‘Very powerful' Alfa Romeo special editions coming with Prada input
Alfa Romeo has announced a partnership that its boss says will spawn a series of lighter and 'more powerful' special-edition Quadrifoglio model variants, with the first to be unveiled in early 2026.
The unique road cars will come from Alfa Romeo's new technology sharing partnership with Luna Rossa, an Italian challenger for the 38th America's Cup yacht race that's set to take place in Naples, Italy, in 2027.
The America's Cup – won by Australia II in 1983 – sees high-tech vessels vie for line honours on the water, in a competition as technically challenging as Formula 1.
When asked about whether the technical tie-up between the Italian automaker and Luna Rossa will extend to special-edition road cars, Alfa Romeo CEO Santo Ficili was emphatic that it would.
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now.
'Yes – the answer is absolutely yes, and there is a lot of excitement about this, because we are working as two teams,' Mr Ficili said during a media call attended by CarExpert.
'The partnership is going to start now, and I believe in the next six to eight months we are going to be really working together – we have started already.
'I believe that Q1 2026 {the first quarter of next year] we would like to start with something we have in our mind – very limited, very powerful – and then we would like to continue.'
The Alfa boss added that the special editions will peak – or 'apex', as he called it – around the time of the 2027 America's Cup, which is scheduled to take place between March and August of that year in Naples, where the Alfa Romeo Tonale small SUV is made.
He also said the Quadrifoglio name will still hold its place as the halo model grade of the Italian brand's performance vehicle lineup.
'The first thing we are trying to work out together [on] is starting from the Quadrifoglio, which is our top performance brand, to find something that embeds the research of materials that we are doing together,' he said.
'Of course, it has to be something embedded into the Quadrifoglio brand – so it's going to be basically something around Quadrifoglio.'
Alfa Romeo currently offers Quadrifoglio versions of its Giulia sedan and Stelvio SUV, which are both at the end of their lifecycles and will be replaced some time next year by hybrid and electric successors.
Alfa Romeo's global marketing boss, Cristiano Fiorio, has essentially confirmed ongoing petrol power for the brand after it cancelled plans to go all-electric by 2027.
'Personally, I do not see a Quadrifoglio EV,' Fiorio said to British publication Autocar earlier this year.
And it seems the special editions won't wait for Alfa Romeo's next-generation models, which are due to be outlined when the automaker announces its new strategic plan on June 23.
'The current range – we have to consider Junior [a new small hybrid and electric SUV due in Australia later in 2025], Tonale, Giulia and Stelvio,' said Mr Ficili.
'So, we will start from these four fantastic models we have today in our range, then we will see also in the future, but there is already space to work with the current range of Alfa Romeo.'
The centenary of the iconic Italian Mille Miglia – which means 1000 miles – road race will also take place in 2027, and the Luna Rossa team is set to race an Alfa Romeo 1900 SS in this year's historic running for pre-1957 cars.
Driving the car during the June 17-21 event will be Italian rally driver – and head of corporate responsibility at fashion brand Prada – Lorenzo Bertelli.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sydney Morning Herald
an hour ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Our critic liked this local hangout in the leafy east so much, she visited it twice in one day
Where nearby restaurants are dress-up and splurgy, Central Park Cellars is come-as-you-are and stay-till-whenever. Previous SlideNext Slide It's not often I like a place so much that I visit twice in one day, but not every venue is Central Park Cellars. On this afternoon, I'm in the leafy east in need of tea and a chat with a friend. We planned a brisk stroll in nearby Central Park, but the weather's being unkind. With our backs to the wind, we're blown down Burke Road. A place with 'Cellars' in its name doesn't sound like cuppa territory but, 10 minutes later, we find ourselves ensconced in a charming window booth sipping cups of lemongrass-and-ginger tea. Down the back, a chef rolls pasta in a picturesque flour haze. Closer to us, shelves of high-quality independent wine are ready for drinking here or ferrying home. In the toilets, the wallpaper features line drawings of local dogs. At a sheltered table outside, a young family carves out 20 minutes: the parents sip prosecco and beer, the kids are brought to quiet stillness by hot chips. In the other window nook, a happy rambler receives crossword assistance from a glass of Musk Lane syrah. I'm eating out with friends later and now I know where. I want the pasta I saw being rolled, and I want some of that wine, too. So here I am, back again in the evening, in a den that gets fuller and louder as the minutes roll by: mates, dates, cross-table talk from parents who know one other from school drop-off, a book club that doesn't even pretend to open a tome. Waiters work gamely, teetering on the cresting wave of a busy weekend. 