The Alfa Romeo 4C Thread
When car manufacturers release a sports or supercar, it is usually followed by a hot, lightweight performance version of some sort. Back in 2013 we were very much looking forward to the prospect of a hot Alfa Romeo 4C Quadrifoglio when it was launched but, alas, nothing seems to have come from that 6 years down the line. A video has recently emerged when a man was lucky enough to go and visit Fiat Chrysler Automobiles鈥?(the company that owns Alfa Romeo) Heritage HUB, where some the groups鈥?classic and concept vehicles are stored. Among this treasure trove were not one, but two 4C QVs. This clearly indicates that an even more spritely version of the 4C was definitely a consideration. On the cars, we can see an additional front carbon splitter, a more aggressive rear diffuser as well as an adjustable carbon wing at the back. On the bonnet, we can see more openings on the bonnet for cooling, as well as on the front fenders, presumably to reduce air pressure in the wheel arches. Then, of course, you have the two items which give these two cars away as 4C Quadrifoglio prototypes, which are the four-leaf clover badges on the front fenders. According to an Alfa Romeo鈥檚 spokesperson, 鈥淭he 4C vehicles pictured inside the new FCA Heritage HUB are simply an exercise in style done by the Alfa Romeo design team at Centro Stile in Turin, Italy. While they appear to be Quadrifoglio editions, they have the same powertrain as a normal 4C and were only meant to showcase what a possible, more aggressive version of the 4C would look like.
Audi will launch an all-new A3 Sportback in 2019, and this model鈥檚 range will include an S variant and an RS variant. The third generation Audi A3 hatchback was available in 3-door and 5-door (Sportback), and its RS variant was exclusive to the 5-door (Sportback) version. Audi stopped producing the 3-door version last year citing a significant decline in demand. The next-gen Audi RS 3 Sportback rendering borrows cues from the latest Audi A1 Sportback and Audi Q3. It features a more angular hexagonal Singleframe inspired by that of the A1 Sportback, sharper, wedge-shaped headlamps with LED DRLs in a pattern reminiscent of the Q3, reshaped side air vents and revised lower air intake. The current Audi RS 3 Sportback employs the 2.5-litre TFSI turbocharged five-cylinder petrol engine that produces 400 PS and 480 Nm of torque. The 7-speed S tronic DCT and the quattro permanent AWD system work together to send power to the wheels. Audi claims a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 4.1 seconds and a top speed of 280 km/h. The next-gen Audi RS 3 Sportback is said to get an uprated version of the 2.5-litre TFSI engine, but that鈥檚 about what is known of this car.
Over the summer, a mysterious Porsche 718 Cayman T was revealed in a VIN decoder guide submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. While it didn鈥檛 reveal much about the upcoming model, new details are starting to emerge about the car. Auto Express reports the Cayman T will follow in the footsteps of the 911 T and offer a more focused driving experience. In order to achieve this, the model will reportedly adopt an assortment to weight saving measures including using thinner glass and lighter sports seats. The model could also eschew an infotainment system and adopt fabric door pulls. Besides the weight saving measures, the Cayman T will reportedly have a sports exhaust system, a reduced ride height and 20-inch alloy wheels. The model should also come standard with the Sport Chrono package which adds Porsche Active Driveline Mounts, launch control and a rev-matching function on models equipped with a manual transmission. While the VIN document suggested the car would come equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, the publication says the model will be positioned between the Cayman S and GTS and use the turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder. It is expected to produce around 360 hp which is 10 hp more than the Cayman S and 5 hp less than the Cayman GTS. 56,900. The document also said the model would be 30 kg lighter than the base model.
Some fiddling with photo-etched hinges got one door to work, sort of, but all the bending to get the hinges in place led to snapping off of one of the pins on the other door. I decided that both doors will be glued shut. It's a roadster, this won't affect the visibility of the interior. The dash and steering wheel are not installed yet, as I have misplaced the decal sheet, which includes gauges. Profil 24, consisting of a husband and wife team, is a very friendly outfit and they are sending me a replacement. Meanwhile the rest of the car is together and looking relatively OK, given the circumstances. In terms of finish, it is up to my usual borderline level of sloppiness, although the wired engine looks good. As this is my first completed Profil 24 kit, there are a few observations I could make. The kit models an obscure but historically relevant car, which is a good thing. But the fit of most bits is nothing like that of a styrene kit, so a lot of fiddling, fabrication and modification is needed.