1976 Alfa Romeo Spider 2000 Veloce on 2040-cars

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2023 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Review: Exceptionally sporty, but compromised

Pros: Excellent steering and handling; two sporty engines available; stands out from crowd Cons: Mediocre interior; lackluster tech; small for its segment The 2023 Alfa Romeo Stelvio feels exotic for the compact crossover segment, with its Italian pedigree, sharp styling and sporty performance. It checks the boxes of a luxury daily driver, while still offering sharp driving dynamics that might mean its owner doesn’t miss the sports car that doesnÂ’t fit their lifestyle anymore. And, you canÂ’t dismiss that this thing is different than the rest of the pack. An Italian car with its signature “Scudetto” grille sure stands out in a parking lot full of more common family vehicles with more conformist design — especially if you pick one of the bolder, brighter paint colors from AlfaÂ’s palette. The biggest sticking point with the Stelvio is that its interior doesnÂ’t quite live up to the rest of the vehicleÂ’s grandeur. ItÂ’s not particularly roomy, and middling material quality and a lack of general artistry dull the illusion of exoticism in the otherwise glamorous and sporty Stelvio (though if you like carbon fiber, the QuadrifoglioÂ’s got you — and practically every surface — covered). The tech, while serviceable, is less spectacular than what youÂ’ll find in the competition (though considering how overwhelming some infotainment systems can feel today, that might not be the worst thing ever). The Stelvio is due for an update for 2024, so weÂ’ll see this generation stick around for a few more years before Alfa starts rolling out a raft of electric models. Still, if youÂ’re on the fence about whether to buy one now or wait until next year, we donÂ’t any expect major changes to come, especially not in terms of performance. And while we think some of its competitors offer more in the way of luxury and utility, the Stelvio is still a great choice for a customer who actually cares about driving dynamics and standing out from the crowd. Interior & Technology   |   Passenger & Cargo Space   |   Performance & Fuel Economy What it's like to drive   |   Pricing & Trim Levels   |   Crash Ratings & Safety Features What's new for 2023? The Stelvio gets an Estrema trim that borrows features like adaptive suspension and limited-slip differential from the line-topping Quadrifoglio, without taking the step up in engine performance and the much higher price tag that comes with it.

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.

Fiat set to invest $12B on new models, stop Euro losses in 3 years

Naturally, you'd expect a massive automaker like Fiat to have an in-depth plan to exit the current European-market doldrums, and you'd expect that plan to include plenty of new vehicles to attract those precious buyers that still remain despite the financial downturn. And you'd be right, though Fiat does seem to have a few unexpected twists up its corporate sleeve.
Perhaps the biggest shocker is a report that Fiat will completely drop the Punto, a car with mass-market appeal aimed at small-car buyers cross-shopping the popular Volkswagen Polo. Its replacement will be a five-door Fiat 500 aimed at upmarket buyers (sounds awfully similar to the 500L) that will be built in Poland. Lower-end customers will reportedly be served by variants of the Fiat Panda.
Borrowing a page from the BMW, Daimler and Volkswagen playbook, reports Automotive News, Fiat is said to have plans to reignite production at its Italian factories by retooling them to build high-end vehicles from Maserati and Alfa Romeo. These will be marketed as premium products, built by skilled Italian workers (who are paid wages that are 75-percent higher than those building Fiats in Poland), and will be sold around the world.