Zagato TZ3 Stradale

Here's how to celebrate in style! Italian coachbuilding firm Zagato has unveilied a new addition to its TZ line up, the TZ3 Stradale, introduced as part of the firm's ongoing centenery celebrations in Alfa Romeo's honour.

While there's an Alfa badge on the bonnet, a trademark triangular front grille and swoopy styling normally associated with the Italian brand, the car is in fact American underneath. The stunning carbon-fibre bodywork hides the mechanicals from a Dodge Viper ACR - that means an 8.4-litre V10 engine with 600bhp, enough power to blast from 0-62mph in under four seconds.

It marks the fourth addition to Zagato's TZ range, which includes the TZ and TZ2 from the sixties as well as the TZ3 Corsa unveiilied last year at the Villa d'Este Concorso d'Eleganza on Lake Como, Italy.

That model was based on the Alfa 8C Competizione, but remained a one-off track-only special. The TZ3 Stradale on the other hand will be made in extremely limited numbers. Three have already been sold, for an undisclosed price, to American, Japanese and European collectors with another six still up for grabs.

Alfa revives curvy Giulia

The Giulia is ready for its close-up! Alfa Romeo is preparing a stunning new BMW 3-Series rival for next year – and our exclusive image shows how the storming 300bhp Cloverleaf version is shaping up.

The successor to the 159 follows the design language first introduced on the MiTo, and reinterpreted on the Giulietta, and will uphold the Italian company’s tradition of building beautiful cars. A shark-like nose, LED lights and clutter-free body panels give even more road presence than its key German rivals. And the hot Cloverleaf shown here is marked out by a road-hugging bodykit, 19-inch alloy wheels and the distinctive Quadrifoglio Verde badge on the flanks.

Many had hoped the Giulia would use a rear-wheel-drive layout, but our sources have revealed that won’t be the case until the next-generation car. For the time being, it will feature a stretched version of the Giulietta’s platform – underpinnings that will also grace Alfa’s forthcoming SUVs.

Bosses are aiming for a class-leading balance of ride and handling, and will introduce an Active Roll Control system. This tightens up the springs and dampers automatically through corners. What’s more, an optional two-mode Active Damping programme will enable the driver to tailor the trade-off between comfort and agility. 

Completing the package will be the switchable DNA system already seen on the MiTo and Giulietta – this alters steering weight and throttle response.

The engine line-up taps into owner Fiat’s latest MultiAir technology, and will be among the most advanced in the class. As well as the 1.4-litre turbo unit from the Giulietta – with 118bhp or 168bhp – the Giulia will be offered with the Brera’s 200bhp 1750 TBi powerplant.

Alfa’s new SUVs

The Alfa version could resurrect the 2003 Kamal concept pictured here, and would likely feature a revised version of Chrysler’s new petrol Pentastar V6 engine, while the small-volume Maserati could get the same 4.7-litre V8 petrol as found in the GranTurismo. Diesels are unlikely at first, given the small volumes, of around 5,000 per year, and target market.

Both cars would get their own unique styling and luxurious interiors to justify the likely price tags, which would start at around £45,000 for the Alfa and £65,000 for the Maserati.

The two new SUVs would be built at Chrysler’s plant in Detroit, and would be aimed predominantly at the US and Chinese markets.

Alfa TZ3 Corsa

It's a Corsa – but not as we know it! This is the TZ3 Corsa, which is Zagato’s birthday present to Alfa Romeo. The Italian coachbuilder designed the incredible machine to mark the latter’s 100th anniversary.

It honours the racing partnership between the two companies over the past century, and is based on Alfa’s 8C Competizione supercar. But the newcomer’s bespoke bodyis even more spectacular.

The covers were pulled from the TZ3 Corsa at the exclusive Villa D’Este Concours D’Elegance event on the shores of Lake Como, Italy. It features a carbon fibre tubular chassis, coupled with a tubular frame and a hand-made lightweight aluminium bodyshell.

It’s possible to make out some of the cues from the 8C in the head-turning shape, although the two models are completely different at the rear, where the roofline has been extended in the pursuit of better aerodynamics.

The TZ3 Corsa weighs only 850kg, and is powered by a 4.2-litre dry sump V8 engine – which offers several different settings that can be adjusted by the driver. It delivers 420bhp to the rear wheels through a six-speed sequential gearbox. As a result, Zagato claims 0-62mph in less than 3.5 seconds, while top speed is in excess of 185mph.

