2024 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Veloce on 2040-cars

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Alfa Romeo 6C could return in 2020

Keep your salt shaker handy, because you might need a grain or two for this rumor, as scrumptious as it may be. According to German tuner Pogea Racing, Alfa Romeo is planning to revive the 6C nameplate, with a production launch in 2020. The company posted its inside info on its Facebook page, citing "an absolute trustworthy and legit source" who is "very deep into the decisions of the management of Alfa Romeo." According to the post, we can expect to see the Alfa Romeo 6C introduced at one of the major auto shows in 2018 or 2019. If true, the rumor is exciting, but not totally surprising. FCA is growing its investment in the Italian brand, along with its lineup. We've already learned of Alfa's plans for an SUV larger than the Stelvio, which could offer seven seats and a mild hybrid system. The addition to the lineup of what we could assume to be a coupe larger and more expensive than the Alfa Romeo 4C, and meanwhile bringing back a classic nameplate, doesn't seem farfetched. After all, we've heard similar rumors before, with the 6C reportedly planned as a competitor to the Jaguar F-Type. Under the hood, the Giulia Quadrifoglio's 2.9-liter twin-turbo aluminum V6 — good for 505 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque — seems like the perfect fit for the 6C. The 6C nameplate has roots in six-cylinder road and racing cars beginning in the 1920s. To see it revived after decades of hibernation would not only be interesting for fans and potential customers, it would be symbolic of the company's continued growth under the FCA umbrella. Related Video:

2023 Alfa Romeo Giulia Estrema bridges the Quadrifoglio gap

Alfa Romeo is expanding the 2023 Giulia range with a model named Estrema that was developed for driving enthusiasts. Also available on the 2023 Stelvio, the Estrema trim level bridges the gap between the Veloce variants of both cars and the high-performance Quadrifoglio. "Estrema" is Italian for "extreme," and in this case it denotes a car that — in Alfa Romeo's words — was designed for "a connoisseur of driving." The list of standard features grows with the addition of a limited-slip rear differential and the adaptive Alfa Active Suspension system for both comfort and performance. These updates may not sound major, but they should make a perceptible difference on the kind of twisty roads that the Estrema models were created for. Car-spotters will be able to pick out the Estrema versions in a crowded parking lot by looking for carbon fiber exterior accents (including the piece of trim that underlines the grille), specific wheels that measure 19 inches on the Giulia and 21 inches on the Stelvio, dark "Estrema" emblems and black brake calipers. Inside, there's more carbon fiber, red contrast stitching and a blend of leather and Alcantara upholstery.  The Estrema models aren't any more estrema under the hood than the versions that they're based on. The only engine available in the United States is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged to deliver 280 horsepower and 306 pound-feet of torque. Rear-wheel-drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission come standard on the Giulia, though Alfa Romeo's Q4 all-wheel-drive system is available at an extra cost, and the Stelvio is exclusively offered with all-wheel-drive. With the Q4 system, the Giulia reaches 60 mph from a stop in 5.1 seconds. On sale now, Alfa Romeo's Estrema models are scheduled to reach dealers across the nation in the third quarter of 2022. Buyers have four colors to choose from: Alfa White, Alfa Rosso, Misano Blue, and Vulcano Black. Pricing is set at $56,685 for the rear-wheel-drive Giulia, $58,685 for the all-wheel-drive model, and $60,545 for the Stelvio. Note that these figures include a mandatory $1,595 destination charge. Related Video:

Watch Alfa's 4C storm up Goodwood's hillclimb course quicker than a Corvette

Alfa Romeo's gorgeous 4C remains a car that we in the United States are forced to admire from afar. Thankfully, our petrolheaded brethren in the UK and Europe seem all too happy to flaunt the 4C at most every opportunity. Take this video of the team at Goodwood, running the mid-engined Alfa up the estate's historic hill. Watching the 4C run the course while belting out its adorably angry engine note is plenty entertaining on its own. Of course, it gets better when the Goodwood folks lay down some serious rubber following the car's 61.1-second lap. That number bests the wet time of the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, by the way. Have a look below for the full video from the team at Goodwood.