If there’s one benefit to be had from that four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, it’s that Alfa Romeo 4C running costs should be appreciably low. Driven gently we see no reason why you wouldn’t be able to get near the car’s official 41.5mpg combined economy figure, thanks mostly due to the car’s light weight.

And with relatively low CO2 emissions the annual road tax bill is correspondingly little too, especially when you consider the performance on offer from this car.

Maintenance costs shouldn’t be too bad, as despite some specialised components that engine is a simple unit that requires no specialist attention, while the car’s light weight means it should be relatively kind on brakes and tyres, even after track use, so parts will last.

There’s no choice of engines or gearboxes for this car, so all Alfa Romeo 4C emissions will be exactly the same. Thanks to being relatively lightweight (895kg unladen) and by using an efficient twin clutch automatic gearbox, the 4C actually does quite well considering the performance on offer; CO2 output is just 157g/km.

Though the firm isn’t especially famed for it, Alfa Romeo 4C reliability should actually be ok. The engine is a re-worked version of the familiar 1,750cc four-cylinder turbo petrol found in the Giulietta models, and though it is under a little more stress here it’s been problem free in the hatchback. Same goes for the TCT twin-clutch transmission.

And these cars are effectively hand built, using components produced by Maserati for one, so will have had more attention paid to their construction than any other current Alfa Romeo. Don’t expect Porsche levels of fit and finish though, especially inside where the bare carbon shell will appeal to enthusiasts but look unfinished and messy to those less interested in cars.

After some time the high sills mean the tub and seats will show signs of use and wear too, but a layer of protection film on the carbon sill saves the expensive weave beneath.