2021 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Rwd on 2040-cars

Auto blog

2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Ti Lusso Drivers' Notes | We've got a crush on Giulia

American car enthusiasts have pined over Alfa Romeos for decades. The automaker stopped importing cars to the U.S. in 1995, with only a brief appearance with the beautiful but exotic 8C Competizione. The 4C followed along a few years later, but it too was a niche product, mainly intended to raise brand awareness than raise sales. That's where the Giulia steps in. As a compact sport sedan, Giulia is Alfa's BMW 3 Series competitor. Sure, the Giulia Quadrifoglio might get all the headlines, but cars like the Giulia Ti Lusso and Sport will be the real volume models. This is an extremely cutthroat segment with high expectations when it comes to both luxury and performance. Alfa has been out of the game for a long time, and the reputation it left wasn't exactly the greatest. Alfa Romeo has a lot riding on this car. Associate Editor Reese Counts: I like this car right from the start. It's a looker. While I prefer colors that pop, the Giulia looks wonderful even in this metallic black paint. The proportions are all perfect, and that iconic grille has rarely looked better. If Alfa does one thing right, its the styling. I felt the same way about the interior. The design is all simple and clean. The seats are particularly nice, with Ferrari-esque ribs down the middle. I'm also a big fan of the wood and leather. Only some cheap feeling plastic bits brought it down. This Giulia has a middling transmission, a good engine and great steering. There's some weird low-speed hesitation from the eight-speed that makes it feel like a dual-clutch. Once you're on it, the shifts are quick and smooth. The Lusso doesn't come with paddle shifters. That's fine. Not every car needs them. Buy the Sport if you want that sort of thing. Power and torque come on quick and effortlessly. It feels every bit as its class-leading (four-cylinder) 280 horsepower and 306 pound-feet for torque would suggest. The 5,500 rpm redline comes in quick and abrupt, making me wish it had a little more room to breathe up top. The steering is wonderful. It's quick and precise but doesn't feel jittery. I'd have to drive the competition back to back, but I think this has the best steering in the class. The wheel feels nice in your hands. Some of the other touch points are a letdown, but Alfa got the driving position and controls just right. Not a , but still a . Good engine, better steering.

Alfa Romeo Milano EV teased in camo ahead of April reveal

The Alfa Romeo Milano is officially set to be revealed on April 10 this year as the Italian company’s first fully-electric vehicle. In addition to a reveal date, AlfaÂ’s given us some photos to pore over and get an idea of what the Milano will look like when the wrappings are taken off. For starters, though, donÂ’t get too excited about the prospect of buying one. The Milano is expected to be sold in Europe and perhaps other international markets, but not in the U.S. ItÂ’s said to be related to the Jeep Avenger, which is another small EV we donÂ’t get on this side of the pond. Just like the Avenger, the Milano is a small subcompact crossover that appears to be one size smaller than the Tonale, which is sold here. Alfa promises that itÂ’s taking this project just as seriously as any from a dynamics perspective, though, touting that engineers from projects like the 4C, 8C and Giulia/Stelvio Quadrifoglio are ensuring the Milano lives up to AlfaÂ’s high standards through testing at its Balocco test track.  If we ever get to drive it, weÂ’ll be sure to test AlfaÂ’s claims that it will be the best in its class for dynamics and handling. As for the design, the Milano is a stubby little SUV with what appears to be a fairly strongly raked rear window. The camo in front only does so much to cover up AlfaÂ’s traditionally triangular trefoil grille. Its wheel and tire package is shockingly big for such a small vehicle as it wears massive 20-inch wheels wrapped in low-profile Michelin Pilot Sport EV performance tires. Despite the Milano launching as an EV, itÂ’s expected to offer gasoline variants, too. We analyze the possible powertrain options in our most recent report about the Milano, but all of our questions should be answered in April this year, so stay tuned for news on the first electric Alfa. Related video: 2023 Dodge Hornet GT

Alfa Romeo Classiche program launched to preserve the brand's heritage

Alfa Romeo has taken a significant step to help enthusiasts conserve the cars it has built over the past 112 years. The company launched a program called Alfa Romeo Classiche that provides owners with anything from a certificate of authenticity to a full in-house restoration. One of the program's most basic services is issuing a certificate of origin. This isn't new; Alfa has offered this resource since 2016. Armed with a chassis number, owners can request a document that details a car's date of production and its original configuration inside and out. You'd be surprised at what you can discover: Years ago, I learned that the red 1966 GTV I owned at the time was originally painted gray. The second certificate Alfa Romeo can issue collectors attests to a car's authenticity. Historians working in the company's Heritage department examine a car and inspect a long list of points before deeming it authentic. Cars can be examined at the Officine Classiche in Mirafiori, near Turin in Italy, at the Stellantis & You facilities in Rome and in Palermo, or directly at the owner's house regardless of the country they live in. Finally, the Alfa Romeo Classiche program includes a maintenance and restoration service performed by the same folks who work on the cars in the brand's museum. From changing the rocker panels on a 1959 Giulietta to changing the spark plugs on a 1991 model 164, the in-house team can take on just about any task. Pricing hasn't been announced; it varies depending on the car and the scope of the work required. Alfa Romeo takes its heritage and the Classiche program seriously: Company CEO Jean-Philippe Imparato chairs the certification committee, and the people in charge of certifying a car have access to the vast archives housed in the Alfa Romeo Museum. Related video: