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Fiat 124 Abarth Spider spied, may get Alfa 4C power

We've long been excited to see, hear, and drive the car that results from the in-process Fiat-Mazda partnership. The Italian brand has had access to the excellent 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata on which to base its own roadster, and the fruits of that labor will soon ripen. Spied here is not only the ensuing Fiat 124, but a hotter Abarth tuned version of the spider. At least, that's what we're hoping. Our spy shooters indicated that the car seen here not only sounded more aggressive than 'standard' 124 mules seen previously, but that it also accelerated away from their long lenses with a smartness. The 124 Spider is already rumored to make use of the 1.4-liter turbo I4 that makes 160 horsepower in the Fiat 500 Abarth, and this version may have a still-more-powerful engine. Another tell about the added output are the quad tailpipes in place of the lesser car's set of two. There's no hard evidence to support exactly which engine might be under the 124's hood, however. It's possible that the 1.7-liter turbo from Alfa Romeo 4C could be in play – with its 237-hp output – as the 124 was originally going to wear an Alfa badge. If that were to happen, however, the Fiat would almost certainly get a dual-clutch transmission instead of the purer manual box. In any event, more details about the car will no doubt crop up closer to the expected reveal this fall. Related Video:

Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale is a fast Alfa, developed fast

Alfa Romeo's 33 Stradale is a gorgeous supercar to simultaneously cap off the internal combustion era of the brand and kick off the electric era. But we did have some questions about it after the reveal, which we brought to Larry Dominique, the senior vice president of Alfa Romeo North America. And he was kind enough to answer a good number of them, revealing some interesting information. One of the first things we wanted to know about was the decision to make such a pivotal car such a clear tribute to the famed Tipo 33 race car from many decades ago. We certainly weren't complaining, but we could easily have seen Alfa doing something more modern or more original. Dominique said that part of the reason was to help with awareness of Alfa and its history, as awareness in general is something the brand still struggles with. So connecting the car with famous motorsports machines could help people understand more of what Alfa is and was. Of course, the Tipo 33 was also a gorgeous car to start with, and as this is among the last gas-powered Alfas, a tribute makes sense. The 33 Stradale's specs also looked shockingly similar to that of the Maserati MC20 supercar, and considering the mid-engine layout, we were expecting that under the curvy exterior, the Alfa would basically be that Maserati. Dominique told us that's not quite the case. Parts of the frame are borrowed from the Maserati, but apparently the engine is a version of the twin-turbo V6 from the Alfa Romeo Quadrifoglio models, not Maserati's Nettuno V6. Apparently some aspects of the active suspension are also taken from the Giulia Quadrifoglio GTA, though neither Dominique nor Alfa's PR representative present had the detailed specifics at the time of the interview. We also learned a few more details about the electric powertrain. The battery pack comes in around 100-kWh in capacity, and it has an 800-volt architecture to support high-speed charging from 350-kW chargers. Beyond that, though, Dominique didn't have anything else to talk about for the electric 33. The 33 Stradale will be fast with 60 mph times under 3 seconds, but it's fast in another way. Dominique told us that this project got under way toward the end of summer and beginning of fall just last year. With final development coming over the next several months, that's a quick turnaround to getting a production car. One thing Dominique wouldn't tell us is how expensive the 33 Stradale is.

Alfa Romeo limits Giulia and Stelvio Quadrifoglio NRING editions to 110 units

The 505-horsepower Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio and the 505-horsepower Giulia Quadrifoglio are two of the most exclusive, powerful, and attractive four-door vehicles on the market. In the past, they've both set records at Germany's Nurburgring, and Alfa has created limited-edition packages to honor the spirit of the legendary racetrack. The NRING-edition cars will be limited to 110 total examples. If this sounds familiar, it's because the idea is not new. In June of 2018, Alfa Romeo announced NRING packages for Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. At the time, we believed the special-editions would not be coming to America; turns out we were incorrect. The tweaks start with the paint, as the NRING cars are only available in matte Circuito Gray. As its association with motorsport and racing continues, carbon fiber has been applied to the mirror caps, the "V scudetto" front grille, the roof on the Giulia, and the side sills on the Stelvio. Red brake calipers with white scrip hide behind dark 19-inch wheels on the Giulia and 20-inch wheels on the Stelvio. The Stelvio also gets a dual-pane sunroof. Inside, Alfa Romeo added a carbon fiber steering wheel, a carbon fiber shifter bezel, a serial number badge on the passenger dash, and red and black leather with red contrast stitching on the seats. Light-up carbon fiber side sills are applied to the Giulia, and carbon fiber Sparco racing seats are optional on both cars. The NRING cars also come with the convenience package, the driver assistance dynamic package, and the premium alarm system. Unfortunately, there's no mention of the "Welcome Kit" the other markets got, which is a bummer. Who doesn't want racing gloves, a jacket, and a scale model? Alfa Romeo lists the 2019 Giulia Quadrifoglio NRING at $91,485 with destination, which is $15,895 more than the Giulia Quad's $75,590 starting price. The Stelvio NRING is $97,485, also up $15,895 from the $81,590 starting price. Only 55 examples of each car will be built.