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Alfa Romeo Giulia leaks early

The new Alfa Romeo Giulia is set to debut June 24, but the eagle-eyed folks at CarScoops already found these two somewhat blurry shots of the upcoming sedan. While there's unfortunately no photo of the front, these images give an idea of what to expect from Alfa's future four-door challenger to the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. According to CarScoops, this is the Quadrifoglio Verde performance trim, and the blurry profile images certainly appear to show that insignia on the front fender. Don't worry about the mouthful of a name, though, because the far less vowel-filled Cloverleaf moniker is reportedly being used in some markets. Beyond the badge, this crimson Giulia has a short deck at the rear and large fender flares. Vents cut into the fenders also communicate the model's sporty intentions. The rear shot shows angular taillights and dual exhausts nestled in a diffuser down below. The Giulia badge is clearly visible, and there's a contrasting black lip spoiler running along the edge of the trunk. A set of black wheels completes the performance-tuned look. For now, hard facts about the Giulia's mechanical details remain largely a mystery. The engine range reportedly includes a V6 with some relation to Ferrari that possibly pumps out around 480 horsepower, and a turbocharged four-cylinder might also be available. Some portions of the chassis are rumored to be borrowed from the Maserati Ghibli, as well. A crossover sharing the same platform may join Alfa's lineup in 2016. Related Video:

Mazda leads Consumer Reports' latest Brand Report Card Rankings

The latest automaker brand report cards from Consumer Reports are in, and there are quite a few changes for 2021. At the very top of the charts sits Mazda, up three spots over last year, followed by BMW and Subaru to round out the top three. It's interesting to note that mainstream brands (non-luxury in CR-speak) don't seem to be at a disadvantage in CR's rankings, with five of the top 10 spots. In addition to Mazda in first and Subaru in third, Honda, Toyota, Chrysler, and Buick were the other high-ranking non-luxury marques. The ratings are derived from "a combination of predicted reliability, and owner satisfaction based on member surveys, and CR’s hands-on analysis" and also includes safety features and crash test scores.  At the very bottom of the list sit Mitsubishi, Land Rover and Alfa Romeo. "Our brand rankings don't just look at how models perform on our test track, but the broad picture of vehicle quality," said Jake Fisher, Senior Director of Automotive Testing at Consumer Reports. "Fortunately, consumers will find they have many options that are safe, enjoyable, and reasonably priced." The biggest jumps in the brand report card rankings come from Chrysler, Buick and Honda, which each moved up five spots compared to last year's rankings. The news wasn't nearly as good for Lincoln, which fell an alarming 15 spots this year, Genesis, which fell 13 spots, or Kia, which fell 10 spots. Related Video:

2024 Alfa Romeo Tributo Italiano Editions celebrate the obvious

For the first time, Alfa Romeo has a special edition meant for worldwide consumption. The Tributo Italian Edition — a "tribute to the brand's origins, Italian excellence and sportiness" — was designed for the Stelvio, Giulia, and Tonale. The upgraded spec shared among all three models includes two-tone exteriors, a black roof paired with one of three available colors: Rosso Alfa, Verde Montreal, and Bianco Alfa. Those are the colors of the Italian flag, naturally, which also appear on the black mirror caps. All ride on Alfa's adaptive suspension, come with all-wheel drive, and fit a smattering of the company's driver assistance and convenience features. Inside buyers get dual-zone climate control, a heated steering wheel, heated and cooled perforated black leather seats with red accents and stitching, logoed headrests, premium audio, and ambient lighting.  Specific kit for the Tonale begins with the Dark Miron accents outside, like in the grille "V' insert, on the skid plate, and accents along the side. A special bodykit adds redrawn front and rear bumpers, side skirts, and wheel arches. The Tributo Italiano specials sitting just below available Quadrifoglio trims, the generous equipment level means the Tonale's 285-horsepower plug-in hybrid powertrain, red Brembo calipers behind 20-inch wheels, adaptive full-LED matrix headlights, hands-free electric tailgate, aluminum tread plates, and chrome-plated twin tailpipes. The cabin is spiffed up with a fancy "carbon design" insert. A sunroof is optional. The Stelvio and Giulia Tributo Italiano editions are both powered by the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 280 hp, the most powerful option beneath the Quadrifoglio's 2.9-liter. The Stelvio rides on 21-inch wheels, the Giulia on 19-inchers, the largest size available for the sedan.  The limited editions are coming to dealers in the U.S. in the second quarter of 2024. Alfa didn't mention production numbers nor price, but did say the Italian-themed cars will slot at the top of their respective 2.0-liter lineups. We'd guess an MSRP in the mid-50s for the Tonale, the upper 50s or low 60s for the Gilulia, and the low to mid-60s for the Stelvio. Related Video