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Alfa Romeo Giulia to get Ferrari-related engine

Alfa Romeo has a long, proud history of using V6 engines in its coupes, sedans, and sports cars over the years, but as the new Giulia sedan approaches, the Italian marque is allegedly turning to Ferrari for its next six-cylinder. This is obviously not the first time a Ferrari-sourced or derived engine has been found under an Alfa's long hood. While 8C Competizione famously used a version of Ferrari's F136 V8 during its short run, the Giulia's new V6 will be offered on a much larger scale, slotting in above an entry level, four-cylinder turbo (likely the next-gen version of the 4C sports car's 1.75-liter engine). According to Autocar, the new V6 will be "specially developed for Alfa Romeo," and will be built at the Termoli engine factory alongside the new turbo four-cylinder. As for the rest of the Giulia, Autocar has been able to shine a light on a number of other details about the new midsizer. It will, thankfully, be rear-wheel drive, and designed to counter the "mostly cold and clinical" and soulless cars of the German competition, Maserati chief Harald Wester told AC. Some of the new sedan's structural elements will even be shared with Maserati's entry level model, the Ghibli. Most notable of all, though, is what the Giulia means for American consumers. After the limited-run 8C and the niche 4C, the new sedan will lead Alfa Romeo's long-awaited, large-scale return, where it will combat the popular BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Audi A4, not to mention rivals like the Cadillac ATS and Lexus IS. Look for more on the Giulia next week when it's officially revealed in Milan.

Ferrari 488 Spider turbocharges the topless life [w/video]

As expected, Ferrari has followed the Geneva debut of the new 488 GTB with the introduction of the 488 Spider convertible. Like the hardtop model, the new Spider builds on the old 458 cabriolet. The retractable hardtop has been retained for the new model, slated to debut at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show. But thanks to the new aluminum spaceframe, the 488 Spider's torsional rigidity has been increased by 23 percent over its predecessor, promising even sharper handling. The powered roof can be stowed in just 14 seconds. Beyond that, the 488 Spider boasts the same goodies as the hardtop model. A 3.9-liter, twin-turbocharged, flat-plane crank V8 sits amidships, sending 661 horsepower and 560 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Even in this roofless model, 62 miles per hour arrives in just 3.2 seconds, compared to an even three seconds in 488 GTB. The top speed is a toupee-eradicating 203 miles per hour. Prices, not surprisingly, have not been published. You can look forward to much, much more on the 488 Spider when it makes its grand debut in September, at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show. Until then, check out the launch video for the new droptop, as well as the official press release from Ferrari. The Ferrari 488 Spider: performance and effortless driving for maximum drop-top fun Official unveiling scheduled for Frankfurt Motor Show Maranello, 28 July 2015 – Ferrari announces the launch of the 488 Spider, its most powerful ever mid-rear-engined V8 car to feature the patented retractable hard top along with the highest level of technological innovation and with cutting-edge design. Ferrari was the first manufacturer to introduce the RHT (Retractable Hard Top) on a car of this particular architecture. This solution ensures lower weight (-25 kg) and better cockpit comfort compared to the classic fabric soft-top. Just like all previous spider versions of Ferrari's models, this is a car that is aimed squarely at clients seeking open-air motoring pleasure in a high-performance sports car with an unmistakable Ferrari engine sound. Every area of the car has been designed to set new technological benchmarks for the sector: from the aluminum spaceframe chassis and bodyshell to the new turbo-charged V8, aerodynamics that reconcile the need for greater downforce with reduced drag along with the specific cabin air flow demands of an open- top car, and vehicle dynamics that render it fast, agile and instantly responsive.

Car Club USA: Ferrari Club of America

Car Club USA heads to Florida for the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona, where, for the Ferrari Club of America, the real fun begins the day after the storied endurance race. Ferrari owners from across the country gather every year to watch the pros on race day, and then take over the track to get a chance to run their Italian Stallions at speed. "The key to the Ferrari club is that we're a bunch of like-minded people," says Steve Selz, Director of the Ferrari Club of America Florida Region. "We're a bunch of enthusiasts who really have a passion for the Ferrari mark." Watch as owners of a 458 Italia, 430 Scuderia and genuine MOMO World Sports Car to the track to enjoy their Ferraris and improve their lap times. Each Car Club USA episode features a different car club or event from across the US, where passionate owner communities gather to share automotive experiences and embark on incredible adventures. From Main Street cruises to off-road trails, catch all the latest car club activity on Autoblog.