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This car has been expected by all Alfisti for years. Small, fast, sporty. The Alfa Romeo 4C.
If you covered the badge, many people would mistake this car for a Ferrari. Especially in this particular colour.
The headlights with scattered LED lamps look rather odd, but this is the only part of this car we complain about.
At least from the outside. It looks delicious, doesn't it? Who wants to get a ride? Let's have a look inside...
Getting inside this car might be complicated for some as there is a wide sill to be jumped over.
You can easily spot carbon fibre here. It is a part of exposed monocoque.
Inside Alfa 4C is very restrained with hard plastics, but I don't think this will disturb anybody,
because this car has not been designed to please somebody's aestheticism. This car has been designed to go fast!
Let's see how it goes on the roads around Ballocco. What you can notice instantly is the small steering wheel with no assistance.
Short pull of a paddle behind the steering wheel. The gearbox is a dual-clutch transmission called TCT.
We have the first gear selected and we can decide to change gears manually. Let's go.
Just listen to this engine!
This is incredible! Behind me there's only 1750 ccm turbocharged engine derived from Alfa Giulietta QV, but it has been completely rebuilt.
It weighs 22 kilograms less, has forged pistons and it's made of aluminium. But the way it sounds is just amazing!
It reminds me of good, old Alfa Romeo engines that were emanating mechanical power
with the sound of mechanical cricket that used to hide under the bonnets.
Here, the engine is located in the mid-position and this sound, this noise is with you at all times.
The noise is accompanied with whining of a waste gate and the sound of the air being sucked into the engine.
It actually sounds like a giant ogre sucking the air into his lungs through the gap in teeth.
Next thing - the brakes. They feel like in a racing car. I think this is the best comparison, because you can feel how hard the pedal is.
The engineers are proud of a short stopping distance and direct responses from the braking system.
The 4C obviously is equipped with the ABS, but it cuts in quite late and gives you a delicate indication that it's actually there and working.
Limited weight of the car contributes to the way you can feel the brakes and use them precisely with the intended force.
During driving you don't miss the power steering. Once the car is on the move you need little effort to turn the wheel.
Alfa Romeo 4C may not be the best in keeping the straight line at speeds but it's great on twisty roads.
Let's change the scenery for a moment.
The 4C is equipped with DNA system known from other Alfa Romeos but here it is equipped with an additional functionality.
There are the usual Dynamic, Normal and All-Weather modes and then there is a Race setting you can choose by pushing the rocker switch forward for a couple of seconds.
We're ready to try the launch control system. You pull the left paddle with your fingers and... off you go!
The Italians claim that this car can reach 100 km/h in just 4,5 seconds. This might be possible on a dry, even surface.
The more bumpy and slippery, the more difficult it is to channel its 240 horsepower through the rear tyres.
However, the car is quick, at least it seems to be. Maybe that's because of this noise?
It is a general rule: the noisier the car the faster it seems to be. Doesn't it?
At high speeds there is one downside to this steering mechanism. A real Alfa Romeo always has to be flawed in one way or another.
In the 4C the steering is a bit numb in its central position. It's rather bland when you drive in a straight line.
It lacks the information on what the front wheels are doing and it requires some minor corrections at all times.
I suppose this numbness is intentional otherwise the car would be too nervous at high speeds.
It's strange because this car is so agile and it handles the bends so nicely yet in the central position little happens when you move the steering wheel.
But this is one of few flaws in this car. The other downside is this sound of engine.
It is so intrusive and so noisy that after a longer journey you feel tired.
It's like every time you were thirsty all you could drink is a cup of espresso.
It's liquid and it should deal with your thirst but it keeps you roused and after a couple of hours you feel also tired.
This Alfa is just like that. You can't take four people with lots of luggage on a long trip in the 4C.
This car is made for experiencing fantastic moments from behind the steering wheel and it delivers this promise.
That's what we love the Italians for.