Alfa Romeo 4C review: Best of 2013

What can it be?

The Al-Fa Romeo 4C. The mid-motor, rear-drive sports vehicle was unarguably some of the most eagerly awaited automobiles of 2013. It's Alfa's risk of reinvention using a reduced-quantity, high-visibility sports vehicle to generate a halo across the trading name, and give a springboard from which to start an extra array of fresh mainstream versions. It begins at GBP45,000, adhering it midway between a Porsche Cayman along with a Lotus Exige S. View it contend in our 2013 Automobile of the Year competition here.

Technical highlights?

The motor -

It's matched to Alfa's six-pace TCT dualclutch paddleshift transmission.

With the assistance of Launching Management the Al-Fa 4C will strike from 0-60 in significantly less than 4.5second and reach a 160mph best rate.

The Al-Fa 4C's headline technologies, though, is its carbon-fibre bathtub, which not just adds lightness (it weighs merely a 52kg, leading to your dry 895kg kerb fat) but also a feeling of superior, beat home when the door opens to show a simple shine carbon-weave end around the sills. Total Alfa 4C technology storyline here.

2013 Alfa Romeo 4C

What's it-like to generate?

Swing open the door, fall in the inside and it is possible to marvel in the broad weave of the carbon bathtub. It's really reminiscent of stepping into an early Elise (using the roof on), except each of the nude aluminium was replaced with nude carbonfibre. Yet, even although it's clear where cash was preserved, it nevertheless feels like quite a particular automobile... till you begin the motor.

The 1742cc turbo charged four-cylinder only seems out of invest the Al-Fa. It's maybe not a four-cylinder isn't a good idea by itself, it's simply that when you first wriggle the essential, this one seems like it's been lifted from a bargain '80s hatchback. With 237bhp, the motor is at least successful and imbues the Alfa with adequate, if visibly soaring turbocharged rate in a straight-line. Immersed in the act of weaving the automobile farther down the route, you don't actually see what sound it's creating, therefore it's less of an issue. It's undeniably successful and characterful, albeit in a fairly hot hatchy way that's at odds against the 4C's infant exotic clear and short course.

The construction - splendidly generated from carbon fibre - feels supremely stiff, which lets the suspensor the liberty to operate unimpeded by undesirable flex. Thus the damping includes a great feeling of pliancy, handle and depth, rounding points off wonderfully, but keeping a sense of tautness that's vital in an auto with this kind of high-flown athletic aspirations.

The 4C is speedy and sure footed, its lusty straights and snargling with the small engine striking us down every The reservations of mid range torque, coupled to the TCT transmission make for close-seamless upsurges of speedup that shortly find you travelling at three figure rates The Brembo brakes - 292millimeters back and 305millimeters front - are tremendously strong, using a wonderful company pedal and striking, progressive response in the minute your foot handles the pedal.

As well as the 4C surely has some speed through the corners: while the degrees of lateral handle it creates are tremendous, the vigor of the course changes make it clear how stiff and mild it is. Sitting lower in the bathtub, you sense right in the middle of the activity, so when you lean ever harder onto its tyres you simply begin wishing the seats had some more help to keep you along with your internal organs in position.

The only real slide you'll see in the dry reaches the front, where the nose will just beginning to shove broad. There's only the move from its superbly sculpted hips as the fat transfers rearwards, the gentle small engine maybe not having enough mass to defeat the grasp of the 20in back wheels, even though you lift forcefully only at that stage.

Once given to some corner you discover the equilibrium is resolutely unbiased, with the ultimate fade to the mildest settling understeer. The 4C is more race car-like than a Cayman in its emphasis on balance, grasp and neutrality. Frustratingly that doesn't really translate in to on-street dynamics which can be as participating or amusing as they might be offered a small more liberty of expression and link.

There's no uncertainty the 4C is an excellent thing, however when judged as a complete. Wonderfully put together, and wonderful, it feels worth every cent of its own GBP45,000 price tag. I suppose Alfa Romeo will promote all 3500 4Cs it trust to construct yearly based only on its styling.

2013 Alfa Romeo 4C

How can this compare?

It is going to be a difficult fight for the Al-Fa 4C against some really gifted foes.

Anything else I must understand?

This looks great value at GBP3000 and will certainly prove well-known, we weren't provided a typical automobile as circumstance by which to evaluate the updates.

Alfa Romeo 4C First Drive, Road and Track \ video