Test Drive – Alfa Romeo 4C Edizione Speciale: Fatal Beauty, Brutal Beauty

Last March, on the occasion of a day celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Abarth brand, Motors Inside was able to launch its new Car Testing section. A few days ago, an even better opportunity presented itself to us. For the first time, the editorial team was entrusted not with one but two cars for a five-day test. Here, we are talking about the Alfa Romeo 4C Edizione Speciale, the sportiest version of the 4C.

The first step was picking up the car in Trappes, at the FCA Group France headquarters. A new but equally satisfying experience, being handed the keys to a sports model in its most exclusive configuration provides a strong feeling. A first time is unforgettable. After a first virtual contact through the configurator and brochures, the time had come to discover the beauty.

The beautiful one, yes, because when I faced her, I was seduced. Red dress, aerodynamic curves, chassis low to the ground, and carbon elements, she knew how to make her case. Contact, ignition. Moreover, she knew how to give voice…

It was now time to hit the road towards Annecy, to join the team and bring together the two models of our comparison, which is the subject of a dedicated article. First of all, let’s talk a little more about this Alfa Romeo 4C Edizione Speciale.

Radically elegant

In Italy, the automobile is more than an object, and like a person, it must cultivate desire. Let’s be honest, one could easily fall for the Alfa Romeo 4C. Especially in its Edizione Speciale finish. The Motors Inside test team is unanimous on this point; it is magnificent, and its Competizione red body is the cherry on top that completes the masterpiece.

At the front, the Alfa Romeo identity is evident with the inverted isosceles triangle grille, flanked by two large air intakes that supply the cooling system. On the lower part of the bumper, two small flaps are incorporated to generate downforce on the front axle and also to direct airflow onto the side skirts.

Still at the front, the grille is highlighted by two body lines that extend from the nose to the windshield pillars, replicating the shape of the grille on the bumper and the hood. Our test model was equipped with bi-xenon headlights (optional), abandoning the original design of the standard headlights for a conventional body-integrated design.

On the sides, one can already admire the height of the 4C, only 1.18 m, and then notice the sleek design. A line highlights the skirt on the lower part and ends with an air intake shaped in carbon (driver’s side only). Another line starts from the middle of the door and accentuates as it finishes on the widened rear wing, which incorporates a large air intake feeding the cooling system.

Still in a spirit of simplicity, the side mirrors offer as their only eccentricity a carbon shell (optional). It is once behind the car that one realizes the width of the rear fenders and understands the extended outward design of the mirrors to widen the driver’s rear field of vision.

The very wide rear wings stabilize the car and the imposing diffuser enhances its massive character. The integrated central Akrapovič dual exhaust adds character to this model that already has plenty, and the carbon trunk spoiler is ultimately quite discreet.

The initial idea of Alfa Romeo’s designers was to revisit the principles that dictated the design of the 33 Stradale in 1967: two-seater coupe, lightweight, sportiness, clean style. The final assessment is that this neo-modern reinterpretation of the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale is a true stylistic success.

Cockpit ambiance

Entering and exiting the cabin proves to be a real challenge with the Alfa Romeo 4C. Habits are gradually formed, but parking in a garage requires logistics. As a side note, we preferred to act in pairs when it came to getting in and out of the car when we parked it in the box. Yes, we are meticulous at Motors Inside.

Once inside, you discover an interior decidedly oriented towards sport. The carbon chassis is clearly visible, barely hidden by the floor mats embossed with a 4C. On the dashboard, the air vents and a decorative strip on the passenger side are also made of carbon. The small door panels have a handle (for closing assistance) made of semi-rigid leather and reveal the doors extensively, the combination of carbon and Competizione red is strikingly effective.

The black-tobacco leather sports seats of our model find their place in the interior, adding a bright and especially comfortable touch. The 4C is still a production car. The adjustments are basic: legroom and seatback inclination, but make no mistake, these seats offer surprising comfort for long journeys (editor’s note: more than 1,000 km traveled on the highway to reach this conclusion).

