New Alfa 4C GTA is designed to recall the T33 Stradale of 1967. Will it come to the U.S.? Perhaps.
By Roberto Motta
Photos by Alfa Romeo
Will the new 4C herald the end of Alfa’s Big Sleep?
A new Alfa Romeo compact “supercar” which represents the true essence of the brand’s values, made its debut at the the 81st Geneva International Motor Show.
The new Alfa Romeo 4C GTA Concept is designed by Centro Stile Alfa Romeo, and has very rough lines where the body is put together. But all this purposely creates the engaging personality that is linked to that of the legendary 1967 Type 33 Stradale. The T33 Stradale was derived from the T33 competition car, which defended the colors of the Milanese automaker in the World Championship series.
The 1967 T33 Stradale. Photo by Werner Pfister.
To confirm that the new car inherits the moral legacy of the glorious T33, the 4C is a hi tech, hi performance 2-seater, rear-wheel drive that focuses on the power and on the exceptional lightness to give at the driver a true sporting feeling behind the wheel.
While it appears a little chunky, the Alfa is on a very short 2.4 meter wheelbase and is mid-engined. Four cylinder engine will produce over 200 hp.
But if the basic idea comes from the Type 33, it is also true that the new car is born from the experience acquired through the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione and 8C Spider models, the supersportscar of which only 1000 were made between in 2007 and 2008 and sold at a price of 213,000 Euros.
The 4C has a very compact layout to improve its agility: approximately 4 metres long and has a wheelbase of less than 2.4 metres. The engine is the 4 cylinder 1750 Turbo Petrol engine which is able to produce over 200 HP, and already used in the Giulietta Quadrifoglio Verde. The engineers did not declare the true power of the Concept engine, but, there is a rumour that it can produce about 265hp. The engine is fed by direct injection and has dual continuous variable valve timing, and a turbocharger with a revolutionary scavenging control system which eliminates turbo lag.
Located centrally in the vehicle, the engine in the Alfa Romeo 4C Concept ensures performance better than a 3 liter car, and yet is able to delivering the moderate fuel consumption typical of a 4 cylinder engine. The engine is coupled with the new automatic “Alfa TCT” twin dry clutch transmission, launched only a few months ago on the MiTo and which will soon be available on the Giulietta. The 1750 Turbo petrol engine allows the 4C Concept to reach a top speed of over 250 km/h (155 mph) and to accelerate from 0 to 100km in under 5 seconds.
The T33 Stradale next to the 8C. Photo by Werner Pfister.
Reportedly, the 4C Concept has a sophisticated suspension layout (high quadrilateral at the front, MacPherson at the rear) to ensure maximum agility and road handling. This solution, along with the rear-wheel drive and the extraordinary weight/power ratio gives it the proverbial Alfa Romeo road handling. The weight distribution is 40% on the front axle and 60% on the rear axle.
The Alfa Romeo Management has declared that this car is not simply an exercise in style created for the Motor Show; it will be on sale in the late 2012 and is meant to reinforce Alfa Romeo’s global growth. It is rumoured that at least 20,000 will be built and the selling price will be between 40,000 and 50,000 Euros.
Rear view is the least pleasing; curves, lines and motifs going every which way. The original Stradale is far superior in styling but the designed had more freedom in 1967.
Alfa is still planning to come back to the U.S. and the centerpiece of this return promises to be something truly special. Judging by the looks of the new Alfa Romeo 4C Concept unveiled at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, perhaps they are finally on the right path.
Much as I am a fan of Alfa Romeo, having owned and raced many during the glory days of the 1750 and GTV’s, this exercise looks to me like the Lotus Evora’s evil twin. I am sure the Italians can do better than that.
beautiful.however that roofline.it look like an after thought.”what should we do with the roof?lets just do small ferrari up there.easy problem solve.” ferrari should follow alfa not vise versa.
Alfa has cried “wolf” about returning to the US market so many times in the last decade, that I simply will believe it when I can walk into an Alfa dealership and see new ones ready for sale. Until then, it’s just idle speculation.
Also, The Alfa that we Americans know doesn’t exist any more. It’s just rebadged, up-market Fiats and will remain so as long as Fiat owns the marque. If Fiat follows the normal Alfa show-car-to-production-car strategy, by the time the 4C makes it to market, it will have become an underpowered, 4-seat, FWD coupe that looks vaguely like the show car. Mark my words.
An incredibly clunky car with absolutely no finesse! Look at those Sixties Ford Thunderbird/Galaxie taillights!
I think they have a winner here. It looks gutsy and at about 1/5 th 8C price… And by their estimated production quota I think they can bring it on over. I’m ready for my 6th Alfa.
