NEWS: Alfa DNA Driving Mode For Whole Range: Film – Free-running with Ronnie Shalvis

Alfa Romeo’s signature Alfa D.N.A driving mode selector will now feature across the entire 2014 Alfa Romeo range as standard, regardless of engine or trim level. And to mark the range update, Alfa Romeo teamed up with one of the world's elite parkour athletes, Ronnie Shalvis, to put the Alfa D.N.A. system to the ultimate agility test.
In the film sequence above, Ronnie takes on both Alfa MiTo and Alfa Giulietta in the ultimate urban playground, pitting man against machine on both road and ice surfaces to see who has the greater control of their environment. Basically, it's a viral video to make something that sounds quite dull, look cool… and show the DNA system is not all PR fluff.
The 2014 Alfa MiTo and 2014 Alfa Giulietta will feature the driving mode selector with three distinctive settings – ‘Dynamic’, ‘Natural’ and ‘All-Weather’ – while the Alfa Romeo 4C supercar has an additional forth setting specifically for track driving: ‘Race’ mode!
Ronnie Shalvis commented: "With parkour, you have to adapt to varying and challenging environments, whilst remaining agile and dynamic. If you fail to respond to a situation or mistime a move, it could result in serious injury. When everything works together, though, and you nail those difficult manoeuvres, it’s an amazing feeling! Making the film with Alfa Romeo was a fantastic experience and I think it really demonstrates how having that control of your environment lets you stay safe but also have a lot of fun."
Damien Dally, Head of Brand, Alfa Romeo UK, noted: "The Alfa D.N.A. system ensures that every 2014 Alfa Romeo can adapt to the prevailing driving conditions, varying the cars numerous dynamic characteristics from power delivery to steering feel and VDC stability control intervention. Despite its sophistication, the driver only has to simply flick the switch to select the appropriate driving mode and the car will take care of the rest."
About Alfa D.N.A:
The Alfa D.N.A. system lets drivers manually select from one of several different driving modes depending on the road conditions: ‘Dynamic’, ‘Natural’ and ‘All-Weather’, as well as ‘Race’ in the Alfa Romeo 4C. Once a mode is selected, Alfa D.N.A then automatically adjusts settings for throttle response, power delivery, power steering assistance, VDC stability control and braking Pre-Fill. Where fitted, ALFA TCT gear-changes and adaptive suspension settings are also adjusted.
DYNAMIC
‘Dynamic’ mode provides a more immediate throttle response, with making fifty percent of the engine’s torque available within the first 10 percent of pedal travel. Pre-Fill braking is activated to boost braking performance and more steering weight is added for a sportier, more involving drive. In addition, the electronic dynamic and stability systems (VDC, DST, ASR) become less intrusive and for models fitted with the ALFA TCT gearbox, the gearshift characteristics are reconfigured.
NATURAL
Natural mode is designed for everyday driving with the performance levels drivers expect from an Alfa Romeo but delivered more progressively with optimum fuel consumption. 
ALL-WEATHER In All-Weather mode Alfa’s VDC (Vehicle Dynamic Control) system is more intrusive whilst ASR (Anti-Slip Regulator) is lightened, allowing the wheels to slip and gain traction in icy conditions. Models equipped with ALFA TCT can also pull away in second gear, further helping avoid wheel spin.
RACE (Alfa Romeo 4C only) Activated by holding the selector forward whilst in ‘Dynamic’ mode, ‘Race’ mode puts the driver completely in control, disabling stability control (re-engaging only under emergency braking) and ASR. Alfa’s Q2 differential control remains active. ‘Race’ mode allows drivers to push the Alfa Romeo 4C to its limit on the track. For more details visit: www.alfaromeo.co.uk

NEWS: Alfa Romeo 4C Nürburgring 8:04 Lap

Alfa's gorgeous new 4C supercar has posted a class record-breaking and very respectable Nürburgring Nordschleife lap time of 8:04 – making it the fastest car with an engine under 250bhp.
The lap was done by journalist and Nordschleife expert, Horst von Saurma on September 12, 2013, as part of a vast test program by Alfa Romeo that's seen the 4C tested from ‐35° in Sweden to +40° in Abu Dhabi, from the Arizona (USA) deserts, to the slopes of Mt. Etna in Sicily and from the Balocco test track in Italy track (where all Alfa Romeos have been developed, perfected and tested since 1962), to this record-breaking lap at the Nürburgring.
Alfa say: "The 'Green Hell' proved to be the ideal place to put the performance features of the Alfa Romeo 4C to the test. This true, uncompromised driving machine delivers its best on the track, where speed, short braking distances and transverse acceleration are essential to get first‐rate lap times: 0 to 62mph in 4.5 seconds; 160mph of top speed; deceleration peaks in the range of 1.2 g; lateral acceleration peaks of over 1.1g and optimum weight distribution ‐ 40% over the front axle and 60% over the rear, not to mention a power-to-weight ratio of over 250hp per tonne, values worthy of true supercar.

