The Nürburgring in Germany is one of the world’s most talked about race tracks and a common feature on the hit TV show Top Gear. In the past, many of the finest drivers ever to grace the planet have battled it out to achieve the best lap times, with current records held by such greats as Montoya and Schumacher. However, it’s not only drivers that compete on the asphalt – it’s also the vehicles themselves.
The most recent buzz surrounding the Nürburgring focuses on a new lap record. The record was set by Alfa Romeo’s latest lightweight sports car, the 4C. The new Alfa now holds the crown for production cars with below 247 bhp, coming in at a refreshing eight minutes and four seconds.
The new record is not just another name in the record books. This new time is significant because it marks a shift in the trend for the manufacturing of production vehicles. Traditionally, fast vehicles beat others from A to B by virtue of one main factor – power. Today, as people across the planet are becoming more conscious of the impact we are having on the environment, car manufacturers are looking elsewhere.
The remarkable time of just over eight minutes was achieved with an engine smaller than 2 litres. The Alfa Romeo 4C is incredibly light. It is also incredibly well designed. The effect of this is that the vehicle is able to achieve such great lap times without forcing the driver to compromise on sustainability. This marks wider changes which are occurring today in the industry of vehicle manufacturing and design.
The Alfa 4C is a production car, and is therefore available to the public. This means that Alfa Romeo have put some thought into what it is the public want. Along with the astonishing speed of the vehicle, owners can expect to see extremely low emissions of just 159g/km and an average fuel consumption of 41.5 miles to the gallon – yes, that’s an average well below the average.
The ability to combine such great performance with environmentally friendly numbers means great things for the future of hatchback cars. Changes in consumer demand can often filter through into the decisions made by manufacturers and can alter the directions in which they head. The growing concern about the environment is a great example of this, with the Alfa 4C leading the pack.
