Alfa Romeo produces exclusive 'Launch Edition' of the 4C

With its global launch at this week’s Geneva Motor Show, there’s now an extra incentive to ordering an Alfa 4C sooner rather than later.

The ‘Launch Edition’ will be produced as a numbered limited edition for an on-the-road price of £52,000, with a total of 1,000 cars being available worldwide – 400 in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, 500 in North America and 100 in the rest of the world.

The 4C ‘Launch Edition’ is distinguished by a number of exclusive features including carbon-fibre trim, body colour in either ‘Carrara White’ or Alfa Red, a distinctive badge inlaid beneath the paintwork and a carbon aerodynamic kit (including spoiler and door mirror covers). The rear aluminium diffuser receives a dark finish, while the 18-inch (front) and 19-inch (rear) alloy wheels are treated with a burnished effect.

The 4C’s Bi-LED headlights receive a dark surround, while the front air intakes and brake calipers are finished in a special colour (although Alfa stop short of telling us exactly what colour that is). There’s also a racing exhaust system, BMC free-flow air filter, uprated suspension and revisions to the shock absorbers and rear anti-roll bar dimension.

Inside the ‘Launch Edition’ you’ll find Alcantara trimming the 4C’s leather/fabric sports seats as well as a distinctive numbered carbon badge on the centre tunnel. For ‘Alfa Red’ painted cars, the 4C Launch Edition has red stitching on the steering wheel trim, handbrake, mats, handles and sports seats.

As with the standard 4C, the ‘Launch Edition’ is powered by a 237bhp 1750 Turbo Petrol engine, based on the unit already used in the Quadrifoglio Verde version of the Giulietta. It weighs around 960kg and accelerates from 0 to 62mph in 4.5 seconds on its way to a top speed of 156mph.

The 4C forgoes power steering, to ensure the highest level of driving feel and generates 1.1g of lateral grip in the corners.

Unlike its competitors (the Lotus Exige or Porsche Cayman), Alfa chose to build the 4C’s monocoque chassis entirely from carbon-fibre. This results in extraordinarily high levels of stiffness and strength, while weighing just 65kg.

The 4C will go on sale shortly and be available to deliver this September, while pricing of the standard 4C is yet to be revealed we expect it to be a few thousand pounds less than the ‘Limited Edition’.