Alfa 4C - "Without The Heart We Would Be Mere Machines"

I'm 6'3" and I was in one on Saturday - it was tight, but not uncomfortable. I'd say yes, particularly if you're a fan of the "Ciao Sofia" driving position.

 

The biggest problem isn't head room, it's pretzeling your self to get inside of it. Once in, there's a lot of legroom and headroom (although I'm only 5'8").

It drives like I hoped it would: Like a cross between a Lotus and a Ferrari. Lots of steering feel, plenty of torque, fast shifting DCT. It feels much more solid than an Elise (although I've only been in one). And it has the sense of occasion that you get with a Ferrari.

 

I saw three 4C's at Cavallino track day today. Really a nice little car. I think I like it better now that I've seen a few in person and up close. I hope Alfa figures out how to get them over here faster. I'd love to order one to my specs.

 

Good luck. Alfa won't let anyone do that yet. My guess is the earliest you can get a custom spec car will be late next year. The dealers will custom order their own cars first until that dries up.

They are stopping dealers from taking deposits on cars now.

Alfa USA pretty much sucks. No direction, no transparency, broken promises, price gouging --- you name it.

 

The BMW i8 is 10 times worse.

 

Plus it looks like a car that belongs in Tron. I've seen more i8's in the wild than 4C's...5 to be exact.

 

I have gotten 2 more calls to see if I want one...so my dealer has now called me on 4 cars. They still want over sticker, so no 4c for me (yet).


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I drove a brand new one over to Cavallino. It is a really nice car. I am 6'4". I fit just fine. To summarize the driving experience, it is a lotus combined with a Fiat Abarth mid-engine dual clutch transmission.
The driving position and tub remind me of a lotus. The handling is go-cart like. The engine sounds and behaves like a Fiat Abarth. The turbos are always moving and making a noise. It likes the high revs. The best part is the transmission. The double clutch transmission is fantastic at full throttle.
The car is not a daily driver. It is a car for the purist. I really admire Alfa for building it. It's a bold move.
If you are looking for an italian mid-engine sports car for tracks days and spirited driving, this is your car.

I have read the reviews about the Alfa. They always compare it to the Cayman. Now I see why it gets low marks. It is a completely different car. The Alfa is all about the driving experience. Cayman is about the numbers.

 

I'll have to check one out. I saw one in Canada at an event last year and they are beautiful.

 

Abarth is a blast but this has 77 more hp at the same weight, has to be a pisser.

 

New Arrival
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very nice
congrats

 

Congratulations! Looks great.

Looking forward to your feedback. Yet to experience one in the wild.

 

your 308 looks jealous

 

I think it is jealous. I promised it the next weekend drive though and plugged in the trickle charger.

 

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEZkGyHJQNg[/ame]

Lots of detail, no performance driving.

 

Some photos of the yellow spider currently making the rounds in the Toronto auto show.
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Loving my 4c coupe so far. Only 200 miles yet. Demands your full attention. The steering is quick, and only heavy at parking lot speeds. DCT shifts fast, very smooth in auto mode and seems to usually be in the appropriate gear. Manual shift is even faster, especially once in the dynamic mode.
No sound deadening so every pebble thrown off a tire is an event. Make sure when you park you can open the door fully, other wise getting out looks like a Yoga pose gone wrong.
A very involving car with the sense of occasion a Ferrari has. Lots of attention.

 

Better looking than the renderings. Still no announcement on price or avail. Some people say they have deposits down on the Spider but Alfa is telling dealers to stop this process because too many are getting disappointed it's taking too long to deliver them.

Still no word on when or how you can order a car. Frustrating.

 

I spoke to the salesman manning the display. He was quite knowledgeable. He said "only 5,000 cars will ever be made (coupe + spider combined), shipping over 2 years". The 1st year's cars are already all sold. It sounds like 4Cs are sort of "halo cars" for Alfa's return to the market. Alfa will then start making and shipping sedans and SUVs...etc. after the 4Cs finish shipping.

If you want a car and I think we all do, I would demand to place an order now because these cars are very limited. They are taking orders in Toronto. The spider looks very nice... IMO, in any colour.

Here's the rest of the story as retold by The Star newspaper reporter:

[size=+2]
Toronto autoshow: Alfa Romeo is back in Canada[/size]
By: Mark Richardson Special to the Star, Published on Wed Feb 18 2015

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles CEO in Canada says more Alfa Romeos needed in order to meet demand.

Reid Bigland, president and CEO of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles in Canada and CEO of the Alfa Romeo brand in North America, is seen with the Alfa Romeo 4C and the 4C Spider at the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto.

There aren’t many Alfa Romeos on the road in Canada right now, but the head of the brand in North America expects that to change quickly.

“We’ve sold every one we can build,” says Reid Bigland, who's also the president and CEO of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles in Canada.

“When they come, they sell — the car is extremely hot. Maybe a little too hot. We’d like to get some more to meet some of that demand.”

