Alfa Romeo Giulia world reveal

MILAN- To a stirring aria sung by renowned tenor Andrea Bocelli, the 2016 Alfa Romeo Giulia performance sedan was shown to the world today (June 24) in Milan.

With more than 300 auto journalists from around the world jammed into a room at the world headquarters of Alfa Romeo, it was one of the most emotional world reveals this writer has seen in years with the crowd cheering as the engine was started and let lose.

The Giulia will be powered by an engine with Ferrari F1 technology and will produce 510 hp with a 0-100 km/h time of 3.9 seconds.

The engine itself is expected to be a 3.6-litre (no displacement announced) V6 with twin overhead camshafts and twin turbo boost driving the rear wheels which will have torque vectoring technology.

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Shown was the range-topping Quadrifoglio version, the named coming from the insignia carried on all Alfa’s racing cars for decades and used on the front fenders of the new car.

In fact, the debut was held in conjunction with the 105th anniversary of the company known originally as A.L.F.A. (Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili) along with the just completed renovation of the Alfa Romeo Museum.

Great secrecy surrounded the unveiling with no one at Alfa divulging a hint of what the car would be called or any of its mechanicals.

It was developed in the company’s “Skunkworks” where only the best engineers and designers work in secrecy.

In fact, it was FCA (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) CEO, Sergio Marchionne who let slip than Alfa will produce seven new models in the next few years and will invest Euro 5 billion in the company.

The model Quadrifoglio with perfect 50:50 weight balance is aimed at performance competitors like the Audi S5, BMW M 535i and AMG augmented Mercedes-Benz models.

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An innovation is a deployable Active Aero Splitter to actively manage downforce for higher stability and better cornering grip even at high speed.

Another performance feature is the Alfa Romeo DNA system that allows the driver to select four modes: Dynamic, Natural, Advanced Efficient (a new energy-efficiency mode introduced on the Giulia) and Racing for high performance needs.

Heard several times during the reveal was the phrase, ‘la meccanica delle emozioni’ (the mechanics of emotion), which will be used to publicize the car around the world.

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2019 Acura RDX Design And Details Teased Before New York Reveal

All-new RDX gets 2.0-liter VTEC turbocharged engine and A-Spec variant.

Acura isn’t wasting time with the all-new 2019 RDX. After revealing the RDX Prototype at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Honda’s luxury brand will bring an example wearing production sheet metal to the New York Auto Show later this March. The 2019 Acura RDX goes back to its roots, powered by a new 2.0-liter VTEC turbocharged four-cylinder engine sending power to the pavement via the brand’s Super-Handling All-Wheel-Drive system.

Acura didn’t detail specifics for the 2.0-liter turbo engine, but expect output to be similar to that of the Honda Accord—252 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 273 lb-ft of torque between 1,500 and 4,000 rpm. The RDX’s 10-speed automatic—a segment first—will likely offer the same paddle shifters as the Accord, too. Acura claims the 2019 RDX is the “most extensive Acura redesign in more than a decade,” which it says will set the tone for “a new era” for the brand. Its exterior will likely wear near identical sheet metal to that of the RDX Prototype, and probably the same interior, too. Acura calls it “Precision Cockpit” and it includes the brand’s True Touchpad Interface.

Like other Acuras of late, the RDX is expected to gain an A-Spec variant toward the top of its trim range. While Acura didn't specify how the A-Spec model will differ from other RDXs, don't expect more power or performance as the brand has generally limited A-Spec modifications to visual enhancements. Instead, any additional performance would likely arrive in the form of a new S-Type trim, which could bring with it a newly developed V6 engine. The 2019 Acura RDX is an all-American affair, designed by the folks at Acura Design Studio in Los Angeles, California, and developed by engineers in Raymond, Ohio. The third-generation SUV will go on sale later this year.

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