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Mazda engineers urging execs for more RWD models

According to Edmunds, Mazda engineers are pressuring the company to create more rear-wheel-drive models, in an effort to better differentiate itself from its rivals. This push is reportedly coming from middle and senior engineers within the company, and these folks at Mazda believe this rear-drive strategy would allow the automaker to produce more distinctive, fun to drive cars. Mazda discontinued the rear-drive (and rotary-engined) RX-8 a few years ago, leaving the MX-5 Miata as the company's only RWD offering.
As enthusiasts, we're fully on board with Mazda offering more rear-drive cars, but unsurprisingly, the company's top management isn't exactly keen on the idea - and with good reason. First and foremost, the cost associated with redesigning fresh architecture for new models would be very high, and considering the fact that Mazda hasn't exactly been raking in the dough lately, an expensive new venture like this doesn't make a whole lot of sense. What's more, Mazda's latest front-drive models - the Mazda3, Mazda6 and CX-5 - have been very well-received, and are helping the company gain sales momentum.
But that doesn't mean there aren't other options. Edmunds reminds us that Mazda is already partnering with Alfa Romeo on the next-generation Miata, and if this collaboration is successful, perhaps the relationship could bear additional fruit. After all, Alfa Romeo is said to be working on returning to its rear-wheel-drive roots, so Mazda's engineers might be able to make a case for more RWD goodness after all.

Alfa Romeo Giulia interior revealed on YouTube

When our David Gluckman reported from the Alfa Romeo Giulia reveal in Milan last month he didn't get to sit in or photograph the interior, but he wrote of it, "I liked what I saw of the interior. The center console is angled to hem the driver in a little, which works well with the canted, sweeping dash. It kind of reminds me of the look in newer Mazdas – clean and simple with a good balance of organic curves and straight edges." Now we can see what he meant because a YouTube video from user Alfa Romeo World shows off the new sedan's cabin. We're going to guess that this is a top-trim setup because there is a lot of stitched leather and carbon fiber in there. It's a good looking place for driving, and that steering wheel makes our hands want to clutch it. The infotainment area is one flush tinted screen extending from the gauge cluster and holding the line of the instrument panel, and the image appears to show up on the entire screen, not on another smaller screen mounted behind it. It's simplicity in a good way, bereft of any gimmicks that we can see, and with a six-speed manual transmission. For all the sportiness of the hard points, the seats look rather flat, especially in the back. We'll hold off on judgment until we sit in them. Have a look at it in the gallery above, there are more shots at this Facebook fan site, and we'll be lining up to take a seat in it at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

Alfa Romeo Stelvio refresh spied sporting the smallest of changes

Alfa Romeo has a refresh coming down the pipeline for the Stelvio crossover soon, and our spy photographer just caught it testing out in the wild. The white Stelvio in partial camouflage seen here isn’t hiding a whole lot, though. From what we can tell, nothing much has changed on the outside compared to the car we can buy now. Swirly wrappings cover both the front bumper and lower rear fascia. Despite us not being able to discern any differences between this one and the 2019 Stelvio, the camouflage could be hiding some minor tweaks. Or perhaps the changes arenÂ’t present in this test car, and itÂ’s being used as a powertrain mule of sorts. There are rumors that Alfa will add some form of electrification to the Stelvio in this lifecycle. Whether thatÂ’s a 48-volt mild-hybrid system or something as involved as a plug-in hybrid, we canÂ’t know for sure yet. The interior does reveal a couple of the smallest changes. Alfa isnÂ’t giving it a whole new look, but a couple things get moved around or reshaped. The electronic parking brake has moved up to an easier-to-reach position next to the shifter. ThereÂ’s some sort of module to the right of the shifter that looks like itÂ’s missing something — that module is not present in the current car. Then, Alfa reshaped the center armrest. Hopefully that means thereÂ’s a little bit more utility in store for the center console and armrest area. Like we said, thereÂ’s nothing revolutionary here. As the Stelvio was introduced as a 2018 model year crossover here, we donÂ’t expect the refresh to be hitting us until the 2021 model year at the earliest. If Alfa feels like moving things along, there could be a reveal for the mid-cycle refresh next year sometime.