1954 Alfa Romeo 1900 Css on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Alfa Sprint Speciale racer looks fantastic, sounds even better

Nothing quite sounds like a vintage Alfa Romeo four-cylinder engine at full gallop, especially in motorsport trim. With a combination of low-frequency burbling played over a high-pitch scream, they really know how to sing. This week Petrolicious takes a look at a truly unique Alfa Sprint Speciale that's just as adept at competing in the wide-open La Carrera Panamericana vintage race in Mexico as it is snaking through some undulating, tree-lined back roads. Ostensibly, this is a 1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint Speciale, although it's really much more the creation of Alfa-restorer Conrad Stevenson. The roof section, including the holes for the windshield and rear glass, is original to one of these fantastic-looking coupes. But everything below that is Stevenson's handiwork. To shape the styling, he combined the original Bertone design with his own ideas to purpose build the car for the challenges of the Mexican race. As usual, Petrolicious nails every aspect of the production, especially the handheld camera work inside the cabin as the car negotiates the curves. It really communicates the connection between this swoopy Alfa and its builder. Plus, the sound mix lets the engine play its glorious tune. News Source: Petrolicious via YouTube Design/Style Alfa Romeo Coupe Racing Vehicles Performance Classics Videos petrolicious alfa romeo giulia vintage racing

Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA heritage liveries revealed, and here's what it will cost

Alfa Romeo created the Giulia GTA as a tribute to one of its most successful race cars, and the connection between the two models won't stop at the nameplate. Buyers will have the chance to order their hot-rodded sedan in one of several heritage-laced paint combinations worn decades ago by race-winning models. Designers immersed themselves in Alfa Romeo's archives department to analyze the most emblematic color combinations worn by the original GTA and its derivatives during the 1960s and the 1970s. White with green stripes was common, as was red with a yellow front fascia. The firm often competed with red cars, so painting the front end yellow, white, or another contrasting color allowed race officials and fans to quickly identify the driver. Stylists working in Alfa Romeo's Centro Stile then re-interpreted their favorite liveries to suit the Giulia GTA introduced in March 2020. The Italian firm said availability will be limited, but it didn't reveal how many cars it will assign a classic color combination to. Those who miss out will have to choose between green, white, and red. Alfa Romeo will cap GTA production at 500 examples. Pricing on the European market starts at ˆ143,000, while the lighter GTAm model (which is included in the 500-car production run) carries a base price of ˆ147,000. These figures represent $155,000 and $160,000, respectively, though pricing for the American market hasn't been released. Every customer will receive a Bell helmet, a car cover that matches the paint, and a stint at the Alfa Romeo Driving Academy. GTAm buyers will also get a racing suit, gloves, and shoes made by Alpinestars. Dyed-in-the-wool fans will have the opportunity to take delivery of their Giulia at the Autodelta workshop in Balocco, Italy. That's where many of Alfa Romeo's greatest race cars were developed and built. Those for whom Alfa's sportiest sedan in decades will remain a dream have the car's configurator as a consolation prize. Related Video:     Featured Gallery Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA heritage liveries View 10 Photos Alfa Romeo Performance Sedan

2023 J.D. Power Initial Quality Study shows there's less quality than last year

Vehicle inventory, vehicle pricing, and the supply chain are finally showing improvement. Vehicle quality, on the other hand, is still going the wrong way. That's the takeaway from the 2023 J.D. Power Initial Quality Study that found overall problems exceeded last year's record high. The study surveyed owners of 2022-model-year vehicles to assess the average rate of problems per 100 vehicles (PP100) during the first 90 days of ownership. The average figure for the 32 ranked manufacturers in 2020 was about 166 problems per 100 vehicles. In the 2021 IQS, that dropped to an average of 162. For 2022, the average jumped to 180 problems. For 2023, the PP100 is up to an industry average of 192 — an increase of 30 problems per 100 vehicles in just two years. Let's get to the good news first: Dodge reclaimed the crown of having the lowest number of problems per 100 vehicles at 140. Buick won last year with 139 PP100, falling to third this year. Dodge was the first American automaker to top the IQS in 2021. Its return as the least problematic gives parent company Stellantis three wins in four years after Ram was crowned in 2021. It also gives U.S. brands a four-peat after Buick topped the chart in 2022 by having owners report the fewest problems. This year's top 10 is Dodge, Ram, Alfa Romeo, Buick, Chevrolet, GMC, Porsche, Cadillac, Kia, and Lexus. Stellantis gathered a few feathers for its cap, in fact. Maserati showed the largest improvement year-on-year, followed by Alfa Romeo, and Alfa Romeo posted the lowest PP100 among the premium class, beating Porsche and Cadillac. Alfa Romeo has been vocal about working to improve quality, mentioning Lexus as a target. Last year the Japanese brand finished sixth, the Italians finished near the bottom, between Jaguar and Mitsubishi. This year Alfa jumped to third, Lexus dropped to tenth. Ram was the third-best on the list of improvers from 2022 to 2023.   The individual model with the lowest PP100 is the Nissan Maxima. Now for the troublesome bits. In the words of Frank Hanley, senior director of auto benchmarking at J.D. Power, "The industry is at a major crossroad and the path each manufacturer chooses is paramount for its future.