1988 Alfa Romeo Spider Quadrifoglio Convertible 2-door 2.0l on 2040-cars

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The mood at this year’s Paris Motor Show: Quiet

The Paris Motor Show, held every other year in the early fall, typically kicks off the annual cavalcade of automotive conclaves, one that traverses the globe between autumn and spring, introducing projective, conceptual and production-ready vehicle models to the international automotive press, automotive aficionados and a public hungry for news of our increasingly futuristic mobility enterprise. But this year, at the press preview days for the show, the grounds of the Porte de Versailles convention center felt a bit more sparsely populated than usual. This was not simply a subjective sensation, or one influenced by the center's atypically dispersed assemblage of seven discrete buildings, which tends to spread out the cars and the crowds. There were not only fewer new vehicles being premiered in Paris this year, there were fewer manufacturers there to display them. Major mainstream European OEM stalwarts such as Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Nissan and Volkswagen chose to sit out Paris this year, as did boutique manufacturers like Bentley, Aston Martin and Lamborghini. This is not simply based in some antipathy on the part of the German, British and Italian manufacturers toward the French market — though for a variety of historical and societal reasons that market may be more dominated by vehicles produced domestically than others. Rather, it is part of a larger trend in the industry. Last year, Mercedes-Benz announced that it would not be participating in the flagship North American International Auto Show in 2019 — and that it might not return. Other brands including Jaguar/Land Rover, Audi, Porsche, Mazda and nearly every exotic carmaker have also departed the Detroit show. Some of these brands will still appear in the city in which the show is taking place, and host an event offsite, to capitalize on the presence of a large number of reporters in attendance. And even brands that do have a presence at the show have shifted their vehicle introductions to the days before the official press opening in an attempt to stand out from the crowd. In many ways, this makes sense. With an expanding number of automakers, with diversification and niche-ification of models and with wholesale shifts that necessitate the introduction of EV or autonomous sub-brands, there is a growing sense that, with everyone shouting at the same time, no one can be heard.

Alfa Romeo 4C Launch Edition marks a day we never thought we'd see

Alfa Romeo has been teasing its return to the United States for years. Each time, it's seemingly been pushed back for one reason or another. The last time we had our Alfa fix fulfilled was when just a few hundred examples of the 8C Competizione crossed the pond late last decade. Now, though, it looks like finally Alfa will be coming back, showing this, the 4C Launch Edition, at the 2014 New York Auto Show. By now, you should know the brief on the 4C – ultra-lightweight, mid-engined, turbocharged and with non-power-assisted steering. It's a driving instrument, and one we've admired from afar since it hit the European market. The 4C Launch Edition is the opening volley of Alfa's US return and adds a number of items to the already appealing sports car. The 500 Launch Editions will be limited to three colors - Alfa Red, Rosso Competizione or Madreperla White. It sports standard bi-xenon headlamps, which do away with the polarizing covers that highlighted European models. A carbon-fiber spoiler and mirror caps and unique forged wheels round out the changes for first US-spec 4Cs. The suspension is firmer, with performance-tuned shocks and stiffer front and rear sway bars. Meanwhile, a racing exhaust should help the turbocharged, four-cylinder engine make its presence known. It doesn't seem like the power output is changing thanks to the new exhaust, although we're expecting the 4C's already throaty warble will sound even better. You can take a look up top for our full gallery of live images of the new 4C or you can scroll down and take a look at the official press release from Alfa Romeo. Then, hop into the Comments and let us know if you think of the latest Alfa to be sold in the US.

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