The Alfa Romeo 4C (Type 960) is a two-seat sports car manufactured by Maserati and marketed by Alfa Romeo from 2013 until 2020. It has a rear mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout, and the name refers to its straight-four engine. It was the first car sold in the United States by the Italian brand since 1995.
Alfa Romeo 4C at a glance
| Production | 2013–2020 (coupé from 2013, roadster added in 2015) |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Maserati, marketed by Alfa Romeo |
| Layout | rear mid-engine, rear-wheel drive, straight-four |
| Design | Marco Tencone and Lorenzo Ramaciotti, Centro Stile Alfa Romeo |
| Concept (2011) | 1,750 cc turbo petrol with direct injection, Alfa TCT twin dry clutch transmission, Alfa DNA selector |
| Concept shown | 81st Geneva Motor Show, March 2011 |
| Production car shown | 2013 Geneva Motor Show; European orders from October 2013 |
This page is based on English Wikipedia only, so the figures could not be cross-checked against a second source.
History of the Alfa Romeo 4C
The Alfa Romeo 4C Concept was a two-seater, rear-wheel-drive coupé with technology and materials derived from the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione, and a 1,750 cc turbocharged petrol engine with direct injection. It was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2011 and then shown at the Mille Miglia parade, the Goodwood Festival of Speed and the Frankfurt Motor Show. Readers of the German magazine Auto Bild voted it the Most Beautiful Concept Car of the Year, and the public at Villa d’Este awarded it the Design Award for Concept Cars and Prototypes.
The production car was unveiled at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, followed by Techno Classica in Essen and the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The bare “4C000” chassis was also shown in Geneva, and ordering of European models began in October 2013. A roadster version was added in 2015. Alfa Romeo Style Centre and Compagnia Ducale also designed a 4C-inspired bicycle for the launch.
Design and features
- Name: 4C refers to the straight-four engine.
- Concept: the 2011 concept used technology and materials derived from the 8C Competizione.
- Differences from the concept: mainly the front lights, side vents and mirrors.
Alfa Romeo 4C versions
- 4C Concept (2011): the design study.
- 4C coupé (2013): the production car.
- 4C Spider (2015): the roadster version.
More Alfa Romeo sports cars are in our Alfa Romeo collection, for example the 8C Competizione and the Brera.
Alfa Romeo 4C questions and answers
What does 4C mean?
It refers to the straight-four engine of the car.
Who made the Alfa Romeo 4C?
Maserati manufactured it and Alfa Romeo marketed it.
When was it built?
From 2013 until 2020; the roadster was added in 2015.
Who designed it?
Marco Tencone and Lorenzo Ramaciotti at the Centro Stile Alfa Romeo.
Was it sold in the United States?
Yes: it was the first car sold in the US by the Italian brand since 1995.
Sources
- Alfa Romeo 4C, English Wikipedia: history, concept, launch