"In addition to its superb agility and phenomenal grip, credit must also be apportioned to the new 240hp 1750 Turbo Petrol engine, the latest‐generation ALFA TCT' dry twin clutch gearbox and the advanced Alfa D.N.A. selector with its newly-introduced “Race” mode. The new four-cylinder 1750 Turbo Petrol - with direct injection at 200 bar and an aluminium block - sets new records for torque and specific power for this size of engine, at over 200 Nm/litre (147.5 lb ft/litre) and 137hp/litre respectively, while maximum power of 240hp is reached at 6,000 rpm. The maximum torque of 350Nm (258 lb ft) ensures extraordinary elasticity and sportiness since it is maintained constant between 2,100 and 4,000 rpm with 80% of the torque already available from just 1,800 rpm.
"Also contributing to the Alfa Romeo 4C's performance at the Nürburgring were the special Pirelli P Zero Trofeo tyres, the sportiest version in the Pirelli P Zero line. A record was set not only on the track, but also in the development of the tyres: It took less than one year of collaboration between Pirelli and Alfa Romeo engineers to develop of the best solution for guaranteeing grip and precision while driving of the Alfa Romeo 4C. These special 'AR' P Zero tyres, available in two sizes, 17" front and 18" rear or 18" front and 19" rear, ensure grip, performance, sportiness and precision. The 'AR Racing' tyres, offered only in 18" front and 19" rear sizes, have been developed not only with road driving in mind, but also for use on the track."

Bravo! 

See some more pics of the adventure here.

VIDEO: Alfa Romeo 4C technical Detail Revealed

Alfa Romeo has unveiled more technical information about the awesome new, super-lightweight (895Kg) Alfa 4C – including details of its F1-inspired carbon fibre monocoque (weighing just 65kg). More than 1,000 4C's will be produced at the Alfa Romeo Modena facility, using Maserati manufacturing functions "combining high technology and craftsmanship." And the new breed supercar is set to make its dynamic UK debut at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed. Can't wait! Can you? Alfa says: "The ‘compact supercar’ perfectly embodies the Alfa brand with Italian style, sporty performance and engineering excellence offering maximum driving satisfaction in total safety. The captivating coupé with two bucket seats uses technologies and materials derived from the 8C Competizione - carbon, aluminium, rear-wheel drive - and technologies from the latest Alfa Romeo models, but thoroughly developed to enhance the sports appeal of the new car. This is demonstrated by the new 1750 Turbo Petrol engine with direct injection and aluminium block, the sophisticated “ALFA TCT” twin dry clutch transmission and the Alfa D.N.A. selector with the brand-new Race mode." Built in Modena, birthplace of the world's most famous sports cars, the Alfa 4C’s production process integrates Alfa Romeo’s design roles and Maserati’s manufacturing functions with engineering and technological contribution from Italian world-wide leaders in the component industry for high-performance sports cars. To design a car that is both exclusive and achievable for Alfa Romeo fans across the world, the Alfa 4C’s designers focused on lightness and efficiency over greater horsepower, which would have impacted the purchase and maintenance costs. Combining high technology and craftsmanship through an advanced mix of hi-tech materials which combine stiffness and strength but also with reduced weight, the Alfa 4C’s weight to power ratio is less than 4kg/HP with a total dry weight of just 895kg, making 4C one of the lightest cars in the world. Some materials involved in 4C production include: CARBON FIBRE The Alfa 4C uses 10% carbon fibre which represents 25% of the car’s overall volume. Carbon fibre currently offers the best weight/stiffness efficiency. The structural function monocoque, designed by the Alfa Romeo specialised team, makes up the central, load-bearing cell of the chassis yet weighs just 65kg. Joining state-of-the-art Formula 1 inspired manufacturing technology and the manual craftsmanship typical of the Italian artisans, Alfa Romeo is the only brand capable to assure a production of over 1,000 pieces per year. ALUMINIUM Aluminium was used for the roof reinforcement cage and the front and rear frameworks. To reduce weight but increase stiffness, the designers replaced the traditional rectangular strut section with a newly designed section, manufactured using the innovative 'Cobapress' process, which combines fusion and forging under press for a lighter and safer framework. Aluminium in the hybrid-type front brake discs with aluminium bell and cast iron ring gear also reduced weight by up to 2kg per disc, in addition to providing better braking. SMC (SHEET MOULDING COMPOUND) Using SMC (Sheet Moulding Compound), a low-density and high resistance composite material, for the body enabled a 20% weight reduction in comparison to traditional sheet steel. The Alfa Romeo 4C is the first standard production car to achieve such a high percentage of low-density SMC. With a weight of 1.5 g/cm³ this material is decidedly lighter than steel (~7.8 g/cm³) and aluminium (~2.7 g/cm³), besides being more malleable in terms of design it also disperses noise well for acoustic comfort. Low-density SMC also reduces the number of components and operations required together with shorter assembly times, thus lowering production costs. PUR-RIM (INJECTED POLYURETHANE) The PUR-RIM (injected polyurethane) on the bumpers and wings weighs 20% less than steel and is suitable for creating complex design elements, such as the 4C wing, and for keeping an ideal cost/production volume ratio. WINDOWS With the window glass, the overall weight was reduced by a real silhouette-thinning approach: all the window glasses are on average around 10% thinner than those normally fitted on cars, allowing for an average weight reduction of 15%. The windscreen is also only 4 mm thick – difficult to obtain on such thin glass with the car’s particularly aerodynamic shape. QUALITY CONTROL To ensure the utmost quality of each Alfa 4C, the production process takes place in dedicated 4C workshops with the ‘testing’ and ‘finishing’ areas shared with the Maserati production. Every day several sample bodies are checked by a dedicated team on over 400 high precision measurement points to ensure the body is perfect from a geometric and dimensional standpoint. Once the car’s manufacture is complete, every detail is strictly checked by systems: from the climate control system operation to the mechanical component settings and the dynamic behaviour. And each Alfa 4C produced is also road-tested for 40 km by an experienced test-driver – a practice commonly used for the most prestigious supercars – not bad work, if you can get it eh?

