| Alfa Romeo’s Working On New Giulietta And 4C |
31 Dec |
With the Giulia and Stelvio, Alfa Romeo has properly revitalized its product portfolio. And it’s said to have a new, larger crossover in the pipeline too. But what will come after that?
According to the latest reports, the Italian automaker is looking at two new vehicles: one to succeed the Giulietta, and the other, the 4C.
“In order to complete the Alfa range of products,” Alfa’s chief technical officer Roberto Fedeli told Auto Express, “we need another couple of pillars – something in the C-Segment and then obviously a sporty product, a very sporty product.”
The Giulietta could use a shortened version of the Giulia sedan’s platform, which would ostensibly mean it’d be rear-wheel drive – rare territory for C-segment hatchbacks, following similar formula to the BMW 1 Series hatch. But Alfa (and FCA) would need to ascertain whether a re-entry into that segment would be worthwhile.
The company has been moving away from unprofitable small cars, having in recent years discontinued the Dodge Dart, Chrysler 200, and Lancia Delta. “it’s very difficult to make a profit,” Fedeli said about the segment.
As for the 4C, an update is in the works – but the company is looking beyond that to the long-term future of the model. “We make some small modifications but then we have to decide if we want to install different engine, or switch the architecture. As you can imagine we have some options, we are working on more than one option.” However it turns out, Fedeli says it won’t have a manual transmission – which is sad news for purists.
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read comments (0)| This Is What You Get When You Mix Sports Cars With Crossovers |
24 Dec |
With automakers now busy producing more SUVs than ever before to satisfy increasing demand, we thought what a sports car-inspired crossover might look like.
Lamborghini has already done it, as the Urus isn’t just a large SUV with some Aventador-ish design elements, but rather something that genuinely looks like a supercar with higher ground clearance and four doors.
These renderings come courtesy of Jennings Motor Group and show us what some sports cars and supercars would look like if somebody suddenly decided to turn them into something more utilitarian.
2017 Ford Mustang
This one is actually not that far fetched. The proportions seem rather normal for a compact crossover, and since the Mustang’s front fascia isn’t too exotic, this design could actually work in the real world if the Blue Oval were to style the next Edge, for example, with a Mustang-inspired front end.
Alfa Romeo 4C
This design only works if you’re a fan of the Nissan Juke, as it’s almost as quirky as the latter. Of course, Alfa Romeo has already its first-ever SUV, the Stelvio, but if you’re going to build a smaller crossover, the 4C’s wacky front end could be a solution of sorts. But let’s not kid ourselves, it’s a bit weird, isn’t it?
McLaren 720S
The day will probably come when every single exotic car manufacturer will have their own SUV. Lamborghini opened the floodgates, and Porsche’s already been there for years. If the trend persists, it’s only a matter of time before the likes of McLaren or Ferrari partake in this trend, though the British supercar maker insists that it won’t get involved in that segment. We just hope that when that day comes, they’ll come up with something a bit sleeker than this.
BMW i8
If BMW were to actually build an SUV under its “green” sub-brand, it probably wouldn’t come as that big of a surprise, since their i Program will undoubtedly grow to accommodate more and more body styles in the future. But would it work if it was designed to look like the i8? Probably not, although the front end doesn’t look that bad and, compared to other renderings, it looks more cohesive.
Aston Martin V12 Vantage
Here’s another automaker that is preparing to enter the SUV segment in the near future, with the production version of the DBX concept. We already know they’re not afraid to experiment, hence the Rapide, and they’ve already shown us multiple off-road concepts, but this one, inspired by the V12 Vantage, just doesn’t work as it looks like a big-mouthed Vantage.
Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Unlike the Mustang, the Camaro ZL1 is perhaps too aggressive to turn into a crossover but, surprisingly, this rendering, where you’ve got the front fascia of the ZL1 connected to the body of an SUV, looks quite interesting and sporty.
Ferrari 488
Ferrari CEO Sergio Marchionne already confirmed that an SUV is probably happening, and while purists might yell “heresy”, we’re really looking forward to seeing what their idea of a utility vehicle is. We obviously hope it looks nothing like this 488-turned-Juke-rival, which really is an insult to the Prancing Horse.
Honda NSX
Honda and sister company Acura actually make plenty of crossovers, so they probably doesn’t need another one. Moreover, the styling of the NSX doesn’t really seem to work on anything other than a sleek supercar, but is this rendering that much weirder to look at than, say, the Toyota C-HR?
PHOTO GALLERY
| Alfa Romeo 4C Looks Killer (However Unlikely) In Dakar Rally Spec |
19 Dec |
To make a Dakar rally machine, you want to start with something robust, with good ground clearance and off-road chops you can build upon. Something… rather unlike an Alfa Romeo 4C, in short, but that’s the fantasy we’re looking at here.
Rendered by Seattle-based artist Mo Aoun, the improbable prospect before us turns Alfa’s lightweight track toy into a dune-jumping, desert-crossing rally raider.
On second thought, though, the idea may not be that crazy. Most of the top-tier machinery contesting the Dakar these days are custom fabricated with lightweight bodywork, often with their engines in the back, and (in the case of the current reigning Peugeot) just two driven wheels.
