See Photo Of The Newest 4C Alfa Romeo Back To The United States

Wow! Do you know that Alfa Romeo left the United States market in 1995, after a year in which the Italian company sold only 523 cars. For comparison, Ford sells three times that many F-Series trucks every day. Alfa simply couldn’t justify the huge investment needed to comply with ever-tighter American safety and emission standards. Leaving with a whimper, Alfa has returned with a bang. During my three days with its new 4C sports car, well over 100 gawkers interrupted my photo shoots  more, I believe, than with any car I’ve tested. At least one driver nearly ran off the road trying to catch a second glimpse.

Alfa has been mostly forgotten by many Americans, so only a few enthusiasts realized they were witnessing the marque’s return. Those aficionados know all about 4C’s midengine design, carbon-fiber tub construction, lightweight composite skin and relative bargain price. The Launch Edition costs $69,695, including destination; the standard 4C will arrive this year at $55,195. Alfa will bring 1,000 or so 4Cs to the United States annually, double its sales of 20 years ago, when it offered twice as many models. Reports suggest that the 4C is going fast.

Oh yes, that goes for performance, too. At under 2,500 pounds, the 4C streaks from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 4.5 seconds. The 237-horsepower 1.8-liter aluminum engine bristles with technology, including an after-run pump that — once the engine is shut down – protects the turbo mechanism by circulating the oil until it cools. The 6-speed dual-clutch transmission with push-button operation is a retuned version of the unit used in the Dodge Dart. Driven slowly about town, it lacks some refinement. It behaves better when driven hard.

The occasional art collector will bite, but 4C is intended for driving enthusiasts who want a pure, unfiltered performance dynamic. It’s crazy fun for romps on tight winding roads. It’s also loud, stiffly sprung and intolerant of lazy pilots. With peaky power delivery and steering that demands your full attention, the 4C is not a comfortable car to drive 180 miles from Portland, Ore., to Seattle. Ask me how I know. Afterward, my own Mazda Miata felt as cushy as a 1980s Buick LeSabre.

Squint your eyes and you’ll see the silhouette of Alfa’s 33 Stradale, built in 1967-9. A total of 18 were made. There’s a much better chance of snagging one of the 500 Launch Edition 4Cs disembarking onto American soil after voyaging from Modena. If future offerings are half as stylish (and much less high strung) as this weekend toy, Alfa Romeo has a shot at becoming the Italian Audi that it seems to want to be.