Rare, Alfa Romeo, Spider, Pininfarina, Quadrifoglio, Soft Convertible & Hardtop on 2040-cars

Auto blog

High school design students sketch out FCA's 'ultimate status vehicle'

Each year since 2013, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) hosts a design contest for high school students called Drive for Design intended to educate and encourage automotive career hopefuls. For 2019, FCA prompted 10th, 11th, and 12th graders to imagine the "ultimate status vehicle." The top three choices include two Alfa Romeos and a Maserati. FCA named first, second, and third places in the contest. Maximillian Cooper (lead image) from Design and Architecture Senior High in Miami won first place. Mason Ross (first inline image) from Kennedy Catholic High School in Burien, Wash., took second. Vincent Piaskowski (Maserati image) from Ernest W. Seaholm High School in Birmingham, Mich., placed third. The three winners of the contest will be awarded with numerous valuable prizes. They will get behind-the-scenes tours at the FCA U.S. Product Design studios, as well as mentoring time with some of FCA's designers. They will also get scholarships to attend the Precollege Summer Experience Transportation Design program at the College for Creative Studies. Lastly, they'll have the honor of serving as junior judges at the EyesOn Design Car Show. Although each sketch has a unique look, all three take the same approach: cab-forward, bubble-top supercar coupes with dramatic lines and curves. Piaskowski's shows direct inspiration from a shark, but we wouldn't be surprised if all three students have special places in their hearts for the Pininfarina Maserati Birdcage Concept.

Alfa Romeo Stelvio, Giulia Quadrifoglio NRING editions celebrate lap records

Alfa Romeo will bring no less than six star cars to its Geneva Motor Show booth. Since records are not only meant to be broken, but celebrated, the Giulia Quadrifoglio NRING and Stelvio Quadrifoglio NRING limited editions were created to address the latter task. In September 2016, the Giulia Quadrifoglio broke the Nurburgring lap record for standard production four-door sedans with a time of 7:32 — a feat since bettered by the Jaguar XE SV Project 8. Last September, the Stelvio Quadrifoglio set a lap record of 7:32, displacing the Range Rover Sport SVR from the top of the timesheets. The two NRING specials come drenched in exclusive Circuito Grey paint, accented with carbon mirror caps and a CF front badge, on top of carbon ceramic brakes. The cabin's so dark you'll need to let your eyes adjust before picking out the Sparco racing seats with carbon shells, carbon accents on the steering wheel and shift knob, and the red stitching. Both sedan and SUV come optioned with Alfa Connect with 3D Nav infotainment, Harman Kardon premium audio, active cruise control, and tinted windows. The Giulia gets a naked carbon roof. The Italian carmaker's only making 108 of each NRING model, in honor of how long the company's been in business. Throughout that time, Alfa Romeo has stamped its mark on The Green Hell, such as when Tazio Nuvolari won the 1932 German Grand Prix in an 8C 2300 Tipo Monza ahead of his German competition, or in 1966 when a Giulia Sprint GTA was the first GT road car to make it round the 'Ring in under 10 minutes. These Geneva-bound special editions will be reserved "for collectors and the most loyal Alfa Romeo customers." A numbered badge in a carbon fiber dashboard insert will identify the owner's place in line. Two more special editions, also held to 108 examples, come in the guises of a 4C Competizione and a 4C Spider Italia. The 4C Competizione comes in matte Vesuvio Grey with a carbon roof, plus extra carbon splashed around on the headlight molding, mirror caps, side air vents, and rear spoiler. Microfiber covers the steering wheel and seats, red stitching makes it pop, dark-finish wheels provide the stance. The 4C Spider Italia wears Misano Blue paint adorned with the Italian Tricolore, yellow brake calipers, yellow stitching in the cabin to match. If that isn't loud enough, the premium Alpine audio with subwoofer can get you turned up further.

On Location at the Alfa Romeo Museum with the new Giulia

The most exciting news from the reveal of the new Alfa Romeo Giulia was undoubtedly the 510-hp Quadrifoglio model that will top the lineup. To play up the brand's Italian-ness, as well as the fabulous sound the twin-turbo engine makes, Alfa had opera singer Andrea Bocelli sing the car out onto the stage. The event took place at Alfa Romeo's old headquarters in Arese just outside Milan. It's also the site of the brand's museum, which has been closed to the public for years and was recently expanded and redone. We got a quick preview ahead of the museum's official public reopening on June 30, 2015. Anyone traveling to the Milan area should definitely check it out, even if those who aren't die-hard Alfisti. Before the Alfa event, I got to spend some time at Expo Milano 2015. Expos like it are held every five years now around the world and are the modern-day equivalent to a world's fair. The theme was "Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life" with the pavilions from various countries showcasing displays on food production, shortages, and future solutions. When you're done watching our On Location video, stick around for an Alfa promo reel that teases the Giulia's insanely delicious noise.