By Peter Fitch, January 13, 2015
The Alfa 4C retains everything the coupe has to offer mechanically and trim wise except the 4C comes with a hole in the roof. The Spider is built around a carbon fiber monocoque chassis. As you may well already know carbon fiber is lighter and stronger than steel.
The body is fabricated from Sheet molded Compound which sounds un-glamorous but it is a pre-fabricated composite material made up of glass-fibre reinforced polyester. Its basically a blanket of material that is compression moulded into the desired shape. Fascinating.
So why are we getting a bit technical? You see light weight cars are to the benefit of better all round efficiency, less fuel more accessible power and it also aids also better handling. The 4C uses glass that is 10 percent thinner and this reduces weight by up to 15 percent over standard glass. Overall the 4C weighs 20kg less than the coupe. Not much you may think but the 4C Coupe weighs in at less than one ton at 895kg less really is more.
Thinner glass means less sound insulation but Alfa have that covered as the 4C Spider offers a titanium exhaust system or an optional Akrapovic dual-mode exhaust system which increases power and sounds a whole lot more vibrant so you won’t be complaining too much.
The 4C Spider uses the exact same engine as the Coupe a rear mid-engine, 1.7-litre, 4-cylinder turbocharged unit delivering 240hp, 258 lb.-ft., 1750 with a top speed of 160 MPH and a 0-to-60 MPH time estimated at 4.1-seconds. Oh and its rear wheel drive.
For the North American market, the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider gets stiffer springs, larger front- and rear-anti-roll bars, and re-tuned shock absorbers.
No pricing details have been released just yet although something is sure to be announced later this year. expect to pay around £60k GBP for top spec versions.