@ cowfy: The best thing to do with the roof is lose it! Alfa needs a small, open sports car.
Having been a long time Alfa owner, here is my opinion. This is a small car and as such the design has too many details that distract from the over all package. While the aerodynamics may be acceptable, the presentation is less so. The designers should have adhered to advice given long ago…….Less is More. Beautiful cars have grace that is unfortunately missing this time.
NO!NO!NO!
What’s needed is a Stradale 33 EVOLUTION circa 2011!
This car (above) looks like a hybridized vehicle. (1) front: Porsche, (2) side view: Porsche Cayman, (3) Rear end: Lotus. And it needs a minimum of 350hp. Enough with the cute “little Alfa toys” I’m sick of them!! I want the brand to succeed in U.S. markets competing, as I previously stated, against Porsche, Lotus Evora, Maserati, Benz and Audi.
Oh…won’t Mr. Marchionne at Alfa please hire me!!!??!!!! I promise global market penetration and profits!
Michel Aniel
Way, way too much surface embellishment. Unfortunately both the designer and those who approved the final design are in the more is more camp, rather than the elegance of the original T33 Stradale’s less is more philosophy. While the virtually non existent rear overhang will no doubt appeal to the younger (rice rocket) contingent, it only reinforces the gee whiz aspect of this entire concept.
I have seen other drawings by Alfa that were much better. This design is a far cry from the original car.
The comparison to the Evora is apt; both are prime examples of not allowing the highlights to flow easily from end to end, and in a short car the problem becomes too obvious too damned fast. Compare this (and the Evora) to the Fiat 850 Spider and Coupe, both really tiny cars but with a simple elegance that made them look like proper cars instead of toys.
Don’t get me wrong: I like small cars. There is simply a greater challenge to make them look like one fine, swift thing instead of a pile of chunks, and Centro Stile missed it.
Bruttisimo!
I like the nose, but every thing from the A pillar back just looks like a poorly designed Lotus. He should have taken some styling cues from the 8C and…buy the way…do that and make it a spider.
I thought that Centro Stile was closed and everything moved to Torino in the … Centro Fiat !?
I’d have to agree with Juan, that was my first impression- Lotus. 🙁 But like every car, you have to see it in person and of course, it’s not done yet…there’s still hope! Maybe hand it over to Zagato or Pininfarina? I guess with 265hp you’ll never see it!
Dan
Wheels Of Italy.com
this is a great car on the paper
A good Beginning… lots to do here, but definitely what we Alfisti have been waiting for.
From our correspondent Roberto Motta: “I share the opinions of most of our readers. The Alfa Concept is a far cry from the original T33, but is a chance for Alfa to return to the sport with a two passenger rear wheel drive car.
Yes, it seems very similar to the Lotus but at this point, I think Alfa will do even better, build a fantastic car and get back into competition, but only if it Alfa remains out of Turinese control.”
If I want a Lotus, I’ll go buy a Lotus . What was George Harrison nicked for .
Simon
Another car in the new genre that misses having the visual allure of its
predecessor. Every carmaker from to Audi to Zastava has now horned
in on the idea of racing /exotica, and the crowded field has killed any
aspiration I might have had about acquiring anything “new”.
Would I expect these stumpy and angular origami things to get more
pleasing over time? Nah. Formula One racers haven’t grown on me
since 196o.
Having read the comments pro and con regarding the styling of the car. let us just say that it sure looks better the new Ferrari FF.
I agree with most of the comments above. IMHO, Alfa Romeo should have put more of the 8C’s into production instead of doing such a limited run, and they should be introducing the Mito as the small car for the US market. This 4C does not do it for me. It has steroid look which in no way reproduces the fine lines of the T33 Stradale.
I agree with some of the other guys earlier on, its just a Lotus Evora with a Alfa badge on it, but its still an Alfa and i love it!!
For sure and EVORA evolution..
Still I beleive that ALFA ROMEO is one of the greatest brands that have blessed us with such masterpieces like the 6C 2500, GIULIA GTV, 156,147/GT that cannot accept designs like the 4C that have and Evora look.
Alfas were copied and therefore is totally not acceptable to copy others !
The 4C is not ugly but for sure not an ALFA and I fully agree with Dean (a Lotus with an Alfa badge on it.
Come on Alfa you have the pottential to give us true Alfa Romeos !!
Shame the beautiful 8C wasn’t built in the same numbers and at the same price as this ugly squashed up 4C version of it. Why make your best car that no one can have, then make an average version of that car that you want everyone to have… how do you survive as a business? The 8C is the only reason i’ve ever even looked at an Alfa, never been interested before or after.