Alfa’s new 4C sets out hottest track time yet

Alfa Romeo is busy rebuilding its reputation once more, another phoenix-like return for a car marque that still retains remarkable loyalty in the motoring world despite some dismal dips in the not-so-distant past.

In its latest revival, Alfa has produced a truly magnificent looking sports car that could be mistaken for an offshoot from the Italian supercar ranks that costs more than double its price.

There’s more to the 4C than its looks: beneath its skin is a one-piece carbon-fibre monocoque that forms the main structure of the car. The advantage of using this method of construction is the weight saving and strength it offers; the car’s monocoque weighs just 65kgs.

In our never-ending pursuit of useful data for the motoring public, we decided it was time to pit the 4C up against the clock on Mondello Park’s National Circuit, a technically challenging track that’s sure to reveal any car’s strengths or weaknesses. We have already tested a host of hot hatches and varying ranges of performance cars on the circuit, so it was time to put Alfa’s hottest new offering up against the rest.

The end result was surprising: it set an impressive laptime of 64.53 seconds, placing it at the top of our laptime chart.

So what’s it like behind the wheel? Well, you sit low, close to the ground inside the 4C’s minimalist cabin, there’s enough storage for your mobile phone and wallet, and that’s about all. The exposed sections of the carbon-fibre tub remind you that you’re seated in something rather special.

There is, of course, a stereo, but it’s pretty redundant once you fire up the all-aluminium engine, nestled behind the twin bucket lightweight race seats.

On acceleration there’s a whoosh from the intake and a whistle from the wastegate on lift-off. The drama from the engine’s soundtrack is matched with the blistering performance it delivers. The 1.8-litre turbocharged petrol engine produces 240hp and 350Nm of torque. These aren’t headline-grabbing stats but you need to consider that the 4C weighs just 895kg .

Racing pack

That means from a standstill it can accelerate to 100km/h in a mere 4.5 seconds, before going on to a top speed of 257km/h. The engine is mated to a six-speed TCT transmission that enables you to drive the car in full automatic mode or our preferred manual form.

You can choose from four driving modes, each one altering the power and torque delivery, throttle response, transmission mapping and the driver’s display. The drive modes are: All-weather, Natural, Dynamic and Race. All- weather is geared towards poor wet conditions, Natural aimed at city driving and Dynamic for twisty roads.

Race turns up the volume considerably and deactivates the car’s stability and traction control systems. Our test car had the optional racing pack which includes a sports exhaust that adds further drama to the occasion. If you’re going to purchase a car that attracts as much attention as the 4C, you may as well go the full hog and tick the racing pack on the options list. Although the stiffer dampers and larger wheels means you will need a sturdy backbone.

The 4C feels planted to the road, although it could be somewhat unnerving if you haven’t driven such a raw sports car before. Its direct steering (no power steering) offers pinpoint accuracy combined with constant feedback and weight changes. The stiff suspension and wide wheels can induce some tramline effect at times, it’s a real thrill to drive but caution must be exercised until you get used to the race car-like experience.

Driving the 4C is very much akin to the previous generation supercharged Lotus Exige S, although the 4C's performance statistics are closer to the current Elise S and Porsche Cayman. The Porsche is far more refined, but the driving experience is more involving in both the Alfa and Lotus. To really appreciate the 4C's splendid chassis and engine configuration, you need to take it on track and explore its true potential.

What’s immediately apparent on our first few laps of Mondello is the lack of body roll; the 4C remains stable through the corners. As we increased the pace in dynamic mode, the stability system intervened mid-corner on the fast double-apex turn 3, hampering our corner speed. When you select Race mode, the stability and traction control systems are switched off; now you can experience the raw power and handling of this track weapon.

As you push the car close to the limit it induces understeer at a predictive rate before transferring to oversteer. You need to remain focused and match your throttle and steering inputs to extract a neat lap. Once you master the 4C’s sharp responses it rewards with a true race car-like driving experience. The engine sings to 6,500 rpm when the rev counter changes to bright yellow, indicating it’s time to change up a gear. Down changes are just as pleasing, with an auto-blip matching the engine revs to the car’s speed.

The 4C is not as expensive as you might expect at €69,000, particularly when you consider that the price of other cars constructed with a carbon-fibre tub – €200,000 for the McLaren 12C, for example. The power-to-weight ratio enables a keen driver to extract an abundance of driving euphoria, without high running costs in terms of fuel and tax. And even if you never drove the 4C to its full potential I don’t think you could ever tire from admiring it sitting pretty in your garage. It’s a work of art.