1988 Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce on 2040-cars

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2017 Alfa Romeo Model Year Preview and Updates

Having taken a twenty year sabbatical from the U.S. market, Fiat Chrysler Automobile's Alfa Romeo returned for the 2015 model year with the ALFA ROMEO 4C COUPE, a singularly two seat, mid-engined sports car with a carbon fiber monocoque chassis, high-performance 1.7 liter turbocharged four-cylinder powertrain and competition-inspired bodywork. Although the 4C's price point isn't inexpensive, the amount charged is pocket change relative to what is required by Ferrari, Lamborghini and Porsche. The 4C Spider was introduced for 2016, while 2017 brings a modest list of modifications to the sporting two-seater, including Alpine Premium audio, the addition of Giallo Prototipo (yellow) to the 4C Coupe, an available carbon fiber roof treatment and updated wheel selection. GIULIA/GIULIA Ti and GIULIA QUADRIFOGLIO: Although the 4C Coupe may have taken the figurative lead in Alfa Romeo's return to the US market, the substantive start will be taken in the 2017 model year by Alfa Romeo's midsize sport sedan, the Giulia. All variants of the Giulia combine a balanced chassis, responsive drivetrains and Italianate bodywork in a compelling four door package. And with a turbocharged V6 drivetrain, sub-4 second 0-60 and a record-setting lap (for a 4-door) of the Nurburgring, the Quadrifoglio will battle BMW's M3 in Europe's super-sedan segment. STELVIO (2018): While final specs are still TBD, following the Giulia later in the 2017 calendar year will be Alfa Romeo's 2018 Stelvio. Based on the Giulia platform and formally introduced to the public at the 2016 Los Angeles Auto Show, the Stelvio will tap into the country's appetite for compact and midsize crossovers with an upright – albeit curvaceous – platform, responsive four cylinder power and performance-oriented all-wheel drive. The Stelvio should arrive in US showrooms sometime in the 2017 calendar year.

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We record Autoblog Podcast #317 tonight, and you can drop us your questions and comments regarding the rest of the week's news via our Q&A module below. Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes if you haven't already done so, and if you want to take it all in live, tune in to our UStream (audio only) channel at 10:00 PM Eastern tonight.
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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