1967 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint Gt on 2040-cars

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Alfa Romeo 4C production to continue until at least late 2020

Maserati will end production of the GranTurismo and the GranCabrio in November 2019, and it will retool the historic Modena, Italy, factory that makes both models in preparation for a new sports car due out in 2020. But Autoblog learned production of the Alfa Romeo 4C made in the same facility will continue even after the retooling, debunking rumors of the model's immediate demise. "Production of the 4C will continue in the same production plant/line until late 2020 for the NAFTA and APAC regions," an Alfa Romeo spokesperson told us via email. The factory will close during the retooling, so "there will just be some weeks of technical interruption" during the process, according to the same spokesperson. Production will resume as soon as the overhaul is completed, and Alfa's carbon fiber-intensive two-seater will be built alongside Maserati's next sports car. North American enthusiasts still have time to put a new 4C in their garage. Available only as a convertible, the 4C recently entered the 2020 model year with a limited-edition model named Italia that gains an array of visual add-ons, like piano black trim on the front end. Just 15 Italias will be built, but the standard 4C remains available as a regular-production model. It's powered by a mid-mounted, 1.75-liter four-cylinder engine turbocharged to 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The engine's displacement wasn't chosen at random; Alfisti will know right off the bat that it echoes the 1750 engine Alfa offered in the late 1960s and the early 1970s. European enthusiasts aren't as lucky. Autoblog also confirmed an earlier report claiming 4C production for the European, Middle Eastern, and African markets ended in August 2018. While the GranTurismo will be replaced by a new model in 2021, what the future holds for the 4C is up in the air. Alfa Romeo's product plan doesn't currently include a second-generation 4C, which is too bad. It's one of the purest, most undiluted sports car on the market; may it live long. Featured Gallery 2020 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider Italia Auto News Alfa Romeo Convertible

Alfa Romeo's new CEO sees room to bring back the GTV and the Duetto

Alfa Romeo is open to reviving the GTV and the Duetto, two of its most emblematic nameplates, in the coming years. Whether either model returns partially depends on how well the firm's more mainstream models sell. "I'm very interested in the GTV. There is no statement or announcement at this stage, but I'm just giving you a personal feeling that I'm very interested in the GTV. I also love the Duetto," said Jean-Philippe Imparato, the Peugeot veteran who became Alfa Romeo's CEO under Stellantis, in an interview with Australia's CarSales. It's far too early to tell what each model would look like with any significant degree of certainty. Besides, we've been here before: in 2018, former Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) boss Sergio Marchionne outlined a born-again GTV with 600 horsepower, some degree of electrification, all-wheel drive, and seating for four when he presented Alfa Romeo's bold five-year plan. That model has been canned, along with a 700-horsepower halo coupe called 8C. Playing it safe, Imparato cautioned that neither two-door has been approved for production. Alfa Romeo's range currently consists of the Giulia, the Stelvio and the 4C, though the latter is a niche model at the end of its life cycle. It needs to achieve volume before executives can begin exploring coupe and convertible options, and we're in a market where the quickest and most effective way to increase sales is to make SUVs and crossovers. The next new addition to the Alfa Romeo range is widely believed to be the production version of the Tonale concept from 2019. "Allow me to bring Alfa Romeo to a certain level of economic performance, and then we speak," Imparato stressed. "In this time of big changes for the industry, the first priority is to protect Alfa Romeo and drive it through the challenges related to electrification, connectivity and safety," he added. Coupes and convertibles will come later. Interestingly, he strongly hinted the reports claiming the rear-wheel-drive Giorgio platform is on its way out are false. In Alfa-speak, the GTV nameplate traces its roots to the Bertone-designed 105-Series coupe released in 1963. It was called Giulia Sprint GT at launch, and it became the Giulia Sprint GT Veloce (which means "fast" in Italian) in 1965. GTV is the acronym that stuck throughout the model's career. Alfa put the nameplate on the coupe version of the Alfetta (pictured), and it added the 6 suffix when it stuffed the 2.5-liter Busso V6 in the engine bay.

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.