FCA will make about 3,500 of its 4C carbon-fibre two-seaters this year, which sell in Canada for $62,000 to $75,000, depending on the trim level. In practice, in the U.S., the average transaction price is US$78,000.

In some parts of the world, says Bigland, there’s an 18-month waiting list for the car, especially with the new roadster version that we’ll see this summer.

The sexy 4C has been sold in Europe since the spring of 2013, but this is its first year to appear at the Canadian International Auto Show. It features a super-light carbon-fibre body on an aluminum frame, with a 1.8L turbocharged four-cylinder engine that’s good for 237 hp. Acceleration from zero-to-100 km/h is 4.1 seconds.

But while it’s quick to drive, it’s slow to build. Each car takes about six weeks to be assembled at Modena, Italy, alongside FCA’s Maserati lineup.

Much of the car is built by hand, and while that contributes to its premium price tag, Bigland calls it inexpensive compared to other carbon-fibre vehicles made by Lamborghini, Ferrari and McLaren.

It’s not a practical car in wintertime and Bigland admits he doesn’t have a 4C in his home garage, but Alfa has big plans for other vehicles to fill premium demands.

The Italian company is making a $6 billion investment in the brand and intends to introduce eight new models before 2018, starting with a mid-size sedan that will first be seen this summer. It could be available to buyers before the end of the year.

After that, it will debut a mid-size SUV as competition for the Porsche Macan. The premium mid-size SUV class is currently the world’s fastest growing automotive market segment.

The idea is for FCA to take on the highly coveted German dominance of premium automobiles with something equally desirable: Italian style and flair, served up with European performance and always a premium product.

It’s an entry in North America for a company that sells either exotic or popular vehicles, but nothing till now in the lucrative premium market.

“If you think about Fiat Chrysler,” says Bigland, “we have Ferrari at the top end, Maserati, Alfa, and then we have our mass-market Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram and Fiat.

“With Alfa, we don’t need to be tempted to get into the mass market. We’ve already got the mass market covered, unlike Mercedes, with the CLA at $29,000. We’ve got plenty of our core mass-market products that are playing in that arena.

“We think that by keeping Alfa premium and somewhat exclusive, we’ll increase its desirability.”

A second Ontario dealership has just opened in Oakville, and new showrooms are planned for London and Windsor later this year. If all goes as planned, there should be 15 Canadian dealerships by the end of 2015, and as many as 20 more by the end of 2016, once there’s a more complete lineup of vehicles to sell.

In the U.S., Alfas will be sold through selected Fiat and Maserati dealerships, as well as some in their own standalone franchise stores.

“I think we can provide a premium alternative to the typical German dominance of that (premium) segment, “ says Bigland.

“(We can) bring something that is superior from a performance and technology standpoint, but also a brand that really has a heart and a soul and a passion, with its Italian design and style.”

Freelance writer Mark Richardson is a regular contributor to Toronto Star Wheels. For more automotive news, go to thestar.com/autos . To reach Wheels Editor Norris McDonald: [email protected]​

Here are some more photos, the red car is the launch edition. The yellow car has the optional yellow paint (spider only). Other options can be added. The Toronto dealership is a favoured dealer and will get about 2x the allocation of regular dealers. If you order now, you'll probably get your car late 2015/Christmas:
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It's great to read comments from an actual 1st-hand source. I think I could live with a bit of yoga every drive - use to do that for real. Too bad about the crappy winter weather... 16°F in Knoxville today? Yikes. Better keep her inside for a while.

I wish I had garage room for this car... not in the market for another home! Post some (more) photos when you get a chance to.

 

https://4c.alfaromeo.com/en_us?campaignid=8199602&advertiserid=4474656_PPC&KWNM=alfa+romeo+in+usa&KWID=6305769168_bing&channel=paidsearch


The base price shown is $53,900.00 US. Are your pictured website prices for Canadian Alfa's??


Also Alfa's at the Chicago Auto Show this week.
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Tom, if you look again at the newspaper article I pasted in you will see

"...FCA will make about 3,500 of its 4C carbon-fibre two-seaters this year, which sell in Canada for $62,000 to $75,000, depending on the trim level. In practice, in the U.S., the average transaction price is US$78,000...".​

When they say "average transaction price", it always means with whatever options buyers add to the base price (i.e. trim level). There's also the possibility that, as has been the case with Fcars, Canadian cars may have a different base trim from US or EU cars.

 

I am pretty sure the cars have the same equipment based on the website that lists equipment, and the Canadian Launch edition has a higher sticker. Check the website not the newspaper. Maybe Canada has extra charges or it is based on an exchange rate.

 

Tom... the newspaper is quoting "Reid Bigland, president and CEO of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles in Canada and CEO of the Alfa Romeo brand in North America". Of course, he could be wrong.

There is always the exchange rate, which is why I pointed that out.