NEWS: Alfa Romeo 4C Dynamic Debut @ Goodwood FOS

The Alfa Romeo 4C will make its dynamic debut at the 2013 Goodwood Festival of Speed (12-14 July). The exclusive ‘Launch Edition’ of the compact supercar will be showcased at the prestigious festival’s ‘First Glance Class’ and will also be seen in action by the public for the very first time as it ascends the famous Hill Climb course.

The ‘Launch Edition’ of the Alfa 4C was given its world première at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year where the model was met with critical acclaim. Made in Italy, the Alfa 4C represents the true essence of a sports car, embodying the authentic values of the Alfa Romeo brand: Italian style, performance and technical excellence, offering maximum driving satisfaction in total safety.
Just like its spiritual predecessor, the iconic 33 Stradale, the Alfa 4C is a mid-engined, rear wheel drive, compact sports coupé. Both cars – along with technical displays of the Alfa 4C chassis and gearbox – will feature on the Alfa Romeo Goodwood stand.
The Alfa 4C offers supreme agility with compact dimensions of just under 4m long, 2m wide and 118cm high; also making it incredibly aerodynamic and efficient. Powered by a new all-aluminium, direct-injection, 240hp 1750cc turbo petrol engine, developing 350Nm of torque, the implemented state-of-the-art technical and technological solutions push the Alfa 4C to reach real supercar performance, as demonstrated by a power to weight ratio of more than 250hp per ton.

NEWS: Alfa 4C Geneva Debut

Alfa Romeo's gorgeous, exciting compact, rear-drive, mid-engined, two-seater supercar is set to make its début at the 83rd Geneva Motor Show this year. Alfa says: "The new Alfa Romeo 4C is the result of experience built up with the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione model produced in the Maserati plant in Modena and it will be available for purchase in 2013, marking the return of the Italian brand to the United States." It's small – less than 4 metres in length, 200 cm wide, 118 cm high and with a wheelbase of less than 2.4 metres. It will be powered by a new (revised version of the Quadrifoglio Verde version of the Giulietta) 4 cylinder 1750 Turbo Petrol all-aluminium engine, with trick twin scroll turbo and and a revolutionary scavenging control system that gets rid of any turbo lag. It will also have Alfa's TCT twin clutch automatic transmission, with a new Alfa 'DNA' ECU/gearbox mapping selector with a new Race mode. The chassis meanwhile is 100% carbon fibre with load-bearing and structural function, so we can expect it to be light, with a weight to power ratio less than 4 kg/HP.
The 4C name is an acronym – "drawing its inspiration from the brand’s glorious past, projecting the values of technology and emotions into the future. Indeed, it refers to Alfa Romeo’s great sporting tradition: the acronyms 8C and 6C in the 1930s and 1940s distinguished cars – both racing and road – fitted with the powerful ‘eight cylinders’ and the innovative ‘six cylinders’, confirming in its design layout and construction the goal of achieving the power/weight ratio of an authentic supercar, less than 4 kg/HP, yet focusing not merely on the maximum power delivered, but on limiting the weight to guarantee maximum agility and top performance. 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 – and technologies from the latest standard models from Alfa Romeo, but updated to enhance the sports appeal of the new car even further. This is demonstrated by the new 1750 Turbo Petrol all-aluminium engine with direct injection, the sophisticated Alfa TCT twin dry clutch transmission and the Alfa DNA selector with the unprecedented Race mode."
Looking forward to that... you? RWD turbo fun. But is it a supercar, with a 1.8-litre engine? Even with those looks and all the trick carbon, electro goodies? You decide... 

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