1986 Alfa Romeo Spider Quadrifoglio Convertible 2-door 2.0l on 2040-cars

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2023 J.D. Power Initial Quality Study shows there's less quality than last year

Vehicle inventory, vehicle pricing, and the supply chain are finally showing improvement. Vehicle quality, on the other hand, is still going the wrong way. That's the takeaway from the 2023 J.D. Power Initial Quality Study that found overall problems exceeded last year's record high. The study surveyed owners of 2022-model-year vehicles to assess the average rate of problems per 100 vehicles (PP100) during the first 90 days of ownership. The average figure for the 32 ranked manufacturers in 2020 was about 166 problems per 100 vehicles. In the 2021 IQS, that dropped to an average of 162. For 2022, the average jumped to 180 problems. For 2023, the PP100 is up to an industry average of 192 — an increase of 30 problems per 100 vehicles in just two years. Let's get to the good news first: Dodge reclaimed the crown of having the lowest number of problems per 100 vehicles at 140. Buick won last year with 139 PP100, falling to third this year. Dodge was the first American automaker to top the IQS in 2021. Its return as the least problematic gives parent company Stellantis three wins in four years after Ram was crowned in 2021. It also gives U.S. brands a four-peat after Buick topped the chart in 2022 by having owners report the fewest problems. This year's top 10 is Dodge, Ram, Alfa Romeo, Buick, Chevrolet, GMC, Porsche, Cadillac, Kia, and Lexus. Stellantis gathered a few feathers for its cap, in fact. Maserati showed the largest improvement year-on-year, followed by Alfa Romeo, and Alfa Romeo posted the lowest PP100 among the premium class, beating Porsche and Cadillac. Alfa Romeo has been vocal about working to improve quality, mentioning Lexus as a target. Last year the Japanese brand finished sixth, the Italians finished near the bottom, between Jaguar and Mitsubishi. This year Alfa jumped to third, Lexus dropped to tenth. Ram was the third-best on the list of improvers from 2022 to 2023.   The individual model with the lowest PP100 is the Nissan Maxima. Now for the troublesome bits. In the words of Frank Hanley, senior director of auto benchmarking at J.D. Power, "The industry is at a major crossroad and the path each manufacturer chooses is paramount for its future.

Alfa Romeo 4C Spider is dead after 2020, but look at this 33 Stradale Tributo

The Alfa Romeo 4C Spider is finally making its exit. Alfa quit selling the coupe in America starting with the 2019 model year, and now the roofless version will wrap up with the 2020 model year. There will be no 2021 4C Spider in the U.S. Alfa is not killing the 4C without a bang, though. In conjunction with the announcement of the car’s U.S. departure, Alfa has announced a 4C Spider 33 Stradale Tributo special edition model. ItÂ’s meant to honor the 1967 Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale, which is the iconic roadgoing version of the Tipo 33 race car. ItÂ’s gorgeous and works as a fitting send off to the mid-engine sports car that kickstarted AlfaÂ’s return to North America. There are a number of things changed or added with the 33 Stradale Tributo, but the single biggest difference is the red transparent finish to the carbon monocoque chassis (pictured above). The normally black exposed carbon fiber is now a glowing and translucent red, and itÂ’s rather striking. Additionally, Alfa paints it in an exclusive shade of red: Rosso Villa dÂ’Este tri-coat. It gets gray-gold wheels, a two-tone black and “tobacco” (brown) interior and special badging on the dash, side sills and center console. Everybody who buys one will also get a special, numbered book that goes over the 4C in detail. All 33 Stradale Tributo models will be fully loaded with options, too. Most importantly, it gets the Akropovic exhaust and race-tuned suspension. Alfa says a standard 4C with every option would be “thousands more,” so hey, youÂ’re getting a deal. The 33 Stradale Tributo will start at $81,590, and only 33 will be built. Considering that Alfa has only sold 92 4C Spiders throughout all of FCAÂ’s 2020 reported sales so far, they might be easier to get than you think. If you want one, Alfa says you should email (yeah, weird) them at: sales@alfaromeo.com. Related Video:

Alfa Romeo Giulia police cars will save lives

Oh look, it's another Italian performance vehicle turned into a police car. Evildoers beware, right? Not exactly. As much as we'd love to picture an Alfa Romeo Giulia chasing down bank robbers through the streets of Milan this newest addition to the Italy's national police fleet will be used for less thrilling purposes. Instead of chasing down speeders, two copies of new Giulia Quadrifoglio will transport organs and blood for emergency medical use, as well as serve ceremonial escort cars. The police version here adds the usual cop goodies like radios and lights, a portable defibrillator, LED flashlights in the doors, and one of those round signaling flags that Italians seem to love. There no mention of a cop motor or cop brakes, but that's probably not necessary. 'The Quadrifolgio tops the 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia lineup with a 505 hp twin-turbo V6 capable of 0 to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds. When it eventually goes on sale in the US later this year or early next year, prices will range from around $40,000 for the base model to $70,000 in Quadrifoglio trim. Related Video: Featured Gallery Carabinieri Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio police car View 9 Photos Alfa Romeo Luxury Police/Emergency Performance Sedan police car alfa romeo giulia