An Alfa Romeo 4C Launch Edition model, the first in Malta, was unveiled today at the Alfa Romeo showroom in Valley Road Msida.

The newly arrived car in Carrara White is a Launch Edition model as launched by Alfa Romeo at last year’s 83rd International Motor Show in Geneva.  This  unit is number 394 out of 500 examples worldwide.  The non-limited model is now available for sale at Alfa Showroom.

Designed by Alfa Romeo engineers and produced at the Maserati plant in Modena, the Alfa Romeo 4C represents the true essence of a sports car at the heart of Alfa Romeo's DNA: performance, Italian style and technical excellence, offering maximum driving satisfaction in total safety.

Addressing the media and guests attending the unveiling of the 4C, Francesca Mamo, Managing Director of Pater Group, local representatives of Alfa Romeo noted how the model not only reflects a perfect blend of sheer beauty and technological reinvention but is also a show of force and an epitome of Italian style, elegance and technological innovation.

“One of its innovations lies in the extensive use of lightweight materials including carbon fibre to give it a total weight of just 895kg. It also boasts an acceleration from 0-100km/h in just 4.5 seconds on the way to a top speed of 258km/h,” said Ms Mamo.

“Beyond its very advanced technicalities however, the Alfa Romeo 4C has beauty as one of its greatest attributes. In fact, once it was launched, the 4C was immediately voted the 'Most Beautiful Concept Car of the Year' in Germany and also won the Auto Bild Design Award 2011. From then onwards, a long list of awards followed such as "Design Award for Concept Cars & Prototypes" in Villa d'Este, "Car of the Year 2013" award by FHM Magazine in the UK, "Most Beautiful Car of the Year 2013" at the 29th International Automobile Festival in France and many more.”

The Launch Edition Alfa Romeo 4C features a carbon aerodynamic kit (including headlights, spoiler and door mirror covers), a rear aluminium extractor with dark finishing, Bi-LED headlights, 18-inch front and 19-inch rear alloy wheels with burnishing treatment, front air intakes, brake calipers in a specific colour, race exhaust system with BMC air cleaner, a suspension kit with specific calibration for shock absorbers and rear anti-roll bar, highlights provided by the leather/fabric sports seats with parts in Alcantara and a numbered carbon badge.

“The presence of the 4C in Malta will keep reinforcing the Alfa Romeo brand as the brand of choice for cars that are the product of a prestigious legacy based on tradition, beauty and a sporting heart – the CUORE SPORTIVO. That unique Alfa Romeo heart that pumps like no other. It is what will always make the Alfa Romeo brand stand out from the rest,” concluded Ms Mamo.

One of the most interesting aspects of the Alfa Romeo 4C is not the 240bhp 1750 Tbi engine with Alfa’s TCT twin dry clutch transmission, or the 250+kph top speed, or the fact that it’s Alfa D.N.A. has a RACE mode included; but it is the 895kg weight! Because it's so light, the relatively diminutive output doesn't really matter - in power-to-weight terms, it has 268bhp per ton, more than lightest Porsche Cayman S (246bhp per ton), and even a base model 911 Carrera at 253bhp per ton.  The result of this is a Ferrari-annoying 0-100 of 4.5 seconds!

The 4C draws its inspiration from Alfa Romeo's 8C and 6C of the 1930s and 1940s - both distinguished racing and road cars that were fitted with the powerful 'eight cylinders' and the innovative 'six cylinders'. To this end, the Alfa Romeo 4C uses technologies and materials derived from super sports cars (including the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione) - carbon fibre, aluminium, rear-wheel drive, mid-ship engine - and technologies from the latest standard models from Alfa Romeo, but updated to enhance the sports appeal of the new car even further.

Alfa boss Harald Wester says of the car "It really is a mini supercar". Marco Tencone, design chief at Alfa adds that just as the 8C generated excitement through big power, the 4C does the same thing through agility, thanks to its mid-engine and lightweight. The aim in styling the 4C was to evolve the recognisable characteristics of the 8C, and to adapt them for the different proportions.

The 4C’s design immediately brings to mind some of the traditional iconic models which have left a significant mark in the history of the Brand. Above all others, in terms of dimensional and layout similarities, one stands out in particular: the 33 Stradale, a car that combined extreme mechanical and functional requirements with an essential style which 'clothed' the engine and chassis appropriately with unmistakable Alfa Romeo treatments. The 4C has followed suit, and thus completes a journey that was embarked upon with the 8C Competizione, emphasising some particular concepts of the brand, such as compact size, dynamism and agility.

On the other hand, the elemental design and essential materials also distinguish the interior, which is all designed and built for maximum driving satisfaction. Specifically, the carbon-fibre in the interior immediately stands out, used to make the central cell, which has been left in full view to enhance the sense of uniqueness, of technology and lightweight.

The 4C’s new 4 cylinder 1750 Turbo Petrol engine is an evolution of the engine already in use in the Quadrifoglio Verde version of the Giulietta, implementing an innovative aluminium block and specific intake and exhaust systems which have been optimised to enhance the sports appeal of the car even further. The 4C also includes the Alfa TCT automatic transmission and a new Alfa DNA selector with Race mode.

Many heads are bound to turn over, these next days, weeks, and months. Actually, any time the Alfa Romeo 4C will be in sight...or ear shot!

We in fact welcome this new Alfa Romeo, a Launch Edition model which since its unveiling during the 81st Geneva Motor Show in March 2011 has been garnering plenty of prestigious awards and recognitions.

In my opinion, the Alfa Romeo 4C is not only proof that a perfect blend of sheer beauty and technological reinvention can exist but it is also a show of force and an epitome of Italian style, elegance and technological innovation.

We have been looking forward to her arrival in Malta. Her presence here will keep reinforcing the Alfa Romeo brand as the brand of choice for cars that are the product of a prestigious legacy based on tradition, beauty and a sporting heart – the CUORE SPORTIVO. That unique Alfa Romeo heart that pumps like no other. It is what will always make the Alfa Romeo brand stand out from the rest.

Without wanting to go into a lot of details, I will just mention that the 4C was designed by Alfa Romeo’s engineers and built at the Maserati plant in Modena. One of its innovations lies in the extensive use of lightweight materials including carbon fibre to give it a total weight of just 895kg. It also boasts an acceleration from 0-100km/h in just 4.5 seconds on the way to a top speed of 258km/h.

Beyond the technicalities, which Kenneth will be very happy to expand upon, I say that beauty is one of the greatest attributes that make the Alfa Romeo 4C so conspicuous and outstanding. Once it was launched, the 4C was immediately voted the 'Most Beautiful Concept Car of the Year' in Germany and also won the Auto Bild Design Award 2011.

From then onwards, a long list of awards followed such as "Design Award for Concept Cars & Prototypes" in Villa d'Este, "Car of the Year 2013" award by FHM Magazine in the UK, Winner of the "Imported Sports Cars" Category in 'Auto Zeitung' of Germany, "Most Beautiful Car of the Year 2013" at the 29th International Automobile Festival in France, Winner of "Best Cars 2014" title in Auto, Motor und Sport of Germany, Winner of 'Sports cars and convertibles' category in'Motor' and 'Auto Moto' of Poland, Winner of Sports Car category in ‘Le auto che preferisco’ in QuattroRuote Magazine of Italy, ‘Most beautiful Car 2014’ title in Austria’s Auto Bild, and the list keeps growing.