2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia Ti Sport Rwd on 2040-cars

Auto blog

2024 Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio Quadrifoglio Super Sports close the book

Alfa Romeo is hitting the gas on limited-edition special-edition models of late, as the Italian outfit prepares to get rid of gas entirely. Last year we got the Giulia and Stelvio Quadrifoglio 100th Anniversario editions celebrating the centenary of the four-leaf clover trims, then came Quadrifoglio Carbon Editions celebrating that resin weave, then came Tributo Italiano Editions lauding the home country. Now that the world is closer to the end of the internal combustion Quadrifoglio lineup, Alfa's launched the 2024 Giulia and 2024 Stelvio Quadrifoglio Super Sport models. The Giulia Quadrifoglio Super Sport is limited to 275 units worldwide, 72 coming to the U.S. The Stelvio Quadrifoglio Super Sport is even more limited, rolling out just 175 examples for the world, 52 slated for U.S. purchase. Both are powered by the brand's twin-turbo 2.9-liter V6 making 505 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque, shifting through an eight-speed automatic to both axles. It would have been wonderful to get the upgraded engine making 520 hp and the mechanical limited-slip differential offered on the 100th anniversary models, especially since the Super Sports are only priced $140 (Giulia) and $660 (Stelvio) below the centenary editions, but it's not to be. Instead, the Super Sports are enhanced outside with a black Quadrifoglio badge, carbon fiber mirror caps, carbon fiber accents in the grille shield, black Brembo calipers, and dark five-hole wheels that are 19 inches on the Giulia, 21 inches on the Stelvio. Inside, special trim includes red carbon fiber on the instrument panel, center console, and door cards, embroidered headrests, and a steering wheel wrapped in leather and Alcantara.  Designers prepped three exterior color options for the Giulia: Bianco Alfa, Metallic Nero Vulcano, or "Three-layer" Rosso Etna. The Stelvio can be had in one of the latter two, not the Bianco Alfa. The 2024 Giulia Quadrifoglio Super Sport starts at $88,365 after the $1,595 destination charge, representing a $5,400 premium over the standard model. The $95,965 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio Super Sport runs a stiff $7,000 above the standard four-leaf SUV. Orders are open now, deliveries expected in the fall of this year.

Fiat gets into the classics game with 'Reloaded by Creators' program

Classic vehicles help modern buyers make new connections to a carmaker's modern offerings. That's why in little more than a month we've seen Jaguar announce a continuation run of the D-Type, Porsche get a show at the Petersen Museum in Los Angeles, Land Rover plan to restore a Series I, and Jay Leno celebrate the 1942 Dodge Carryall. Fiat Chrysler already has a heritage division, but the vintage department takes a new step into its history with the "Reloaded by Creators" service. Said to be inspired by retail programs at museums, Reloaded by Creators will see FCA Heritage source and buy noteworthy classics from the Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Fiat, and Lancia brands, restore them to original spec, then sell them to collectors. When Roberto Giolito, head of FCA Heritage, broke the news at Retromobile in Paris, he also revealed the first five offerings: three "ultimate classics" in the Alfa Spider IV serie (1991), Lancia Fulvia Coupe Montecarlo (1973), Spidereuropa Pininfarina (1981), and two custom cars in the Alfa Romeo SZ (1989) and Lancia Appia Coupe (1959). The ultimate classics represent the last of their kind to be built, not necessarily according to model year, but with respect to design and engineering - no major model changes followed. The Lancia Fulvia Coupe ceased production in 1976; the limited edition 1973 Montecarlo model celebrated the car's victory in the 1972 Montecarlo Rally and still wears the original license plates. The 1981 Spidereuropa Pininfarina comes from the beginning of the end of production; after building the Fiat 124 Sport Spider for US-only sale from 1975 to 1983, Pininfarina resumed manufacture in Europe in 1982 and bestowed the new name. The Alfa Spider went out of production in 1993, the 1991 Series IV example for sale here has been in FCA's collection since it was built, used for technical testing. As for the custom cars, Lancia built a variant of its third-generation Appia as a coachbuilt chassis. Pininfarina bodied the 1959 model for sale here, and Fiat showed it first in Paris. Fiat used the funky, Zagato-designed, thermoplastic-composite-bodied, 1989 Alfa Romeo SZ for testing at the carmaker's Balocco circuit. Only around 1,000 SZ models emerged from the factory during a two-year production run. Each vehicle will come with a certificate of authenticity and be guaranteed by FCA, plus be featured on the FCA Heritage site.

Stellantis and LG launch joint venture for North American battery plant

Stellantis has struck a preliminary deal with battery maker LG Energy Solution (LGES) to produce battery cells and modules for North America, as the world's No. 4 automaker rolls out its 30 billion euro ($35 billion) electrification plan. Global automakers are investing billions of euros to accelerate a transition to low-emission mobility and prepare for a progressive phase-out of internal combustion engines. Stellantis and LGES's joint venture will produce battery cells and modules at a new facility with an annual capacity of 40 gigawatt hours (GWh), the two firms said on Monday. No financial details of the deal were provided. The plant is scheduled to start production by the first quarter of 2024, with groundbreaking expected in the second quarter of 2022, the companies said in their statement. Its location is under review and will be announced later. Stellantis, formed in January from the merger of Italian-American automaker Fiat Chrysler and France's PSA, has said it wants to secure more than 130 GWh of global battery capacity by 2025 and more than 260 GWh by 2030. The batteries produced under the deal will supply Stellantis' U.S., Canadian and Mexican assembly plants for installation in hybrid and fully electric vehicles, supporting its goal of e-vehicles making up more than 40% of its U.S. sales by 2030. The company, whose brands include Peugeot, Fiat, Opel and U.S. best-sellers Jeep and Ram, earlier this year announced it would invest more than 30 billion euros through 2025 on electrifying its vehicle lineup. Stellantis has said it would build three battery plants in Europe and two in North America, including at least one in the United States. Intesa Sanpaolo analyst Monica Bosio said the deal was positive, and a further step ahead in Stellantis' electrification process. It comes weeks after Stellantis and its partner TotalEnergies agreed to open up their battery cell joint venture ACC to Daimler, to expand their European sourcing of battery cells. Stellantis is also targeting more than 70% of sales in Europe to be of low-emission vehicles by 2030, and aims to make the total cost of owning an EV equal to that of a gasoline-powered model by 2026. Related video: Green Plants/Manufacturing Alfa Romeo Chrysler Dodge Ferrari Fiat Jeep Maserati RAM Citroen Lancia Opel Peugeot Vauxhall Electric Hybrid EV batteries LG