and sporting sedans, by 1995, the company was forced to shut down its operations in the United States due to lackluster sales and an ever-increasing negative perception of the brand’s reliability. It was assumed that Alfa would be gone forever from the US marketplace after this, which was a blow to driving enthusiasts. In 2008, Alfa made a breif return to the United States, selling what was essentially rebadged Maserati, known as the 8C Competizione, in very limited numbers. Then, in 2014 Alfa Romeo began a full-scale move into the United States with its more affordable 4C coupe- aimed squarely at the Porsche Boxster and Cayman, the 4C was a lightweight two-seater with a potent mid-mounted turbocharged inline-4, a 6-speed paddle shift gearbox and a chassis that relied heavily on the use of carbon fiber.
This 2018 Alfa Romeo 4C is finished in white with a bare carbon fiber roof and shows just 7,490 miles on the odometer. What separated the 4C at launch from its competition was its innovative carbon fiber monocoque, which the aluminum front and rear subframes then hung off of. Weighing in at just 143 lbs, the single-piece monocoque was both stiff and light and, even with the subframes attached, brought the total chassis weight to a scant 236 lbs. This example is fitted with a set of aftermarket wheels finished in satin black, an Akrapovic exhaust set into a carbon fiber surround and lower air intakes also finished in carbon fiber. The white and black color scheme does a great job of highlighting the striking shape of the 4C and picks up on a number of the more subtle bodylines that get lost in some of the darker colors.
The seats are wrapped in striking red leather, while the dashboard and door cards are finished in black leather with red stitching, highlighting the curves. One of the things that makes the 4C so unique is climbing in and sitting right up against that carbon fiber monocoque with the bare carbon weave right against your outer leg. This kind of technology is typically reserved for high-dollar supercars or track-specific vehicles, and adds some excitement to the 4C’s interior. Although the 4C is small, the interior feels roomy thanks to a narrow center console and low dash that gives excellent forward visibility. An Alpine stereo head unit offers Bluetooth and USB connectivity, while the digital gauge cluster in front of the driver gives a clear readout of revs and speed while driving quickly.
Powering the 4C is a 1.75-liter turbocharged inline-4 that produces 237 horsepower at 6,000 rpm. This engine proved both lightweight and reliable, making it the perfect powerplant to put within the featherweight chassis. This snappy 4-cylinder is paired to a 6-speed Alfa TCT Dual Dry Clutch Transmission with steering wheel mounted shift paddles which offers quick, seamless shifting. A drive mode selector will change shift speed, throttle mapping, and suspension, all at the touch of a button, depending on what you plan to do with the car. When new, a journalist from the Italian publication Quattroroute tested the 4C’s acceleration, beating the factory claim with 0-62mph completed in just 4.2 seconds. The magazine then took the 4C to the Nurburgring, where it lapped the Nordschleife in a remarkable 8:04, putting it ahead of cars like the Ferrari 575M and Mercedes-Benz CLK 63 Black Series.
After four years of production, the Alfa Romeo 4C was discontinued for the 2019 model year. Due to the extensive use of carbon fiber, very few 4Cs were produced through the 4 year production cycle, and as Alfa’s proper reintroduction to the US market, it is a great contender for future classic status.
