At just a few clicks over 2,000 lbs., the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider offers supercar performance at one-third the cost

by matt Scanlon

The first mass-produced Alfa Romeos to enter the U.S. market in the new century, the 4C Coupe and Spider—inspired in part by the remarkable 2007-2010 8C Competizione—debuted to considerable fanfare at the 2014 New York International Auto Show, with a total of 850 examples of the lightweight, rear-wheel-drive 4C delivered by the end of that year. The European version was notable in part because of its astonishing 1,950-pound weight, and though extra bracing required for domestic crash test certification has bumped the Spider’s heft on these shores to 2,072 pounds—it’s still remarkably svelte by any standard.

As new as the model itself—handcrafted in the Maserati workshop in Modena, Italy—is its motor, an all-aluminum 1.75-liter inline 4-cylinder turbocharged compact wonder that kicks out 237 horsepower, for a 0-to-60 run in the neighborhood of 4.1 seconds (the same time as the Lotus Evora and Maserati Quattroporte GTS). Other breaking news is the four-mode “Alfa D.N.A.” system, which gives drivers the ability to create customized throttle response, shift speeds, and traction control, according to driving conditions or desired responsiveness (All-Weather, Natural, Dynamic, and Race modes are available).

The monocoque is a single carbon fiber body similar to those of supercars, while crankcase and front and rear frames offer the strength, rigidity, and lightweight properties of aluminum. The 4C’s exterior lines are, in this staff ’s opinion, the loveliest on the road today for any car under $100,000.

Interior design is crisp, purposeful, and on the tight side (extra large drivers take note)—a pleasing constellation of scoops and curves, with carbon fiber accents and vent surrounds, distinctive exterior-color-matched fabrics and trims, and contrasting stitching. Starts at $65,900.

Ray Catena Alfa Romeo
2133 Rt. 35, Oakhearst, NJ / 866.980.9569
raycatenaalfaromeousa.com