driver will be able to shift gears with the help of steering wheel petals. But the main feature of the Alfa Romeo 4C has become its mass. Due to its wide use in the construction of carbon fiber and aluminum, the car weighs only 952 kg. A fully carbon-4C monocoque weighs 65 kilograms. The subframes, chassis parts, diffuser and roof reinforcements are made of aluminum.
The refusal of steel elements allowed to reduce the weight of the car by 20%. For the sake of low weight, even the 4C seat frames are made of carbon fiber and fiberglass. The coupe flaunts LED headlights and beautiful alloy wheels: “eighteenth” in front, “nineteenth” in the back.
In standard, the car body is red Alfa Red, but also the car is painted in a more rare white Carrara White. Front 4C has an independent spring suspension on double wishbone, and the rear are McPherson racks. Such an unusual solution (on conventional cars, the MacPherson type suspension is located in front), coupled with a low mass and lack of power steering, according to the developers, should lead to the best possible handling. Also contributes to this rear differential with mechanical locking and fully deactivate stabilization system.
Good braking (from 100 km / h to 0, the car stops at 36 meters) is provided by Brembo brakes with four-piston calipers and Pirelli P Zero tires with different diameters and widths in front and rear. The Alfa DNA thrust control system, which controls the behavior of the engine, brakes, steering, gas response, suspension and gearboxes, has, in addition to Dynamic, Normal and All Weather, a new special sports mode - Race, in which the stabilization system is turned off completely.