'A chef rolls pasta in a picturesque flour haze. I'm eating out with friends later and now I know where. I want the pasta I saw being rolled.' The building has been a licensed grocer since 1930. When the business came up for sale a few years ago, two couples decided to buy it, bringing skills from business, healthcare and marketing to their first foray into food. Mick and Paula Stephenson, Craig Buffham and Fiona Doyle have refined the wine offering (and promise they've tasted every wine they sell – well, they do say hospitality is tough), improved the menu and smartened up the interior, installing soundproofing, timber panelling and banquettes. There's music on Fridays and, where nearby restaurants Grazia and Riserva are dress-up and splurgy, the Cellars is come-as-you-are and stay-till-whenever. The menu was designed by Andrea Serreli, who left recently to take on the head chef gig at hatted Scopri in Carlton. His long-time protege, Mandeep Paudel, is now leading the kitchen under the guidance of the owners and with buy-in from regulars, who aren't shy of expressing opinions. There's pubby stuff, such as barramundi tacos, fried chicken, a shareable, 400-gram rib-eye and bloody good chips served with house-made chicken salt. I have more of this addictive salt on the rim of my Salted Hen cocktail, a margarita-adjacent walloper with mezcal and jalapeno syrup. An Italian thread to the menu explains the citrus-cured snapper, octopus with Sardinian walnut sauce, and lovingly made pasta and risotto, which are both available as $20 midweek specials. The food isn't faultless: the risotto's on the chalky side of al dente, although the pea and mascarpone combination is delicious. The beef-cheek ragu is a little thin, but the flavours are honest and the accompanying tagliatelle is supple and silky. Everything is offered in such warm spirit that it's easy to overlook the rough bits of the diamond. I'm a sucker for tiramisu and the one here is flawless, a delightful drawcard to get me back for visit number three.
The Age
an hour ago
- The Age
Our critic liked this local hangout in the leafy east so much, she visited it twice in one day
Where nearby restaurants are dress-up and splurgy, Central Park Cellars is come-as-you-are and stay-till-whenever. Previous SlideNext Slide It's not often I like a place so much that I visit twice in one day, but not every venue is Central Park Cellars. On this afternoon, I'm in the leafy east in need of tea and a chat with a friend. We planned a brisk stroll in nearby Central Park, but the weather's being unkind. With our backs to the wind, we're blown down Burke Road. A place with 'Cellars' in its name doesn't sound like cuppa territory but, 10 minutes later, we find ourselves ensconced in a charming window booth sipping cups of lemongrass-and-ginger tea. Down the back, a chef rolls pasta in a picturesque flour haze. Closer to us, shelves of high-quality independent wine are ready for drinking here or ferrying home. In the toilets, the wallpaper features line drawings of local dogs. At a sheltered table outside, a young family carves out 20 minutes: the parents sip prosecco and beer, the kids are brought to quiet stillness by hot chips. In the other window nook, a happy rambler receives crossword assistance from a glass of Musk Lane syrah. I'm eating out with friends later and now I know where. I want the pasta I saw being rolled, and I want some of that wine, too. So here I am, back again in the evening, in a den that gets fuller and louder as the minutes roll by: mates, dates, cross-table talk from parents who know one other from school drop-off, a book club that doesn't even pretend to open a tome. Waiters work gamely, teetering on the cresting wave of a busy weekend. 'A chef rolls pasta in a picturesque flour haze. I'm eating out with friends later and now I know where. I want the pasta I saw being rolled.' The building has been a licensed grocer since 1930. When the business came up for sale a few years ago, two couples decided to buy it, bringing skills from business, healthcare and marketing to their first foray into food. Mick and Paula Stephenson, Craig Buffham and Fiona Doyle have refined the wine offering (and promise they've tasted every wine they sell – well, they do say hospitality is tough), improved the menu and smartened up the interior, installing soundproofing, timber panelling and banquettes. There's music on Fridays and, where nearby restaurants Grazia and Riserva are dress-up and splurgy, the Cellars is come-as-you-are and stay-till-whenever. The menu was designed by Andrea Serreli, who left recently to take on the head chef gig at hatted Scopri in Carlton. His long-time protege, Mandeep Paudel, is now leading the kitchen under the guidance of the owners and with buy-in from regulars, who aren't shy of expressing opinions. There's pubby stuff, such as barramundi tacos, fried chicken, a shareable, 400-gram rib-eye and bloody good chips served with house-made chicken salt. I have more of this addictive salt on the rim of my Salted Hen cocktail, a margarita-adjacent walloper with mezcal and jalapeno syrup. An Italian thread to the menu explains the citrus-cured snapper, octopus with Sardinian walnut sauce, and lovingly made pasta and risotto, which are both available as $20 midweek specials. The food isn't faultless: the risotto's on the chalky side of al dente, although the pea and mascarpone combination is delicious. The beef-cheek ragu is a little thin, but the flavours are honest and the accompanying tagliatelle is supple and silky. Everything is offered in such warm spirit that it's easy to overlook the rough bits of the diamond. I'm a sucker for tiramisu and the one here is flawless, a delightful drawcard to get me back for visit number three.
