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Alfa Romeo Caimano concept is peak Seventies wedge design

This weekend, the Bremen Classic Motor Show will be opening its doors with a "wedgetastic" theme, highlighted by the Alfa Romeo Caimano concept you see here. Alfa Romeo commissioned Giorgetto Giugiaro and his then-newly established Italdesign firm to cook up the Caimano concept for the 1971 Turin Motor Show. It was based on the Alfasud (also designed by Giugiaro) but shortened the chassis by nearly 8 inches and fitted with entirely different bodywork that made it look like it was from another planet. The canopy greenhouse eliminated the A pillar, with the B and C pillars forming a trapezoidal roll bar at the back, capped by an adjustable spoiler. Inside the cockpit were two recumbent bucket seats, a cylindrical dashboard, and two small openings in the glass canopy for ventilation. Of course it also had pop-up headlights, and it was powered by the 1.2-liter boxer for from the Alfasud, good for all of 68 horsepower. Striking though it may have been at the time, it shouldn't come as a surprise that only one example was ever built, and it remains in the Alfa Romeo museum in Milan. The company is taking it out of the collection, however, and bringing it to Bremen for the show. Alongside it, showgoers can expect to see such other "wedgetastic" creations of yesteryear as the Lancia Stratos, Maserati Khamsin, Lamborghini Countach, Mercedes C111, and the BMW Turbo X1 (which previewed the M1 to follow). Little surprise that most of these wedge designs were penned by either Giugiaro or by Marcello Gandini for Bertone. Along with Lionardo Fioravanti (of Pininfarina fame), they were each born in Italy in 1938 within months of each other, and went on to dominate Italian automotive design over the course of their careers. Related Video: Alfa Romeo at the Bremen Classic Motor Show - The iconic Caimano concept car will be featured in a special exhibition dedicated this year to the revolutionary designs of the 1970s. - The "wedge on wheels" thought up by Italdesign is based on the chassis of the Alfasud, another of Giugiaro's creations, and is a fine example of the extreme design of its time. - The only example of the model belongs to the Alfa Romeo Museum. - The Motor Show will take place from February 5 to 7 in Bremen and will open the classic car season. It will bring together some 650 exhibitors in eight halls covering an area of over 45,000 square metres.

Alfa Romeo limits Giulia and Stelvio Quadrifoglio NRING editions to 110 units

The 505-horsepower Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio and the 505-horsepower Giulia Quadrifoglio are two of the most exclusive, powerful, and attractive four-door vehicles on the market. In the past, they've both set records at Germany's Nurburgring, and Alfa has created limited-edition packages to honor the spirit of the legendary racetrack. The NRING-edition cars will be limited to 110 total examples. If this sounds familiar, it's because the idea is not new. In June of 2018, Alfa Romeo announced NRING packages for Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. At the time, we believed the special-editions would not be coming to America; turns out we were incorrect. The tweaks start with the paint, as the NRING cars are only available in matte Circuito Gray. As its association with motorsport and racing continues, carbon fiber has been applied to the mirror caps, the "V scudetto" front grille, the roof on the Giulia, and the side sills on the Stelvio. Red brake calipers with white scrip hide behind dark 19-inch wheels on the Giulia and 20-inch wheels on the Stelvio. The Stelvio also gets a dual-pane sunroof. Inside, Alfa Romeo added a carbon fiber steering wheel, a carbon fiber shifter bezel, a serial number badge on the passenger dash, and red and black leather with red contrast stitching on the seats. Light-up carbon fiber side sills are applied to the Giulia, and carbon fiber Sparco racing seats are optional on both cars. The NRING cars also come with the convenience package, the driver assistance dynamic package, and the premium alarm system. Unfortunately, there's no mention of the "Welcome Kit" the other markets got, which is a bummer. Who doesn't want racing gloves, a jacket, and a scale model? Alfa Romeo lists the 2019 Giulia Quadrifoglio NRING at $91,485 with destination, which is $15,895 more than the Giulia Quad's $75,590 starting price. The Stelvio NRING is $97,485, also up $15,895 from the $81,590 starting price. Only 55 examples of each car will be built.

2024 Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio Quadrifoglio Super Sports close the book

Alfa Romeo is hitting the gas on limited-edition special-edition models of late, as the Italian outfit prepares to get rid of gas entirely. Last year we got the Giulia and Stelvio Quadrifoglio 100th Anniversario editions celebrating the centenary of the four-leaf clover trims, then came Quadrifoglio Carbon Editions celebrating that resin weave, then came Tributo Italiano Editions lauding the home country. Now that the world is closer to the end of the internal combustion Quadrifoglio lineup, Alfa's launched the 2024 Giulia and 2024 Stelvio Quadrifoglio Super Sport models. The Giulia Quadrifoglio Super Sport is limited to 275 units worldwide, 72 coming to the U.S. The Stelvio Quadrifoglio Super Sport is even more limited, rolling out just 175 examples for the world, 52 slated for U.S. purchase. Both are powered by the brand's twin-turbo 2.9-liter V6 making 505 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque, shifting through an eight-speed automatic to both axles. It would have been wonderful to get the upgraded engine making 520 hp and the mechanical limited-slip differential offered on the 100th anniversary models, especially since the Super Sports are only priced $140 (Giulia) and $660 (Stelvio) below the centenary editions, but it's not to be. Instead, the Super Sports are enhanced outside with a black Quadrifoglio badge, carbon fiber mirror caps, carbon fiber accents in the grille shield, black Brembo calipers, and dark five-hole wheels that are 19 inches on the Giulia, 21 inches on the Stelvio. Inside, special trim includes red carbon fiber on the instrument panel, center console, and door cards, embroidered headrests, and a steering wheel wrapped in leather and Alcantara.  Designers prepped three exterior color options for the Giulia: Bianco Alfa, Metallic Nero Vulcano, or "Three-layer" Rosso Etna. The Stelvio can be had in one of the latter two, not the Bianco Alfa. The 2024 Giulia Quadrifoglio Super Sport starts at $88,365 after the $1,595 destination charge, representing a $5,400 premium over the standard model. The $95,965 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio Super Sport runs a stiff $7,000 above the standard four-leaf SUV. Orders are open now, deliveries expected in the fall of this year.