300 bhp engine!

[Commanderfish]

Anyone read the article in the Spring Alfa magazine about the 300bhp engine? Very excited about this as it's already been claimed that the top engine of the 4C range will have 300bhp, so this must be it. Apparently it's a new aluminium 1.8 with an "highly efficient turbo" and multiair, designed to make a nice sound. The power to weight ratio will be much higher than a Ferrari 458 Italia!!

This is exactly the engine we need, and apparently it will be deployed in several different models. No doubt it will find it's way into the Giulia - that's a lot of units compared to the 4C, it would make the amortisation of development costs viable. Wonder if they'd put in a Giulietta GTA? Might make it too fast compared to the Giulia in the model range - but then I guess we're used to hot hatches out-pacing saloons now?

Guess this makes the Chrysler Pentastar redundant in the Alfa range. Even if you could push 350bhp out of it, it would be pointless due to the increased weight.

I'm very excited about this. My first car was a 920Kg Golf Gti MkII 1.8 with 105bhp, and it was an absolute hoot to drive. Now imagine a ~920Kg 4C with 300bhp

[davidjwbailey]

lots of steps to go yet. I'm hopeful, but not counting any chickens. The amount of guff from the press and FGA that has not actually turned into metal on forecourts is somewhat higher than is safe to rely on.

[Commanderfish]

Well you're absolutely right, though a lot of the crap we accept as news comes from these online sources, car mags etc, all based on rumour, sometimes from "an official source" that is never named.

It's a different thing when a manufacturer prints what is effectively a press release in it's official magazine. That's a more reliable source of info.

Besides, if VW are putting out a 2.0 turbo with 260bhp for the Golf next year (this year?), then I would expect an Alfa 1.8T with 300bhp in 2014 is not far-fetched, given what Alfa has delivered in terms of bhp/cc compared to the competition in past years.

How long such a tiny highly stressed monster would last before it goes pop is an entirely different matter But when has that stopped Alfa trying in the past?

[davidjwbailey]

I'm pretty confident Alfa can push 300bhp out of 1800cc and still make it last 200,000 miles of normal duty cycle with standard service intervals. The curves of both reliability and of bhp per cc have been steadily upwards for 70 years, and many suspect that F1 designers will get over 900bhp out of 1600 cc turbo engines in 2014 (albeit with only 1,500 miles or so life spans ? ) not least because they recall the turbo charged Cosworth rally cars of similar capacity.

I'm slightly more interested in how to keep it in a straight line (with 300bhp through the rear wheels and only 900kg holding it down), but I will happily work that out when I get one. :-)

[Commanderfish]

Originally Posted by davidjwbailey

I'm slightly more interested in how to keep it in a straight line (with 300bhp through the rear wheels and only 900kg holding it down), but I will happily work that out when I get one. :-)

Yes, my thoughts exactly

If I can tame a two wheeled 185 Kg 130+ bhp Triumph Daytona 675, I may have some chance with a 900 Kg 300bhp 4C...

[MikeX159]

Everyone has got plenty of time to practice!

[aragorngp]

The 900kg is superlight lotus exige competition.