The year is 1967, with Alfa Romeo producing eighteen examples of the 33 Stradale, the homologated version of the Racing Type 33 and still after the fifty-one years since this glorious model was introduced, many still believe this to be one of the most beautiful cars of all time. It entered the history books for its totally performance-oriented design philosophy, dramatic low weight and at the time was packed with innovative technology, with this signature DNA reused in 2013 to inspire today's designers from the assembly production line in Modena Italy, to set the pulses racing yet again with the Alfa Romeo 4c. From first glance, the sculptured body shared the same exterior lines, in which every single element has an essential function, with nothing at all being superfluous and now offered new buyers into the Alfa Romeo family, the perfect balance of coherent design choices and that perfect harmony between mechanical and stylistic requirements. The aerodynamic elegance of the body, encapsulated for pure essence of the word motorsport, with the total design to not only offer a remarkably beautiful representation of the 33 Stradale, but also helped total down forces needed to ensure maximum grip under fast cornering. The cars total weight was also to play a large part of the cars construction, which resulted in an unladen weight of just under 900kg and with the power to top 240 bhp, this was an Alfa Romeo of true supercar proportions. Fitted with the 1750cc turbo charged four cylinder engine, generating that massive 240 bhp and with a maximum torque of 350nm between 2200 & 4250 rpm, this gave us an astonishing 0-62 mph in just 4.5 seconds and then would further glide the driver & passenger to a limited top speed of 160 mph, with all this power effortlessly tamed with the six speed semi-automatic dual dry clutch gearbox. When the first cars rolled off the Maserati production plant in Italy and that first star studied showcasing at the 2013 Geneva motor show, the Alfa Romeo 4c has been warmly welcomed by enthusiastic drivers from around the world and also the global motoring press, with numerous awards quickly following suit, to include the "most beautiful car of the year 2013" at the 29th international automobile festival in France, "overall best car" awarded by the Sunday times and "best sports car 2013" by el economista, to name just a small few.
The 4C Launch Edition was a limited and numbered edition, unveiled at the vehicle's launch at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show. The vehicle came in a choice of four paint colours (Rosso Alfa, Rosso Competizione tri-coat, Madreperla White tri-coat or Carrara White matt). 400 examples were reserved for Europe, Africa and the Middle East, 500 for North America and 100 for the rest of the world (88 delivered to Australia—in Rosso Alfa and Madreperla White only). Distinguishing features of the Launch Edition were carbon fiber trim (including headlight housings, spoiler and door mirror caps), rear aluminium extractor with dark finishing, Bi-LED headlights, dark painted 18-inch front and 19-inch rear alloy wheels, additional air intakes on the front fascia, red brake calipers, racing exhaust system, BMC air cleaner, specific calibration for shock absorbers and rear anti-roll bar, leather/fabric sports seats with parts in Alcantara and a numbered plaque. Alfa Red coloured cars got matching red stitching on the steering wheel, handbrake, mats, handles and sports seats.
In Europe the vehicle went on sale for 60,000 euros including VAT.