The Advertiser
5 hours ago
- The Advertiser
2026 Hyundai Ioniq 6 N: Track-ready EV teased ahead of Goodwood debut
The first images of the 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 6 N electric performance hero have been shown ahead of its full reveal at the Goodwood Festival of Speed next month. The four teaser images show the the second EV to wear the brand's high-performance N badge with an aggressive rear spoiler, chunkier body work and wider stance applied to the regular version's controversial shape. A statement from Hyundai pointed to the streamliner sedan's 'aerodynamic' exterior including flared wheel arches and large rear spoiler, with a focus on high-speed stability and driving dynamics. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The pictures show design cues taken from the Hyundai RN22e concept car which strongly hinted at the performance flagship's final design using the pre-facelift Ioniq 6 as a base. A rolling test bed for Hyundai's high-performance N division, the RN22e boasted massive brake ducts and aero devices which – by the sounds of it – will make their way to the production Ioniq 6 N. The aero could make all the difference given the 6 N is expected to use the same dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain as thecurrent Ioniq 5 N electric crossover, which produces 478kW/740Nm in N Grin Boost mode. That's more than the RN22e, which used an 800V architecture and an electric motor on each axle to make a combined 430kW/740Nm, and claim a top speed of 260km/h. While matching its boxy sibling's grunt, the Ioniq 6 N is also set to cost more than the Ioniq 5 N's $110,083 starting price before on-roads, which will make the electric performance sedan the most expensive model to ever wear the Hyundai badge so far – pending pricing and specifications of the upcoming Ioniq 9 electric SUV flagship. The Ioniq 5 N has proven a hit with enthusiasts as evidence a high-performance electric car can deliver similar driver involvement and engagement to that offered by conventional petrol-powered hot hatches. The regular Ioniq 6 – which uses the same E-GMP platform as the Ioniq 5 and the Kia EV6 – saw heavy discounting in 2024 after a 40 per cent sales decline resulted in just 357 new registrations for the year in Australia. Currently, the Ioniq 6 range starts from $67,300 before on-road costs for the entry-level single-motor rear-wheel drive version. Three model grades are available locally, with Dynamic and Epiq versions offered in both rear-drive and dual-motor all-wheel drive. The updated 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 6 range is due in local showrooms in the second half of 2025, with the hi-po N earmarked for launch in the new year. Stay tuned to CarExpert for all the latest! MORE: Everything Hyundai Content originally sourced from: The first images of the 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 6 N electric performance hero have been shown ahead of its full reveal at the Goodwood Festival of Speed next month. The four teaser images show the the second EV to wear the brand's high-performance N badge with an aggressive rear spoiler, chunkier body work and wider stance applied to the regular version's controversial shape. A statement from Hyundai pointed to the streamliner sedan's 'aerodynamic' exterior including flared wheel arches and large rear spoiler, with a focus on high-speed stability and driving dynamics. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The pictures show design cues taken from the Hyundai RN22e concept car which strongly hinted at the performance flagship's final design using the pre-facelift Ioniq 6 as a base. A rolling test bed for Hyundai's high-performance N division, the RN22e boasted massive brake ducts and aero devices which – by the sounds of it – will make their way to the production Ioniq 6 N. The aero could make all the difference given the 6 N is expected to use the same dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain as thecurrent Ioniq 5 N electric crossover, which produces 478kW/740Nm in N Grin Boost mode. That's more than the RN22e, which used an 800V architecture and an electric motor on each axle to make a combined 430kW/740Nm, and claim a top speed of 260km/h. While matching its boxy sibling's grunt, the Ioniq 6 N is also set to cost more than the Ioniq 5 N's $110,083 starting price before on-roads, which will make the electric performance sedan the most expensive model to ever wear the Hyundai badge so far – pending pricing and specifications of the upcoming Ioniq 9 electric SUV flagship. The Ioniq 5 N has proven a hit with enthusiasts as evidence a high-performance electric car can deliver similar driver involvement and engagement to that offered by conventional petrol-powered hot hatches. The