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Abarth 1000 SP is a retro-styled Alfa Romeo 4C

With the whittled-down Fiat lineup in the U.S., you might've forgotten about the brand's sporty division Abarth. But the brand is still active, still selling sporty Fiats in Europe, and now it has created a one-off roadster to celebrate its racing history. It's the Abarth 1000 SP, and it's styled and named after a 1966 race car that won its class at the 500-kilometer Nurburgring race that year. As other news outlets have noted, it's pretty obvious the Abarth 1000 SP is a restyled Alfa Romeo 4C (also disappearing from both the U.S. and overseas markets), even if Abarth doesn't say so specifically. That's not a bad, thing, though, being both an impressive sports car and one bearing the kind of curves that are perfect for the lines of the original car. The 1966 car's low pointy nose, curvy fenders and myriad vents and scoops fit great, and we also dig the exposed roll bar and cut-down rear cowls. The rear bumper maybe looks a little awkward, but overall, we think it's a well-executed car. Mechanically, it seems unchanged from the 4C. It has the same 1,742-cc turbocharged four-cylinder making 240 horsepower and sitting in the same carbon fiber and aluminum chassis. As such, it should probably be called the Abarth 1740 SP or 1700 SP rather than 1000, since the original was named after the displacement of the modified Fiat 600 engine it used. The car is just a one-off, so you won't be able to purchase one, but you might be able to see it at a European car show or museum someday. Related Video:

Alfa Romeo to launch new versions of 4C each year

Alfa Romeo is an exciting brand. You could argue that the MiTo and Giulietta hatchbacks might not speak so much to that effect, but the 4C sure does. Fortunately, Alfa has every intention of keeping the 4C at the forefront of its lineup with a series of upgrades – one to come each year, according to Top Gear. The production version of the compact mid-engined sports car launched just last year at the Geneva Motor Show, and this year the company returned with the 4C Spider concept that previews the production roadster to follow. That may prove the most substantial of the revisions Alfa has in mind for the 4C, but it may not be the last. Just what Alfa will do next remains to be seen, but sources are already speculating on what could follow. Since the current 4C is a bare-bones affair – with a minimalist cabin and no trunk to speak of with the front hood welded shut – we're wouldn't be surprised to see a slightly more accommodating version follow. After that, it's anyone's guess. Top Gear suggests a more hardcore version – it sure would be exciting to see the Quadrifoglio Verde adorn a more powerful 4C in the future. But we're still years off from seeing any such derivative come to fruition, so we'll just have to hold on tight for the time being and wait for Alfa to finally bring itself and the 4C to American showrooms. Featured Gallery 2014 Alfa Romeo 4C View 60 Photos News Source: Top Gear Alfa Romeo Convertible Coupe Performance alfa romeo 4c

Alfa Romeo takes Spider in-house, Mazda-Fiat roadster partnership not dead

It's officially off. Following a report in March of this year that the marriage of Mazda and Alfa Romeo to produce a MX-5-based Spider was in trouble, the Italians have confirmed that it will take development in-house. "As far as the Spider goes, the final version is of course no longer the two-seater FCA co-developed with Mazda but a derivative of Project Giorgio," Maserati and Alfa Romeo brand boss Harald Wester told Car. For those not in the know, Project Giorgio is Alfa's codename for the rear-drive platform that will underpin the next-generation Spider, not to mention the replacement for the 159 sedan and a few other products. All is not lost for the Japanese-Italian partnership, though. "The Far East import will probably find a new home with Fiat-Abarth," Wester told Car. Yes, you read that correctly, Mazda is still working with FCA, and the result will eventually end up with Abarth's scorpion badge. If anything, we're more excited over this news than the idea of an Alfa MX-5. But we want to know what you think – would you rather Alfa build a new Spider on the Miata's bones, or does an MX-5 Abarth sound like more fun? Have your say in Comments.