2024 Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce on 2040-cars

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Stellantis and Foxconn's new joint venture will focus on connectivity

MILAN — Carmaker Stellantis and TaiwanÂ’s Foxconn announced plans to develop a jointly operated automotive supplier focusing on technology to make vehicles more connected, including artificial intelligence-based applications and 5G communications. Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares said the services that will be developed through the tie-up “will mark the next great evolution of our industry,” alongside fully electrified and hybrid powertrains. The deal brings together Stellantis, the worldÂ’s 4th-largest automaker formed this year by the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and PSA Peugeot, and Foxconn, a major supplier of iPhones. The companies said the venture would focus on such services as infotainment, the integration of telecommunications and computer systems, artificial intelligence-based applications, 5G communications, e-commerce channels and smart cockpit integration. The companies announced a non-binding memorandum of understanding to form a 50-50 joint venture called Mobile Drive, which will be based in the Netherlands and function as an automotive supplier also to other carmakers. The new venture will combine advanced consumer electronics, Human-Machine Interfaces (HMI) to create new services “that will exceed customer expectations,” the companies said in a release. “Customers today and, in the future, demand and expect ever-increasing software-driven and creative solutions to connect the drivers and passengers with the vehicle inside and out,Â’Â’ Foxconn Chairman Young Liu. Alfa Romeo Chrysler Dodge Ferrari Fiat Jeep RAM Citroen Opel Peugeot 5g Connectivity Stellantis Foxconn

Alfa Romeo 4C La Furiosa revealed by Lapo Elkann's Garage Italia

Visitors to the Dubai Motor Show who stopped by the Alfa Romeo stand were treated to this aesthetically modified 4C created by Garage Italia Customs. To make this particular example stand apart from an "ordinary" Alfa 4C, the customizers cloaked it in a velvet matte-finish red, similar to the original show car. The roof was left in exposed carbon fiber, fading into red, like the engine cover and brake calipers. The trim around the headlights, air vents, and side mirrors has been left in carbon fiber with a thin coat of candy red that leaves the weave exposed. The wheels are painted gold, and the interior is swathed in Alcantara. The creation was made for Alfa Romeo by the customizing firm started by Lapo Elkann. The eccentric brother of Fiat Chrysler chairman John Elkann is himself an heir to the Agnelli empire, and has played a variety of roles in the company - including brand promotion and the creation of the Gucci edition Cinquecento. Alongside fashion house Italia Independent, Lapo founded Garage Italia Customs to apply his unique sense of style and that of his team to models like the Fiat 500, Jeep Renegade, and Maserati Ghibli. Related Video: Milano, November 10th 2015 Garage Italia Customs in Dubai with Alfa Romeo 4C "La Furiosa" On the occasion of the 2015 Dubai International Motor Show, Garage Italia Customs presents a world premiere, La Furiosa, the 4C one-off created for Alfa Romeo. La Furiosa is the result of the meeting between the "Mechanics of Emotions" and the Style Center together with the Maestros of Garage Italia Customs. It is a unique model that combines the high level technical characteristics of this Alfa Romeo and the Tailor Made interventions of the Lapo Elkann team specialists. THE EXTERIORS The stage for the debut of this new creation by Carlo Borromeo - head of the Garage Italia Customs Style Centre – is the Alfa Romeo stand at the Dubai International Motor Show. Hence, La Furiosa is unveiled to the international press next to the Alfa Romeo 510 CV Giulia Quadrifoglio and the latest versions of the Alfa Romeo Giulietta Quadrifoglio, the Alfa Romeo 4C Coupe and the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider. The aim of the Garage is to create a car which emphasises the 4C wild style with a strong and extraordinary aesthetic impact. Special toned-down painting characterises the external livery.

Audi rumored to buy Alfa Romeo, officials deny it

For more than two years, Volkswagen has been making public statements about its willingness to buy Alfa Romeo and quadruple the Italian brand's sales, and for just as long, Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne has replied with some version of "Mr. Piëch, drop it." According to a report in Ward's Auto, all that jousting might be over: it claims that sources close to both Marchionne and Audi CEO Rupert Stadler admit that the two are in talks for Audi to buy not just Alfa Romeo, but a production plant in Italy. In fact, a final deal could possibly include partsmaker Magnetti Marelli.
Against that backdrop, a report by German news weekly Stern quotes a Fiat spokesmen as saying it doesn't comment on rumors and an Audi rep has said flatly that "There is no substance in the news." If a sale is being arranged, the timing would seem to point to how eager Fiat is to raise cash to complete its major initiatives. Even though Alfa Romeo continues to delay its return to the US, it just showed off the production version of the 4C at the Geneva Motor Show (shown above) and said that preferred Fiat dealerships here would get them. Then there's Alfa's recently concluded deal with Mazda to develop a roadster based on the next generation MX-5 Miata - a deal that would seem to help both the Italian and Japanese brands.
The monetary issues are troublesome, though. Fiat is taking a beating in the European market and its weak-kneed balance sheet is delaying gotta-have-it products like the Jeep Cherokee. Fiat has been talking to banks about getting money to buy the rest of Chrysler and those financial institutions have also raised issues about debt and cash reserves, and the nasty game of chess Fiat is playing with the United Auto Workers (and now the court system about the portion of Chrysler it doesn't own) could end up blowing another hole in Marchionne's plans. It is possible that this could finally have convinced Fiat to at least see how serious Audi's parent company, Volkswagen, is about buying Alfa Romeo. Or it could be just another rumor.