Alfa9's top 9

ALFA9'S TOP 9 WAYS TO A FASTER YOU AND A FASTER ALFA ROMEO 4C....

Mods always bring up a lot of discussion and everyone loves to debate the best way to get the perfect results.

The Alfa Romeo 4C is no different, and although basic to some, we want to be sure and offer our viewpoint on the best mods to make first.

Of course these must be tempered with your own personal use and needs for the car, but consider this list a starting point for those wanting to take their 4C to the local track and get the most out of it. Adding on items as the driving experience progresses.

Here it is with the “whys” and a few “hows” included:

1. Driving Instruction- I know, we are all great drivers and think often we know the best way around the track, but even top level drivers can benefit from instruction. This is especially true with the 4C and its unique to many mid-engine format which requires a different braking and corner entry style than your typical front motor/rear drive car. And no I don’t mean a generic school, but time with an instructor who can ride with you and work on the finer points of mid-engine driving. Pay particular attention to finding extra grip during the transition periods between braking and accelerating. 

2. Tires- So basic, but the added grip and feeling a proper dot track tire will allow is phenomenal and a useful tool in taking the already capable 4C chassis instantly to the next level. Pirelli Trofeo R and Toyo R888R’s to name a couple are good starting choices.

3. Alignment- The carbon fiber tub of the 4c is immensely responsive to input and suspension changes, which is a good thing. We advise adding some negative camber up front with factory shims and ensuring your toe is set between 0 and -2mm, front and back. Many use the Alfaworks spacer kits we sell to great advantage for further setup precision.

4. Brake Pads- The massive front Brembo’s are a great start, but adding a true track pad with the right compound can really help braking feeling and reduce fade. The Tarox front and rear pad sets are specifically developed to offer high friction (Cf) while not being abrasive to the rotors. 

5. Wheels- Lighter wheels help the suspension do its work much better, while wider option wheels let you fine tune for different track preferences or disciplines like autocross where you may want a much wider front footprint. If you have factory 18/19 wheels you may combine
this step with no.2 to get to 17/18” and the wider selection of dot tires in that size range.

6. Suspension- Lots of ways to go here, but the short of it is you can get a system that lowers your 4C and stiffens it at speed, offering better braking, turn-in and mid-corner manners. To get the most out of any coilover system you’ll want to corner weight the car. Oh, and if you are the type that likes to very low be sure and replace the end-links to keep preload off the swaybars.

7. Harness and Seats- Get yourself firmly planted in the car, and your lap times will improve instantly while your body works on steering and braking input and not holding itself steady in the seat. Our Kansai Service matching seat brackets and harness bars are perfect for this.

8. Power Upgrades- Do all the other upgrades first and when it’s time to turn up the boost you’ll be more than ready for it. For the 4C, the quickest and most efficient way to get more power is to tune the ECU. Then go for exhaust and other smaller upgrades à la carte.

9. Mod Your Mind- As funny as it might sound, visualization is an important tool in any form of race driving. Maybe you've heard the phrase, "what happens out there is a result of what happens in here." Take it seriously and you will reap the benefits. Start by memorizing the track you frequent, and then spend 5 or so minutes before each session visualizing your lines and finding places where you can go faster.

These 9 steps can vault the 4C into another category of performance car. Of course if you spend more time at the track than with your family, then there are other options like aerodynamics, advanced suspension work and engine tricks, but I’m leaving those off the list here as they are only for the very committed.

Wether you’ve had your 4C for years, or just days, I hope this helps frame up some options and gives you inspiration to start modifying these very special cars. Happy motoring!