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Alfa Romeo bringing 4C Spider to Geneva

With the Geneva Motor Show fast approaching, we're receiving news left, right and center of various debuts lined up. And the latest bit of intel suggests that Alfa Romeo has prepared an open-top version of the 4C for debut at the Swiss expo. The 4C Spider is tipped to incorporate several changes over the fixed-roof coupe version. For one, it'll have a removable roof panel (Porsche's people might call it a "Targa") along with a pair of carbon-fiber roll hoops affixed behind the bucket seats. That'll give the Alfa 4C a wind-in-your-hair driving experience to go with its high-output 1.75-liter turbo four. We don't know at this point if the car will debut in concept or production form, but word from Italy has it that the 4C Spider will also feature a different headlight design (in place of the controversial fly-eye headlamp units on the coupe) and, of course, a different set of wheels. Featured Gallery 2014 Alfa Romeo 4C View 60 Photos News Source: 0-100.it Geneva Motor Show Alfa Romeo Convertible Performance 2014 Geneva Motor Show alfa romeo 4c alfa romeo 4c spider

Alfa Romeo takes over naming of Sauber F1 team

HINWIL, Switzerland — Italian car brand Alfa Romeo will be the only name on its Formula One team partnership with Switzerland-based Sauber this season. The rebranding means 2007 F1 champion Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi will be driving for Alfa Romeo Racing in 2019. The team was called Alfa Romeo Sauber when it finished eighth in the constructors' standings last year. Sauber says the "long-term partnership ... has been further extended, with the ownership and management of Sauber remaining unchanged and independent." Alfa Romeo drivers won the first two F1 championships — Giuseppe "Nino" Farina in 1950 and Juan Manuel Fangio in 1951 — then left the series after 1985 until returning with Sauber. Related Video:

2020 Chevy Corvette Stingray vs the world: How it compares on paper

The 2020 Chevy Corvette Stingray in its base form offers an astonishing amount of performance for the money. In fact, so impressive is the car's spec sheet that the Corvette kind of exists in two different competitive sets: one of cars priced similarly, and another with cars of similar performance and reputation. To get a feel for how it handles each of these segments, we've compiled specifications for those two sets of players. You can find the first set below, which looks at cars of roughly the same price point. Following that is a bit of analysis, and then there's a chart of cars with similar performance and reputation. And that chart will also have some analysis. Though final pricing for the Corvette hasn't been announced yet, we know the Corvette will start at less than $60,000. And as far as pricing goes, its closest competitor is the Porsche 718 Cayman, which also starts at just under $60,000. Both are mid-engined and rear-drive, but the Corvette offers an extra 195 horsepower and 190 pound-feet of torque. The Cayman does boast a curb weight of right around 3,000 pounds, so it weighs a few hundred pounds less than the Corvette, but it's likely not enough to make up for the power deficit. The Corvette's sub-3.0-second 0-60 time bears this out against the Cayman's best 4.5-second run. Impressively, though, the Cayman has more cargo space than the Corvette in a package that's nearly 10 inches shorter. The Cayman also still offers a manual option for those that prefer self-shifting. The 2020 Toyota Supra is on the cheap end of this sports car class, just crossing $50,000. It also boasts more power than the Cayman, though it's still down by 160 ponies and 105 pound-feet of torque to the C8. It's also about as roomy as the Corvette, despite being about the same size as the Cayman. Cargo space is a bit tighter. Its driving characteristics will likely differ, too as the Supra sits on a front-engine platform. It might even feel closer to a C7 Corvette in some ways. The other mid-engine entry in this price range is the 2019 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider. Its small 1.7-liter turbo inline-4 only makes 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, but it's also far and away the lightest of this group at 2,487 pounds. That's roughly 1,000 pounds lighter than the Corvette. It isn't as fast as the Corvette in a straight line, but that lightness surely pays dividends in cornering and braking.