1964 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint Speciale 1600 on 2040-cars

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Alfa Romeo will be expanding its lineup beyond the Tonale

Last night, speaking with the press, Senior Vice President and Head of Alfa Romeo North America Larry Dominique gave us an idea of the Alfa lineup in the near future. The brand will be expanding its offerings, but not by too much. Alfa will eventually have five key models. It will have two offerings in the C-segment (Tonale-size), two offerings in the D-Segment (Giulia/Stelvio-size) and one in the E-segment (larger than Giulia/Stelvio). And as implied by our size clarification, we already know what most of those are, with the Tonale taking the C-segment SUV slot, and the Giulia and Stelvio for the D-segment. Dominique said the second C-segment vehicle would be something more car-like than the Tonale, though he wouldn't commit to saying it would specifically be a sedan. So it's possible it could be some kind of hatchback or maybe a coupe-like SUV. He was more vague about the E-segment vehicle. Considering the car market, some kind of SUV would seem most likely. As previously reported, this E-segment machine will arrive in 2027 with a wide range of electric powertrains from 300 to 1,000 horsepower. All of these new models will be fully electric. That includes the next-generation Giulia and Stelvio. The Tonale won't be going completely electric just yet, but it seems reasonable to assume a new generation model will be. Dominique noted that the Tonale, which is only offered with a plug-in hybrid in the U.S., is a good way to start introducing both dealers and customers to the idea of electrified Alfas. Apparently these five segments are the limit for Alfa for the time being. Dominique said that those models will cover more than 80% of premium buyers, and Alfa is trying to be "efficient" with how it covers the market. So don't expect the myriad bodystyles and niches from German brands such as BMW and Mercedes. There is one possible exception: a sports car. Dominique said that they're always interested in a sports car or halo product. He wouldn't commit in any way to such a product, though. With that being said, there's already been one teaser for something that might be just such a special sports car, maybe called 6C, a few weeks ago. We doubt that Alfa will launch a sports car that will stick around like the 4C, it will probably just be limited production cars that can be sold out quickly. Related video: A Night With Giulia

2024 Alfa Romeo Tributo Italiano Editions celebrate the obvious

For the first time, Alfa Romeo has a special edition meant for worldwide consumption. The Tributo Italian Edition — a "tribute to the brand's origins, Italian excellence and sportiness" — was designed for the Stelvio, Giulia, and Tonale. The upgraded spec shared among all three models includes two-tone exteriors, a black roof paired with one of three available colors: Rosso Alfa, Verde Montreal, and Bianco Alfa. Those are the colors of the Italian flag, naturally, which also appear on the black mirror caps. All ride on Alfa's adaptive suspension, come with all-wheel drive, and fit a smattering of the company's driver assistance and convenience features. Inside buyers get dual-zone climate control, a heated steering wheel, heated and cooled perforated black leather seats with red accents and stitching, logoed headrests, premium audio, and ambient lighting.  Specific kit for the Tonale begins with the Dark Miron accents outside, like in the grille "V' insert, on the skid plate, and accents along the side. A special bodykit adds redrawn front and rear bumpers, side skirts, and wheel arches. The Tributo Italiano specials sitting just below available Quadrifoglio trims, the generous equipment level means the Tonale's 285-horsepower plug-in hybrid powertrain, red Brembo calipers behind 20-inch wheels, adaptive full-LED matrix headlights, hands-free electric tailgate, aluminum tread plates, and chrome-plated twin tailpipes. The cabin is spiffed up with a fancy "carbon design" insert. A sunroof is optional. The Stelvio and Giulia Tributo Italiano editions are both powered by the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 280 hp, the most powerful option beneath the Quadrifoglio's 2.9-liter. The Stelvio rides on 21-inch wheels, the Giulia on 19-inchers, the largest size available for the sedan.  The limited editions are coming to dealers in the U.S. in the second quarter of 2024. Alfa didn't mention production numbers nor price, but did say the Italian-themed cars will slot at the top of their respective 2.0-liter lineups. We'd guess an MSRP in the mid-50s for the Tonale, the upper 50s or low 60s for the Gilulia, and the low to mid-60s for the Stelvio. Related Video

Fiat gets into the classics game with 'Reloaded by Creators' program

Classic vehicles help modern buyers make new connections to a carmaker's modern offerings. That's why in little more than a month we've seen Jaguar announce a continuation run of the D-Type, Porsche get a show at the Petersen Museum in Los Angeles, Land Rover plan to restore a Series I, and Jay Leno celebrate the 1942 Dodge Carryall. Fiat Chrysler already has a heritage division, but the vintage department takes a new step into its history with the "Reloaded by Creators" service. Said to be inspired by retail programs at museums, Reloaded by Creators will see FCA Heritage source and buy noteworthy classics from the Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Fiat, and Lancia brands, restore them to original spec, then sell them to collectors. When Roberto Giolito, head of FCA Heritage, broke the news at Retromobile in Paris, he also revealed the first five offerings: three "ultimate classics" in the Alfa Spider IV serie (1991), Lancia Fulvia Coupe Montecarlo (1973), Spidereuropa Pininfarina (1981), and two custom cars in the Alfa Romeo SZ (1989) and Lancia Appia Coupe (1959). The ultimate classics represent the last of their kind to be built, not necessarily according to model year, but with respect to design and engineering - no major model changes followed. The Lancia Fulvia Coupe ceased production in 1976; the limited edition 1973 Montecarlo model celebrated the car's victory in the 1972 Montecarlo Rally and still wears the original license plates. The 1981 Spidereuropa Pininfarina comes from the beginning of the end of production; after building the Fiat 124 Sport Spider for US-only sale from 1975 to 1983, Pininfarina resumed manufacture in Europe in 1982 and bestowed the new name. The Alfa Spider went out of production in 1993, the 1991 Series IV example for sale here has been in FCA's collection since it was built, used for technical testing. As for the custom cars, Lancia built a variant of its third-generation Appia as a coachbuilt chassis. Pininfarina bodied the 1959 model for sale here, and Fiat showed it first in Paris. Fiat used the funky, Zagato-designed, thermoplastic-composite-bodied, 1989 Alfa Romeo SZ for testing at the carmaker's Balocco circuit. Only around 1,000 SZ models emerged from the factory during a two-year production run. Each vehicle will come with a certificate of authenticity and be guaranteed by FCA, plus be featured on the FCA Heritage site.