Alpha Romeo Spider 1978, 28,500 Miles, New Paint Job, Mechanically In Excellent on 2040-cars

Auto blog

2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio Drivers' Notes Review | Everything you expect

The 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio is a performance crossover that goes head-to-head with models like the Porsche Macan and Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S. It takes the Giulia's 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 and stuffs it into a slightly more practical package. Crossovers are all the rage, and Alfa needs the Stelvio to be a hit if the brand has any hope of success in America. Performance models like this don't come cheap, but you get what you pay for. In addition to the performance parts like a torque-vectoring differential, Brembo brakes and 20-inch wheels with Pirelli summer tires, the Stelvio Quadrifoglio comes standard with features like blind-spot monitoring, a Harman Kardon sound system, a heated steering wheel and heated front seats. Options on this car include $2,200 for the Rosso Competizione paint and $1,500 for a drivers assistance package. Update: CarPlay and Android Auto are standard equipment. The listed price on our tester's window sticker was an error. Editor-in-Chief Greg Migliore: I've been skeptical about the Stelvio. Aside from the famous Scudetto grille, what really makes this an Alfa — a good one, anyway? Eyeing them on the road I've been less than impressed. They look like generic crossovers, which is not the vibe Alfa should be giving off. Enter the Quadrifoglio. The 505-hp twin-turbo V6 makes the Stelvio addicting to drive. The 20-inch wheels with Alfa's signature five-hole design under the flared fenders propel this thing to style leadership. Factor in the four-leaf clover badges, and the Stelvio Quadrifoglio looks and feels special. Driving it is a riot. The interior feels legitimately athletic, too. The big, thin steering wheel with the start button and paddle shifters integrated in front of the driver do create a cockpit-like setting. Add in the leather, red stitching and carbon fiber, and it's a cool place to drive. After an energetic commute to the office, my thinking on the Stelvio had changed. Yes, I like the Quadrifoglio, but I can now see this Italian crossover as a compelling alternative in this segment. Wasn't sure how I felt about the @AlfaRomeoUSA Stelvio. But 505 horses convinced me of its merits. Liking this lab hauler in Quadrifoglio spec. @therealautoblog pic.twitter.com/sSUyOS8iY0 — Greg Migliore (@GregMigliore) November 1, 2018 Associate Editor Reese Counts: What a mixed bag. I really wanted to love the Stelvio.

Alfa Romeo 4C Spider brings roofless Italian performance to the well-heeled masses

Following through on its Geneva concept and year-end rumors, Alfa Romeo has introduced a roofless version of its mid-engine 4C at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show. Like the Lotus Elise, the canvas top on the 4C Spider isn't some fancy automatic roof. Instead, owners will need to manually sort things out. Unlike the Elise, at least, the 4C's top is easier to manage when both fixing and removing from the mid-engined sports car's body. For those that prefer the security provided by a hard top, a removable carbon-fiber roof will be added after launch. Aside from that change, most of the tweaks for the 4C Spider have to do with options and equipment. As we explained in our original post, opting for the topless version of this turbocharged Italian will still get you to 60 in just 4.1 seconds, while Alfa claims the 4C Spider can still pull 1.1 lateral g. Check out our full gallery of photos of the new 4C Spider, direct from the floor of the 2015 Detroit Auto Show, at the top of the page. And for more on Alfa's second US product, check out our original post, right here.

Just 45% of Fiat dealers are profitable, and they're angry about it

<
On average, Fiat dealers have only been selling about 17 cars a month.
We've been wondering for some time how Fiat dealers in North America have been getting along with just one model range in their showrooms up until recently. Franchisees spent millions building, stocking and manning sleek new 'studio' showrooms, only to have but a single model to sell, the cherubic 500. And even with its many derivatives, the Cinquecento is still an inexpensive model with its attendant lower margins. Perhaps it should come as no surprise then, that just 45 percent of US Fiat dealers are said to be profitable.