2015 Alfa Romeo 4C Joins AUTOMOBILE All-Star Team

2015 alfa romeo 4c

The 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C continues to punch above its weight, relying on a Lotus-like lightness to make up for what it lacks in high output numbersand—more to the point—recently earning its first selection to the AUTOMOBILE magazine All-Star roster.

Reflected Reid Bigland, head of Alfa Romeo for North America: “We are very honored for the all-new Alfa Romeo 4C to receive such a prestigious award as the AUTOMOBILE ‘All-Star.' Each 4C represents more than 100 years of Alfa Romeo racing knowhow, including groundbreaking mid-engine Italian design and Formula 1 inspired technologies—a combination we’re excited to offer North American enthusiasts and at a fraction of the price of other carbon-fiber chassis supercars.”

Now, with all this focus on carbon fiber, the 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C only weighs a bit more than 2,400 lbs., allowing engineers to rely on a high-tech four-cylinder engine for motivation. That unit displaces a mere 1.75 liters, and boasts turbocharging, an intercooler and direct injection to serve up 237 hp and 258 lb.-ft. of torque. Which may not sound like much in today's high-horsepower performance environment, but does enable the 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C to reach 60 mph in 4.1 seconds and enjoy a top speed of 160 mph.

Further, while most drivers aren't going to choose the 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C for its fuel-economy, it is worth noting that the same blend of turbo power and a low curb weight lead to EPA ratings of 24 mpg city/34 mpg highway/28 mpg combined.

The car delivers in the real world, too, with Mike Floyd, editor-in-chief of AUTOMOBILE, reporting: “When you’re out on your favorite stretch of winding road or at the local track blazing away, turbo-four wailing behind your ears, the Alfa Romeo 4C reminds you what it means to drive with joy, with purpose. The 4C is an unapologetic sports car and a spectacular-looking one at that—that’s why it’s a 2015 AUTOMOBILE All-Star.”

A special 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C Launch Edition is on sale now with limited availability, exclusive style cues, a performance-enhancing Track Package, and an MSRP of $68,400; a standard model also is on its way and will feature a starting price of $53,900 when it arrives in dealerships in the near-term future.