The first European Alfa Romeo 4C 'Launch Edition' units are delivered at Balocco

Today a ceremony was held at the Balocco (Vercelli, Italy) Test Centre to memorialise the delivery of the first five Alfa Romeo 4C 'Launch Edition' cars. This European numbered limited edition of 500 supercars marks Alfa Romeo's comeback to the world of lightweight sports coupés.

Pierluigi De Silvestro (Switzerland), Philippe Walch (France), Carlos Diniz (Germany), Aldo Mariani (the Netherlands) and Stefano Zanotti (Italy). These are the proud owners of the fascinating cars invited to have a thrilling brand experience imbued with the authentic values of Alfa Romeo: Italian style, engineering performance and excellence for maximum driving satisfaction and total safety.

Head of Alfa Romeo Brand EMEA Louis Carlo Vignon welcomed the guests to the picturesque former Autodelta workshops at Balocco, and Alfa Romeo 4C Chief Designer Alessandro Maccolini revealed the secrets of the model's development. The guests also had the opportunity to get a taste of the performance features of the 4C during a driving session with several expert test drivers on the track where all Alfa Romeo models have been developed, tested and perfected since 1962.

Driver Nicola Larini was also on hand at the ceremony, during which he received a trophy in memory of the DTM title he won in 1993 behind the wheel of the Alfa Romeo 155 V6 Ti, still today the only 'non-German' car to have won the prestigious German touring championship. The champion Larini himself gave these first customers an unparalleled thrill by driving the Alfa Romeo 4C on the Balocco track with them at his side.

The five stars of the event are true 'Alfisti' who booked their 'Launch Edition' at the 83rd International Motor Show in Geneva when orders were officially opened. In just ten days the number of requests that poured in were more than double the number of cars available, confirming how strong, authentic and common enthusiasm for Alfa Romeo is the world over.

In detail, the Alfa Romeo 4C 'Launch Edition' can 'clothe' its body with two liveries - 'Alfa Red' or the exclusive matt 'Carrara White'. The line of this limited edition is enhanced by the carbon aerodynamic kit (including headlights, spoiler and door mirror covers) that not only exalts the style of the car but reduces its weight still further. It also has the rear aluminium extractor with dark finishing, Bi-LED headlights and 18" (front) and 19" (rear) alloy wheels with dark treatment.

To accentuate the sports look still further, there are front air intakes, brake calipers in a specific colour, racing exhaust system and suspension kit with specific calibration for shock absorbers and rear anti-roll bar.

The same stylistic imprint is found inside, where the sports seats and steering wheel - both covered with leather and microfibre and trimmed with white stitching - stand out together with the distinctive plate

with progressive numbering from 1 to 500. In the case of the red livery, the Alfa Romeo 4C 'Launch Edition' has red stitching on the steering wheel trim, handbrake, mats, handles and sports seats.

Of course, the exclusive Alfa Romeo 4C Launch Edition offers all the winning characteristics of the model that represents the essential sportiness embedded in the 'Alfa Romeo DNA': performance and technical excellence for maximum driving pleasure combined with a breathtaking style.

The Alfa Romeo 4C is a true driving machine without compromise that delivers its best precisely on the track, where speed, short braking distances and transverse acceleration are essential to get first-rate lap times: from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds flat, 258 km/h of top speed, deceleration peaks in the range of 1.2 g and lateral acceleration peaks over 1.1 g. All this is achieved also owing to an optimum weight distribution - 40% on the front axle and 60% of the rear axle - and to a weight to power ratio under 4 kg/HP.

Its performance is first-rate also due to the combination of the new 240 HP 1750 Turbo Petrol engine with the latest-generation 'Alfa TCT' dry twin clutch gearbox and the advanced Alfa DNA selector with the brand-new Race mode. More specifically, the new '4 cylinder' 1750 Turbo Petrol with direct injection at 200 bar and aluminium block achieves amazing performance. Torque and specific power set new records for this size of engine at over 200 Nm/l and 137 HP/l, respectively, while maximum power of 240 HP (176 kW) is reached at 6000 rpm. The outstanding torque of 350 Nm ensures its extraordinary elasticity since it is maintained constant between 2100 and 4000 rpm, but 80% of the torque is already available at just 1800 rpm.

The five Alfa Romeo 4C 'Launch Edition' customers lastly had the chance to get a close-up look at a 33 Stradale from the Alfa Romeo Museum. According to many as being one of the most beautiful coupés of all times, this iconic model inspired Alfa Romeo designers when they built the new supercar. In terms of size and layout, the 33 Stradale of 1967 was certainly a point of reference as it combined extreme mechanical and functional demands with an essential style that properly 'dressed' the engine and chassis with unmistakable Alfa Romeo treatments.