1986 Alfa Romeo Spider. Good Parts Car Or To Restore on 2040-cars

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US-spec Alfa Romeo 4C Spider caught naked at a photo shoot

The Alfa Romeo 4C Spider is getting ready for its reveal and market roll-out, which means it's time to put together broadcast materials, and that means the open-roof coupe has to venture outside. Someone caught a few photos of a yellow example during one such jaunt in Andalusia, Spain during photo and television work, and based on this glimpse we'll happily welcome it to our shores. Yes, we felt the same way when we saw the concept introduced at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year, and except for two small changes, it's the same car. This production version has an air inlet on the driver's side just ahead of the rear wheel said to improve cooling for the dual-clutch transmission, and the centrally mounted exhaust pipes on the concept have moved to the corners. It also wears the concept's wheels and the conventional headlights, instead of the arachnid units best suited for getting the attention of mating wolf spiders. We shouldn't have too much longer to wait for information on the car's weight gain and performance, as well as its roof panel operation. Until then, head over to www.autoblog.it and Carscoops for a few more on-location shots.

Are supercars becoming less special?

There's little doubt that we are currently enjoying the golden age of automotive performance. Dozens of different models on sale today make over 500 horsepower, and seven boast output in excess of 700 hp. Not long ago, that kind of capability was exclusive to supercars – vehicles whose rarity, performance focus, and requisite expense made them aspirational objects of desire to us mortals. But more than that, supercars have historically offered a unique driving experience, one which was bespoke to a particular model and could not be replicated elsewhere. But in recent years, even the low-volume players have been forced to find the efficiencies and economies of scale that formerly hadn't been a concern for them, and in turn the concept of the supercar as a unique entity unto itself is fading fast. The blame doesn't fall on one particular manufacturer nor a specific production technique. Instead, it's a confluence of different factors that are chipping away at the distinction of these vehicles. It's not all bad news – Lamborghini's platform sharing with Audi for the Gallardo and the R8 yielded a raging bull that was more reliable and easier to live with on a day-to-day basis, and as a result it went on to become the best-selling Lambo in the company's history. But it also came at the cost of some of the Italian's exclusivity when eerily familiar sights and sounds suddenly became available wearing an Audi badge. Even low-volume players have been forced to find economies of scale. Much of this comes out of necessity, of course. Aston Martin's recent deal with Mercedes-AMG points toward German hardware going under the hood and into the cabin of the upcoming DB11, and it's safe to assume that this was not a decision made lightly by the Brits, as the brand has built a reputation for the bespoke craftsmanship of its vehicles. There's little doubt that the DB11 will be a fine automobile, but the move does jeopardize some of the characteristic "specialness" that Astons are known for. Yet the world is certainly better off with new Aston Martins spliced with DNA from Mercedes-AMG rather than no new Astons at all, and the costs of developing cutting-edge drivetrains and user interfaces is a burden that's becoming increasingly difficult for smaller manufacturers to bear. Even Ferrari is poised to make some dramatic changes in the way it designs cars.

Alfa Romeo to launch crossover in 2016

Alfa Romeo has an ambitious product plan in place to revive the marque and bring it back to North America. And according to the latest reports, that includes a new crossover. A dozen years after the reveal of the Kamal concept pictured here, the new, as-yet-unnamed production crossover – referred to internally as Project 949 – will be Alfa's first, arriving hot on the heels of sister-company Maserati's upcoming Levante crossover. The high-riding Alfa will be about the size of the Audi Q5 or BMW X3, and is reportedly being developed on the same rear-drive "Giorgio" platform as the replacement for the discontinued 159 sedan, which is expected to be called Giulia overseas but possibly wear the 6C moniker in North America when it's unveiled on June 24 at the Alfa Romeo museum outside Milan. Both models are expected to be produced at the company's Cassino plant near Rome, and feature a new family of engines including a high-output diesel V6. A larger crossover is set to follow as well. Featured Gallery Alfa Romeo Kamal concept News Source: Automotive News Europe - sub. req.Image Credit: Alfa Romeo Alfa Romeo Crossover alfa romeo giulia