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Alfa Romeo wants your vote on designs for a 4C 'Designer's Cut' anniversary model

In 2018, the heritage division at Fiat Chrysler America launched a project called "Reloaded by Creators." It started with FCA Heritage restoring and selling a number of precious and vintage Italian models like the Alfa Spider IV and Lancia Fulvia brought back to new condition by the in-house brands. When Stellantis took over FCA, Stellantis' Heritage Department took over the initiative and expanded the project with one-offs like the Abarth Classiche 1000 SP tribute built on the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider. The classics heads are at it again with this, the 4C Designer's Cut project. Planned as a 10th anniversary celebration of the Alfa Romeo 4C coupe, the Designer's Cut will create a one-off tribute to some aspect of Alfa Romeo history that will also "pay tribute to authentic Italian style and driving pleasure embodied by the original 4C." Alessandro Maccolini, who designed the 4C and remains part of the Alfa Romeo Style Center as a design manager, is heading the effort.  He's come up with three aesthetic proposals so far. The first is the 4C Tributo, a crimson red take that takes straight aim at one of the peaks in the vintage Alfa Romeo catalog, the Tipo 33 Stradale.  The second is the 4C Corsa, a race-inspired version in matte gray "to accentuate the muscular shape and performance-oriented technical features," on black wheels.   Finally, the 4C Leggenda. Done up in light blue over white wheels, the sporty inspiration is the 1750 GT Veloce, the historic inspiration is colors that echo hues in Milan's crest of Biscione, a feature in Alfa Romeo’s logo.  The automaker wants feedback from enthusiasts about which one to choose and which direction to take. It's not clear yet if Alfa Romeo plans changes to the powertrain. The Abarth Classiche 1000 SP tribute didn't alter the mechanicals, sticking with the 4C's 1,742-cc turbocharged four-cylinder making 240 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. It is clear that Alfa plans to sell this one-off, highlighting its desirability to "passionate collectors." The curious are encouraged to e-mail Stellantis Heritage now. The Abarth 1000 SP is still available to purchase, as are a 1958 Abarth 500 tribute that's based on a 1970 Fiat 500. Have your money ready.

Stellantis earnings rise along with EV sales

AMSTERDAM — Automaker Stellantis on Wednesday reported its earnings grew in 2022 from a year earlier and said its push into electric vehicles led to a jump in sales even as it faces growing competition from an industrywide shift to more climate-friendly offerings. Stellantis, formed in 2021 from the merger of Fiat Chrysler and FranceÂ’s PSA Peugeot, said net revenue of 179.6 billion euros ($191 billion) was up 18% from 2021, citing strong pricing and its mix of vehicles. It reported net profit of 16.8 billion euros, up 26% from 2021. Stellantis plans to convert all of its European sales and half of its U.S. sales to battery-electric vehicles by 2030. It said the strategy led to a 41% increase in battery EV sales in 2022, to 288,000 vehicles, compared with the year earlier. The company has “demonstrated the effectiveness of our electrification strategy in Europe,” CEO Carlos Tavares said in a statement. “We now have the technology, the products, the raw materials and the full battery ecosystem to lead that same transformative journey in North America, starting with our first fully electric Ram vehicles from 2023 and Jeep from 2024.” The automaker is competing in an increasingly crowded field for a share of the electric vehicle market. Companies are scrambling to roll out environmentally friendly models as they look to hit goals of cutting climate-changing emissions, driven by government pressure. The transformation has gotten a boost from a U.S. law that is rolling out big subsidies for clean technology like EVs but has European governments calling out the harm that they say the funding poses to homegrown industry across the Atlantic. Stellantis' Jeep brand will start selling two fully electric SUVs in North America and another one in Europe over the next two years. It says its Ram brand will roll out an electric pickup truck this year, joining a rush of EV competitors looking to claim a piece of the full-size truck market. The company plans to bring 25 battery-electric models to the U.S. by 2030. As part of that push, it has said it would build two EV battery factories in North America. A $2.5 billion joint venture with Samsung will bring one of those facilities to Indiana, which is expected to employ up to 1,400 workers. The other factory will be in Windsor, Ontario, a collaboration with South KoreaÂ’s LG Energy Solution that aims to create about 2,500 jobs. The EV push comes amid a slowdown in U.S.

Updated Alfa Romeo Tonale possibly caught camo-free during design clinic

Amateur spy shots taken during what looks like a design clinic held behind closed doors have shed light on how Alfa Romeo's Tonale concept is evolving on its way to production. They suggest the design study presented during the 2019 Geneva auto show wasn't as close to done as many thought. The photos were posted on an Italian enthusiast forum and quickly taken down, but they were saved and published by an Instagram user named CocheSpias. Alfa Romeo did not distribute them on its official channels, so we can't be 100 percent certain about their authenticity. Assuming they're the real deal, they reveal the Tonale has mellowed out considerably since it first showed its nose in Geneva. The headlights are bigger in nearly every direction, they're less bionic-looking, and they're separated from the grille by smaller, recessed air vents. It's a look that's very loosely reminiscent of some of the company's classic models, like the Giulia Sprint GT. Stylists also re-shaped the hood.           View this post on Instagram                   Aqui os dejamos unas fotos de una de las maquetas pre-produccion del futuro SUV de Alfa Romeo. El Tonale. #alfaromeo #alfaromeotonale #alfaromeosuv #alfasuv #prototype #carspy #carscoop #carshot #fotoespia #instacar #spyshot #newcar #carporn #carpassion #instapic #carpic A post shared by CocheSpias (@cochespias) on Oct 8, 2019 at 1:04am PDT The profile and the overall proportions don't appear to drastically change. The rear door handles remain integrated into the C-pillar to give the Tonale a two-door look, a styling cue also seen on the Giulietta sold in Europe. The rear lights are bigger, though they're still connected by a light bar. The emblem on the hatch confirms Alfa Romeo hasn't changed its mind about the crossover's name. The user who posted the photos from the design clinic explained he wasn't given permission to upload images of the interior. He reported the Tonale's steering wheel looks a lot like the Giulia's, and the dashboard receives the same blend of round and rectangular air vents. The infotainment system's touchscreen is propped up on the dashboard rather than neatly integrated into the center stack, a layout which makes it easier to change during a mid-cycle update, or as tech advances. Mechanical specifications remain under wraps. Alfa didn't have much to say about the concept, either, but we know it used a gasoline-electric plug-in hybrid drivetrain.