In front of your eyes, the two-spoke sport leather steering wheel with a flattened bottom edge increasingly imposes a racing atmosphere, reminiscent of a GT steering wheel design. It is adjustable in depth and height. Behind it, you find the gear shift paddles, positioned in accordance with the shape of the steering wheel, with hands at 9:15. Further back, the eyes are drawn to the digital dashboard, which clearly communicates essential information.

No onboard computer here, the driver-oriented center console offers only the essentials, including manual air conditioning and a magnificent Alpine car radio picked up from the corner store. Lower down, in a carbon insert, are the gear shift controls, including the one for switching to manual (the automatic functions « Auto-Up » and « Auto-Down » remain active and engage if you are too high or too low in the revs).

The controls for the mirrors and windows are electric, and nearby is the Alfa D.N.A. driving mode selector. Four modes are available, starting with All Weather which includes the most electronic assistance management that intervenes particularly on the power delivered in case of deviations. Natural is the versatile mode that acts on the engine-transmission torque for smooth operation and configures the rear differential to intervene in case of loss of traction in one of the wheels.

The Dynamic is the most interesting (and reasonable) on the road, with the engine and gearbox reacting more quickly to demands, the exhaust valves are open to let the Akrapovič line (optional) express itself, and the ESC theoretically offers more freedom but in practice, it proves rather punitive despite our intention to fault the car. Finally, there’s the Alfa Race mode that we didn’t test (note: tested on open roads sometimes on wet asphalt) which allows the ESC to be inactive except in case of delicate braking. Similarly, the traction control system lets you manage even in case of loss of grip of the drive wheels.

A real body-covered kart

Three fundamental principles govern the use of the Alfa Romeo 4C: the lack of power steering, the lack of rear visibility, and the ride height. The first two are fairly easily manageable by the driver, the third is more complicated to put into practice on our modern roads. Speed bumps in abundance, poor design, and poor road maintenance are all obstacles to the pleasure of driving the 4C.

The non-assisted steering is only a problem when parking the car, as driving it is a delight. Initially surprised, you get into the game of attentive driving, as any bump on the road can make you deviate from the trajectory you had chosen to follow. The rigidity of the chassis and the sport suspension (optional, standard on our test model) are added, and you get a perfect trio to fully experience everything happening on the road.

As part of a test at the Semnoz pass, we (re)discovered the sensation of following the road. Slight camber, short turns with angle changes, the 4C dances on the asphalt and we enjoy it, in the utmost simplicity. It proves to be as pleasant to drive at low speed as in sporty driving.

At this point, selecting the Dynamic driving mode « is highly recommended. For the pleasure of the ears, as the Akrapovič exhaust adds another dimension to the experience, but also to demand more responsiveness in acceleration from a car that’s just waiting for it. Between two slow curves, you’re catapulted by the 240hp of this 1742 cm3, provided the turbo is active, and thus, rev up.

This compromise of offering a very mild engine for daily use, which doesn’t necessarily engage the turbo, is appreciable in a fuel-saving mindset. However, in sporty driving, it brings a slight frustration when you have to wait for the turbo to kick in once you floor it. From this disadvantage comes an advantage, as you can clearly feel the kick effect (which isn’t one in an optimization logic for behavior).

On the electronic aids side, we regret as much as we appreciate the presence of the ESC, even in « Dynamic » mode. The Alfa Romeo 4C remains stable even when pushing out of slow corners, with only the ASR (anti-slip regulation) caught off guard on irregular and sometimes wet surfaces. The braking is efficient (305mm drilled and vented discs at the front and 292mm at the rear), does not lose power, and does not falter (ABS activation) even during very hard braking downhill.

The numbers

Positive points

• Exterior design;
• Cruise control for highway journeys;
• Surprisingly comfortable seats;
• Feel everything on the road.

Negative points

• Convenience store car radio ;
• Rear visibility ;
• Too many daily constraints ;
• Having to return the keys.

The opinion of the editorial team

The Alfa Romeo 4C Edizione Speciale is the little gem that one wants to see and drive every day. Unfortunately, this pleasure cannot be daily because its ride height and maneuverability in parking are two elements of frustration for urban and/or daily driving. The best way to enjoy it is ultimately to take it to a track. It is only in these conditions that you can fully exploit it because it seems born for this.

Photos by Gary Eisinger.