Alfa Romeo is one of those unique brands that do not follow the herd. If you’re a car enthusiast or a petrolhead, you cannot hate Alfa Romeo’s cars. You might not personally like them but their out-of-the-box thinking can not be ignored one bit. Outside of the supercar segment full of Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and McLarens, when we think of sports cars, the Alfa Romeo 4C is the last sports car to offer the true analog driving experience of the old days. The next best thing to come close would be the $100,000 Lotus Evora GT. The 4C Spider has flaws, it’s not a perfect car with all the latest tech gizmos and an ultra-luxurious comfort level. Like many memorable icons, the 4C is flawed, but that gives it character and depth.
Alfa Romeos are made for a specific bunch of people who want a certain feeling while driving. But these days, that alone is not going to cut it. After Covid-19 hit, the Italian manufacturer discontinued the sports car, though we have the 33 Stradale Tributo edition for now. So now we are looking back at it with teary eyes (myself at least). The sports car segment has tough competition from manufacturers all over the globe. Everyone pushed their limits in necessary fields like efficiency, power, safety, and comfort. But Alfa Romeo was not a prominent player in all those fields, so other luxury sports cars from Chevrolet, BMW, Porsche, and Toyota were far more popular and successful, and for good reason.
10 Excellent Handling
First of all, let’s start by saying that the Alfa Romeo 4C has NO POWER STEERING. Feels weird to read such a thing in this day and age. This is the stuff we were talking about when we said that Alfa Romeo 4C is the last true analog sports car that offers a uniquely exhilarating driving experience.
The 4C is lightweight, hugs the road brilliantly, and loves to change directions with precision and agility. Take one for a joyride on a curvy road and you will know exactly why people still crave such cars.
9 Better Status Symbol than Other Sports Cars
Alfa Romeo has gone through numerous highs and lows in the North American market. Well known for making stylish and sporty cars in the past, declining sales led to discontinuation and the eventual revival of the brand in the market in 2014.
Their heyday is long gone, but the fewer sales numbers mean your car will stand out and probably be the most unique among your friends and colleagues. Also, let’s not forget the rich history and legacy that comes with that weirdly beautiful logo.
8 Amazing Engine and Performance
The 2020 4C Spider has got a 1.7-Liter turbocharged Inline 4 cylinder that makes 237 HP and 258 lb-ft of torque @ 2200 rpm. The mid-engine coupe/spider sprints from 0 to 60 mph in under 4.5 seconds. Alfa Romeo has boosted the tiny 4-cylinder engine to its limits to give you sufficient power without leaving a massive carbon footprint.
The overall performance of the 4C is nothing to relish, but for a lightweight sports car that has been engineered for just one thing, the power lies on the sweet spot between underpowered and dangerous.
7 One Of The Best Looking Cars
This is yet another area where Italian manufacturers, and especially Alfa Romeo shines brighter than the Sun. If there is one takeaway from Alfa Romeo cars, it is that they are darn beautiful to look at. Continuing and elevating the previous 8C’s appearance, the 4C (Spider in particular) takes things to a new level.
The body is full of stylish curves and yet somehow it doesn’t look over-designed. If it weren’t for a couple of Aston Martins, the 4C might as well be a strong contender for the most beautiful sports car of the 2010 decade.
6 The Emotional Experience
If you build something just out of spite, there is little chance of success. But if you build something with a purpose and are passionate to serve that purpose to its full extent, then the result is other-worldly. This is exactly what Alfa Romeo sets out to achieve. And while sacrifices and compromises have been made recklessly to achieve that goal, they actually accomplished it nonetheless.
That is a great thing that not many manufacturers or even cars can replicate. The driving experience is the most vital aspect of anyone ever thinking of buying an Alfa Romeo. The 4C is the closest thing we have to a go-kart and reminds us of the ‘90s supercar era when the sky was the limit.
5 Why It Flopped: Not Really Practical
Unfortunately, the reason why the 4C excels in a distinct, viscous driving experience is also the same reason why it doesn’t work at all as a ‘Vehicle’. The cargo space is next to nothing, interior space is just enough for your wallet and mobile phone, the suspension is on the stiffer side, the list goes on.
If you measure the distance between the outside and the inside of the 4C right below the door panel, you can see that a lot of space has been compromised for the sake of rigidity. The manual prop rod comes in the way, and you will need both of your hands to open the trunk.
4 Why It Flopped: More Expensive Than Rivals
The price of the 4C is $80,000. For a similar amount of money, you can get a C-Class, C8 Corvette, BMW 8 Series, or an Audi TTS. These cars turn out to be way more logical choices even for those with a need for speed. Even the GR Supra costs less than the 4C!
Not only Alfa’s target audience is specific to a type, but they are also restricted to a certain amount of heft in budget. It is one of the main reasons behind their low performance in sales figures.
3 Why It Flopped: Fewer Modern Features Than Rivals
If you take a look at the 4C’s interior for the first time, you will probably confuse it with that of the previous decade. Yes, the 2019 model got updated with features like cruise control, rearview camera, and rear parking sensors, but there’s not much else offered.
The high cabin noise won’t let you notice the subpar audio quality, the infotainment system with a touchscreen display is basic and functional with an optional navigation system. These days, even some of the costly toy cars have more stuff in their interior than this little sports car.
2 Why It Flopped: Not User Friendly Or Ergonomic
One look at the seating position and you instantly know that long hauls will be a pain in the butt in this one. The issue here is that people keep putting this car in the ‘Luxury Sport Coupe/Convertible’ category. This is where people get all the wrong impressions.
You don’t even get power steering in this supposedly Luxury car. The 4C does not care about your lower back.. Or your shoulders, or your hands, or your mind. It only listens to what your heart wants, and that’s it. Nothing else to see here.
1 Why It Flopped: Rivals Offer More Bang For Your Buck
Finally, the main reason why it flopped as a sports car has surprisingly got less to do with its features(or the lack thereof). Rather it is due to the immensely competitive market of sports coupes or convertibles.
These tight rivalries helped bring many awesome innovations, but Alfa Romeo did not go out of character to keep up with the rest. If you want a sports car as your only car or something you can also use as a daily driver, there are undoubtedly better options available that make way more sense.