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Alfa Romeo reportedly developing a Giulia-based coupe

Much like classic, rear-wheel-drive Alfa Romeo sedans, the Giulia might gain a coupe counterpart. The possible Alfa Romeo coupe wouldn't just be a cruiser, as it's rumored to get a fantastical-sounding 641 horsepower output. British Autocar's sources say Alfa Romeo is developing a coupe based on the Giulia, with the front end carried over and a coupe body designed from that point back. Autocar says the coupe could be unveiled this year and hit the market in 2019. Alfa Romeo sold some 8,900 Giulias last year in the United States, and the coupe could function as a halo car. As for the powertrain, the standard version would utilize the Giulia's two-liter turbo engine good for 197 and 276 horsepower in various guises, but the absolute big deal would be the 2.9 turbo V6, which would gain an F1-style energy recovery system to boost the power to near-Ferrari levels. As in 641 horsepower, which is hundreds more than possible competitors from BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz have. The non-ERS, 500 hp version could also be available. Sources say a name for the coupe could be Sprint, which certainly carries a cachet, but as Autocar notes, "GTV" would correspond to Alfa Romeo's RWD history a little better — take for example the 1970s Alfetta and Alfetta GTV sedan-coupe combination. Sprint, on the other hand, was a front-wheel-drive coupe based on Alfasud hatchback mechanicals. Related Video: Image Credit: AOL/Drew Phillips Rumormill Alfa Romeo Coupe Performance alfa romeo giulia

B.A.T. Alfa Trinity, some of the world's most famous concept cars, are up for auction

Of the cars that never saw production, there are a handful that nevertheless have had an outsized influence. Among the most famous are the wild Berlinetta Aerodynamica Technica (B.A.T.) concepts commissioned by Alfa Romeo in the mid-1950s. Three B.A.T. Alfas were created by Italy's Bertone design house and were unveiled at succeeding Turin auto shows in 1953, '54, and '55. The cars are now coming up for auction for the first time as a group at RM Sotheby's Contemporary Art Evening Auction in New York on October 28. The first of the trio was B.A.T. 5, which like its successors was built on the Alfa 1900 Sprint production chassis. The goal of the B.A.T. 5 was aerodynamic efficiency, and the car boasted a cD of 0.23. Aiding the cause were covered front wheels, a greenhouse with steeply curved side glass, and twin tail fins. The second concept was B.A.T. 7, from 1954. It has the wildest styling of the trio, with sharply curved tail fins. It also has the lowest drag coefficient, at 0.19. B.A.T. 9, from 1955, was the most production-feasible of the group. It features an Alfa Romeo shield grille at the front and exposed headlights with clear covers. All three are credited to Franco Scaglione, working with Nuccio Bertone. They were seen together for the first time at the 1989 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. They would appear together again at Pebble Beach in 2005 and at Bertone's 80th-anniversary celebration in 1992. The cars were acquired by a single owner sometime after their first Pebble Beach appearance. The ability to acquire all three at once is part of what makes this an extraordinary opportunity. The B.A.T. Alfas are being sold as a single lot and are expected to bring between $14 million and $20 million.

Marchionne offers belated apology for 'wop engine' comment

Automotive News reports Fiat-Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne has issued a written apology for his comments regarding his decision to stick with an Italian engine for the upcoming Alfa Romeo 4C. As you may recall, back in January, Marchionne was quoted as saying, "I cannot come up with a schlock product, I just won't. I won't put an American engine into that car. With all due respect to my American friends, it has to be a wop engine." The CEO penned an apology to the Italian American ONE VOICE Coalition for using the racial epithet, saying that he made the comment in jest. Marchionne also said he realizes his remarks were unacceptable.
ONE VOICE, an organization aimed at fighting discrimination and stereotyping of Italian Americans, thanked Marchionne, Chrysler and Fiat for the apology. Marchionne is an Italian-born Canadian citizen, and he's gotten in trouble for other comments in the past. In 2011, he called high interest rates Chrysler was paying to the Canadian government "shyster rates." He apologized a day later.