Alfa Romeo 2uettottanta

It’s pronounced ‘duet-o-tanta’ – and rarely has a name meant so much for Italian sports cars. The 2uettottanta is Pininfarina’s beautiful Alfa Romeo-badged star of the Geneva Motor Show back in March.

But the complex name is more than just a ploy to draw crowds to the stands. It pays tribute to the firm’s glorious past, plus looks to the future – and Auto Express got behind the wheel during an exclusive photoshoot.

First, we should explain that tongue-twisting badge. The 2 refers to the two-seater configuration, the 2uetto to the influence of Alfa’s classic Duetto model and ottanta – 80 in Italian – to the number of years Pininfarina has been coming up with such stunners.

We drove the 2uettottanta fresh from its show debut, and there were no seatbelts fitted. But our time with the car wasn’t so much about pushing it hard on the open road – instead, we were keen just to get a taste of the car insiders say points to the look of the next-generation Spider.

Contrary to speculation, Pininfarina says the Mazda MX-5-sized newcomer is production ready. It’s also keen to scotch rumours that it’s based on the 8C Competizione, pointing out that the underpinnings are not from a current Alfa model.

Power comes from an all-new 1.8-litre turbocharged engine, while the 2,500mm wheelbase is identical to that of the four-wheel-drive Fiat Sedici and Suzuki SX4.

The bodywork’s soft curves are set off perfectly by the bold metallic paint. Red is the colour, of course, and the 2uettottanta features a blood-like shade that sparkles in the sunshine during our drive.

The form-fitting sports seats give outstanding support, and our arms are held at a perfect distance for us to clutch the small 14.2-inch-diameter retro-styled three-spoke steering wheel.

It’s a special place to sit. The driving position is low to the ground and the seatback steeply raked. Plus, with your backside suspended inches above the tarmac, it feels just as unique as an original Duetto spider.

As there’s no roof, and only a slender windscreen surround, visibility is excellent, while the car is incredibly aerodynamic.The major controls are placed logically around the steering column and on the central tunnel, as well as across the upper dash.

As you’d expect, the detailing is simply sensational, with glowing white Alfa Romeo badges on the centre of the speedometer and rev counter needles.

The gearlever is finished in machined aluminium billet, and is great to hold. Beautifully integrated into its design is the bright red start button.

But while we love the cabin’s architecture, we should mention that not everything you see here will make production. The thin, column-mounted paddleshifters for the seven-speed TCT twin-clutch box are only for show. Another little jewel that feels too finely finished to make dealers is the new design for the lever of Alfa’s DNA adaptive chassis system – it’s unlikely to stand up to daily use.

On the other hand, the seatbelt appendages, extending off the outside edges of the flying buttresses, are a really pleasing touch. They embrace you as you settle back into the seats, and are likely to make production.

Overall, the 2uettottanta’s cabin is as accommodating as the latest BMW Z4’s, and the swooping lines are not unlike those of the blue propeller car.

Under the bonnet, the turbocharged engine is very much showroom-ready – it’s set to feature in the Giulietta Cloverleaf, which goes on sale in the summer. Amazingly, this ultra-efficient 232bhp 1.7-litre four-cylinder motor delivers just as much power as the gas-guzzling old 3.2-litre V6 in the 147 GTA.

Alfa says the finished version of the 2uettottanta will use this same unit, as it targets class-leading rivals such as the Porsche Boxster and Audi TT Roadster. In the two-door – which tips the scales at a featherweight 1,220kg – it promises a 0-62mph sprint time of less than six seconds.

This impressive power output will be delivered to the rear wheels through the slick-shifting TCT box. Add that to the gorgeous barchetta styling, plus the detailing inside and out, and the 2uettottanta will make summer anywhere in the world like something from an Italian romance.

Alfa Pandion

Alfa Romeo is celebrating its 100th anniversary in style. This is the Pandion – a remarkable concept car that debut at theGeneva Motor Show.

Penned by famous design house Bertone, it's based on the 8C Competizione supercar and features a single door that extends vertically allowing access to the 2+2 cabin.

Named after a mythical predatory bird, the Pandion also boasts a transparent roof and side sills that show its inner skeletal structure. It tips the scales at just over 1,000kg, measures 4.82m long, is 1.28m tall and gets lots of carbon fibre touches throughout.