With Peugeot planning to withdraw after the next running, the Dakar’s going to need a new front-runner. Alfa Romeo isn’t likely to pick up that particular mantle – especially now that it’s (sort of) returning to F1. But it’d sure be awesome if it did.
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| Updated Alfa Romeo 4C Reportedly Coming Next Year |
8 Dec |
The Alfa Romeo 4C was designed to spearhead the company’s resurgence but the model hasn’t been a huge sales success as Carsalesbase data shows the automaker sold a combined 1,671 units in Europe and the United States last year.
Help is on the way as Alfa Romeo and Maserati engineering boss Roberto Fedeli told Autocar the company is working on an updated 4C which will feature a revised suspension and an improved steering system.
The updated model could also come with a new engine which would replace the turbocharged 1.75-liter four-cylinder that produces 237 hp (176 kW) and 258 lb-ft (349 Nm) of torque. It allows the current model to accelerate from 0-60 mph in 4.1 seconds before hitting a top speed of 160 mph (257 km/h).
Fedeli wasn’t ready to talk specifics but he said “We are coming back to Formula 1 and we need the 4C to be our halo car.” Fedeli also confirmed the updated 4C will not be offered with a manual transmission as he doesn’t think there’s enough demand to justify it.
While the lack of a manual transmission won’t please the purists, Fedeli said Ferrari spent approximately €10 ($11.7) million to offer a manual transmission in the California. In the end, just two cars were equipped with the gearbox.
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| Giannini 350 GP4 Is A Fiat 500 On Steroids |
16 Nov |
Range-topping Fiat 500 Abarth models are pretty cool but compared to this, they seem tame.
Officially dubbed the Giannini 350 GP4, the car you’re looking at is based on a Fiat 500 but has been radically overhauled into a performance beast.
For starters, a new engine sits at the front of the hatchback, delivering 350 hp. No confirmation has been given about what engine this is but we believe it’s the same Alfa Romeo 4C turbocharged four-cylinder unit found in the previously-revealed Giannini 350 GP.
As its name indicates, the 350 GP4 is distinguished from the ordinary ‘GP’ thanks to its adoption of an all-wheel drive system. When paired with a set of wide wheels and tires, the hot hatch should launch off the line at breakneck speeds.
Visually, the car is also radically different to a usual Fiat 500. Both the front and rear fascias have been customized, the wheel arches have been flared and numerous carbon fiber aerodynamic elements affixed to the exterior body panels.
No pricing details have been announced but interested parties should be prepared to part ways with over $175,000, the price of the rear-wheel drive 350 GP.
PHOTO GALLERY
| Alfa Romeo 4C Goes From Bug-Eyed To Looking Mean In The Virtual World |
10 Jun |
Reports about Alfa Romeo planning a 4C replacement for 2020 have been floating around since last year.
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| Alfa Romeo 4C Hillclimber Runs On A Formula 3000 V8 |
30 May |
Go hard or go home. This is perhaps the motto that hillclimb driver Marco Gramenzi lives by after recently competing in his new bespoke Alfa Romeo 4C for the first time.
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| Meet The 707 HP Dodgy Renecat – And 9 Other Totally Impossible Car Mashups |
30 Oct |
Not a few times have we looked at a vehicle and thought “this looks like the lovechild between an X and a Z”. Some of them rightfully so, for automakers themselves, in their quest to fill in new niches, do indulge in a bit of mix-and-match.
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| Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce Heading To Paris With New Engine, Q4 AWD |
20 Sep |
Alfa Romeo's lineup for this year's Paris Auto Show includes a new version of the Giulia, which adds the Veloce suffix.
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| Alfa Romeo 4C Spider And BMW M2 Do Battle In Sports Car Showdown |
13 Sep |
To the unobservant, the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider and BMW M2 are nothing alike.
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| This 600hp Alfa Romeo 4C Hillclimber Will Blow Your Mind |
8 Sep |
With its turbocharged 1.75-liter four-cylinder engine and sub-900 kg kerb weight, the Alfa Romeo 4C has proven itself to be quite an impressive performer. For hillclimb racer Marco Gramenzi, however, a standard 4C simply isn't enough.
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| Alpine Sports Car To Rival Alfa Romeo 4C And Porsche Cayman On Price |
5 Sep |
It has emerged that the upcoming Alpine sports car will be priced similarly to the Alfa Romeo 4C when it launches next year.
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| Jeremy Clarkson Reveals His Top Ten Cars Of The Past Year |
17 Aug |
As arguably the most outspoken and well-known motoring journalist in the industry, Amazon's Jeremy Clarkson should know that his personal car preferences can influence quite a lot of people.
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| “The Great Wave” Is An Alfa Romeo 4C By Garage Italia Customs |
21 Jul |
No, this particular Alfa Romeo 4C isn’t a surfer’s dream, but an homage paid to Katsushika Hokusai "The Great Wave" woodblock print.
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| Alfa Romeo 4C Won’t Live On Past Its First-Generation |
20 Jul |
Due to poor sales, particularly in the United States, Autoline is reporting that the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider won't live beyond 2020, scrapping any chance of a second-generation model.
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