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Alfa Romeo Giulia leaks early

The new Alfa Romeo Giulia is set to debut June 24, but the eagle-eyed folks at CarScoops already found these two somewhat blurry shots of the upcoming sedan. While there's unfortunately no photo of the front, these images give an idea of what to expect from Alfa's future four-door challenger to the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. According to CarScoops, this is the Quadrifoglio Verde performance trim, and the blurry profile images certainly appear to show that insignia on the front fender. Don't worry about the mouthful of a name, though, because the far less vowel-filled Cloverleaf moniker is reportedly being used in some markets. Beyond the badge, this crimson Giulia has a short deck at the rear and large fender flares. Vents cut into the fenders also communicate the model's sporty intentions. The rear shot shows angular taillights and dual exhausts nestled in a diffuser down below. The Giulia badge is clearly visible, and there's a contrasting black lip spoiler running along the edge of the trunk. A set of black wheels completes the performance-tuned look. For now, hard facts about the Giulia's mechanical details remain largely a mystery. The engine range reportedly includes a V6 with some relation to Ferrari that possibly pumps out around 480 horsepower, and a turbocharged four-cylinder might also be available. Some portions of the chassis are rumored to be borrowed from the Maserati Ghibli, as well. A crossover sharing the same platform may join Alfa's lineup in 2016. Related Video:

Alfa Romeo 4C priced at $53,900* in US, gains 342 pounds vs Euro version

We're out in California driving the Alfa Romeo 4C as we write this – which is the good news. The bad news is that we can't offer up any driving impressions of the car for another few days. On the other hand, we can provide a few interesting non-driving-based tidbits from the launch program, with which to further enlighten you about Alfa's upcoming "compact supercar" (that descriptor comes direct from Alfa CEO Harald Wester, for what it's worth). So, for starters, the price. When Matt Davis drove the European-spec 4C in the fall of last year, he guestimated that the starting price for the US would hover around $55,000. As it turns out, that was a pretty good guess. Eventually, the starting bill on a 4C will be $53,900, plus a significant $1,295 for destination, netting out to $55,195 out the door. That price might sound inline with what you'd expect for an Italian quasi-supercar, but it's not likely what you'll actually pay if you buy one. We're told that $62k to $65k will be the sweet spot for 4C sales in the US. What's more, if you simply have to have a 2015 model, you'll have to pony up a healthy $69,695 (that's including destination), for one of just 500 examples of the launch edition that will be sold here this year. In addition to a serialized plaque that will certify your historic purchase, the launch edition cars get the larger optional wheels in a dark-finish, the sport suspension, sport exhaust, and some other bits and bobs. Finally, while we're happy to report that the curb weight of the feather-light 4C will stay below the magical 2,500-pound mark (2,495 lbs., wet), it has still gained some 342 pounds versus the European-spec car. The added weight is down to a beefier carbon-fiber tub and additional US safety equipment. It's also fair to mention that the ultra-light European model was arrived upon thanks to a homologation rule with the EU, that (among other things) will limit 4C sales on the continent to just 1,000 units per year. We'd expect that to evolve as the model stays on sale. Stay tuned for our full review of the car, thick carbon-fiber and all, early next week.

2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale starts just under $45,000

The 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale will be hitting dealers very soon, so Alfa has opened up the order books and announced pricing for the plug-in hybrid SUV. The base Sprint model will start at $44,590 including destination charge. That's a good bit more than some competitors such as the BMW X1 and Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class, but they're less powerful, don't come standard with all-wheel-drive, and aren't plug-in hybrids at those entry prices. When those are equipped with similar power and all-wheel-drive, the Alfa ends up being priced very close to its rivals. Full standard features weren't given for each trim level, but we know that the Tonale gets the turbo 1.3-liter four-cylinder hybrid powertrain making 285 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque. It has an electric range of around 30 miles and standard all-wheel drive. A 10.25-inch touchscreen and 12.3-inch instrument cluster are also included along with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Despite a lack of detailed features for each trim, base prices for each have been released, and they're listed below. Sprint: $44,590 Ti: $46,590 Veloce: $49,090 Alfa Romeo is taking pre-orders for the Tonale right now, but only for the higher Ti and Veloce trim levels. Orders for the base Sprint will open up later this quarter. Alfa also expects that the Tonale will qualify for a $7,500 tax credit when leasing, due to a loophole for vehicles under lease. But be sure to double-check all those details before finalizing a purchase.