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Green-on-green Alfa Romeo 8C-based Disco Volante Spyder listed for sale

There is no unwritten rule that states an Alfa Romeo must be red, and there is no secret decree that claims an Italian car can't wear British Racing Green. Proving both of these points with aplomb is this rare 2019 Alfa Romeo 8C-based Disco Volante Spyder, which is finished in green with a green interior and listed for sale in Switzerland. Offered by exotic car dealer Niki Hasler, this Disco Volante Spyder is the fourth of seven examples built by Italian coachbuilder Touring Superleggera. When the model made its debut in 2016, we reported that each of the seven cars would be painted in a different color, and our consumer editor Jeremy Korzeniewski wrote that he hoped one would be painted green like an earlier coupe shown at a Geneva show. His wish has come true. British Racing Green works quite well on the retro-styled lines, which were penned as a modern interpretation of the original Disco Volante built in 1952. The person who ordered this Disco Volante also asked for a matching green interior upholstered in a combination of leather and Alcantara. Touring Superleggera added a plaque between the seats to remind occupants of the car's rarity, but most of the parts that the driver sees and interacts with come straight from the 8C Competizione. It's all Alfa under the hood, too. Touring made no major mechanical modifications to the Disco Volante, so it's powered by a Ferrari-derived, 8C-sourced 4.7-liter V8 engine that delivers 450 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels via a six-speed automated-manual transmission. The 2019 example listed for sale in Switzerland has covered 16,000 kilometers, which represents approximately 10,000 miles, so it hasn't spent its life as a garage queen. It recently received new tires and new brakes, according to the dealer. Unmodified, it's equipped with a useful lift system for the front axle; we can't imagine the front splitter is cheap to replace if it loses a fight with a speed bump. As a bonus, this Disco Volante comes with a matching luggage set. Niki Hasler hasn't published pricing information, so we don't know how many organs you'll need to sell before you can add this Disco to your collection. It won't be a bargain, however. Seven units were built with Alfa's blessing, so it's rare enough to make even the standard 8C, which was limited to 1,000 units globally (split evenly between coupes and convertibles), look common.

You probably won't see FCA's famous Easter eggs on an Alfa Romeo

They started in Jeeps, with images of seven-slot grilles showing up on windshield edges, the text "SINCE 1941" appearing in the clear plastic of headlight units, and a relief map of Moab engraved into a rubber cubby liner. Then a Chrysler got a map of Detroit and the outline of Laguna Seca materialized near the Viper's window switch. We've come to call them Easter eggs, but Klaus Busse points out that they were never really meant to be secrets, just ways to dress up what he calls "dead plastic." He's nevertheless cool with the phrase being applied and likes the enthusiastic response these design details get. Busse is intimately familiar with many of them, having signed off on many of them in his time as head interior designer for FCA's US operations. He recently moved to Europe to lead Alfa Romeo, Maserati, and Fiat design there, so when I caught up with him next to the new Stelvio crossover at the Alfa stand in LA, I had to ask: Are we going to see any of those neat design details in Alfas or Maseratis anytime soon? The short answer is no. But he didn't say it's out of the question. Busse said if, for example, a designer wanted to put an Italian phrase somewhere on a car that was in keeping with the brand, he would allow it. Although he didn't come out and say it, it seems like he might feel this type of fun design element isn't necessarily appropriate for a higher-end brand like Alfa. And I get that. But I'm still going to check all the compartments of that new Alfa crossover for a map of the Stelvio Pass. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio: LA 2016 View 11 Photos Design/Style LA Auto Show Alfa Romeo Jeep 2016 LA Auto Show easter egg

Alfa Romeo working on high-performance engines

During the big Fiat Chrysler Automobiles FCA US LLC announcement of its five-year plan earlier this year, the strategy for Alfa Romeo was easily summarized by brand boss Harald Wester: "Go back to the Alfa Romeo that people admired." Easier said than done. With the 4C as one step in that procedure, we might see the next when the company unveils its midsize sedan in June with a trio of new engines with up to 480 horsepower. Anonymous sources at suppliers are already making some big claims about the new mills to Automotive News Europe. The top of the heap is reportedly a 2.9-liter, twin-turbocharged V6 making up to 480 hp, based on the 3.0-liter engine in the Maserati Quattroporte and Ghibli. Below it is a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that's claimed to produce between 180 hp and 330 hp for rear- or all-wheel drive applications. Finally, there's potentially a 2.2-liter turbo-diesel four with between 135 hp and 210 hp. Little has been officially announced about the midsize sedan, but it was possibly spied testing recently hidden under the body of a Ghibli. It was rumored to be rear-wheel drive with a size between the BMW 3 Series and 5 Series, and a high-performance GTA version was also speculated. According to ANE, the vehicle won't be called the Giulia and won't hit the market in the US until 2016. In addition to the midsize model's engines, FCA is also reportedly working on an updated version of its 3.0-liter diesel V6 sourced from VM Motori with new 275-hp and 340-hp versions. They are likely slated for Alfa's future large sedan and SUV. News Source: Automotive News Europe - sub. req.Image Credit: Copyright 2014 Drew Phillips / AOL Alfa Romeo Technology Sedan FCA alfa romeo giulia fiat chrysler automobiles