regular Ioniq 6 – which uses the same E-GMP platform as the Ioniq 5 and the Kia EV6 – saw heavy discounting in 2024 after a 40 per cent sales decline resulted in just 357 new registrations for the year in Australia. Currently, the Ioniq 6 range starts from $67,300 before on-road costs for the entry-level single-motor rear-wheel drive version. Three model grades are available locally, with Dynamic and Epiq versions offered in both rear-drive and dual-motor all-wheel drive. The updated 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 6 range is due in local showrooms in the second half of 2025, with the hi-po N earmarked for launch in the new year. Stay tuned to CarExpert for all the latest! MORE: Everything Hyundai Content originally sourced from: The first images of the 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 6 N electric performance hero have been shown ahead of its full reveal at the Goodwood Festival of Speed next month. The four teaser images show the the second EV to wear the brand's high-performance N badge with an aggressive rear spoiler, chunkier body work and wider stance applied to the regular version's controversial shape. A statement from Hyundai pointed to the streamliner sedan's 'aerodynamic' exterior including flared wheel arches and large rear spoiler, with a focus on high-speed stability and driving dynamics. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The pictures show design cues taken from the Hyundai RN22e concept car which strongly hinted at the performance flagship's final design using the pre-facelift Ioniq 6 as a base. A rolling test bed for Hyundai's high-performance N division, the RN22e boasted massive brake ducts and aero devices which – by the sounds of it – will make their way to the production Ioniq 6 N. The aero could make all the difference given the 6 N is expected to use the same dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain as thecurrent Ioniq 5 N electric crossover, which produces 478kW/740Nm in N Grin Boost mode. That's more than the RN22e, which used an 800V architecture and an electric motor on each axle to make a combined 430kW/740Nm, and claim a top speed of 260km/h. While matching its boxy sibling's grunt, the Ioniq 6 N is also set to cost more than the Ioniq 5 N's $110,083 starting price before on-roads, which will make the electric performance sedan the most expensive model to ever wear the Hyundai badge so far – pending pricing and specifications of the upcoming Ioniq 9 electric SUV flagship. The Ioniq 5 N has proven a hit with enthusiasts as evidence a high-performance electric car can deliver similar driver involvement and engagement to that offered by conventional petrol-powered hot hatches. The regular Ioniq 6 – which uses the same E-GMP platform as the Ioniq 5 and the Kia EV6 – saw heavy discounting in 2024 after a 40 per cent sales decline resulted in just 357 new registrations for the year in Australia. Currently, the Ioniq 6 range starts from $67,300 before on-road costs for the entry-level single-motor rear-wheel drive version. Three model grades are available locally, with Dynamic and Epiq versions offered in both rear-drive and dual-motor all-wheel drive. The updated 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 6 range is due in local showrooms in the second half of 2025, with the hi-po N earmarked for launch in the new year. Stay tuned to CarExpert for all the latest! MORE: Everything Hyundai Content originally sourced from: The first images of the 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 6 N electric performance hero have been shown ahead of its full reveal at the Goodwood Festival of Speed next month. The four teaser images show the the second EV to wear the brand's high-performance N badge with an aggressive rear spoiler, chunkier body work and wider stance applied to the regular version's controversial shape. A statement from Hyundai pointed to the streamliner sedan's 'aerodynamic' exterior including flared wheel arches and large rear spoiler, with a focus on high-speed stability and driving dynamics. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The pictures show design cues taken from the Hyundai RN22e concept car which strongly hinted at the performance flagship's final design using the pre-facelift Ioniq 6 as a base. A rolling test bed for Hyundai's high-performance N division, the RN22e boasted massive brake ducts and aero devices which – by the sounds of it – will make their way to the production Ioniq 6 N. The aero could make all the difference given the 6 N is expected to use the same dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain as thecurrent Ioniq 5 N electric crossover, which produces 478kW/740Nm in N Grin Boost mode. That's more than the RN22e, which used an 800V architecture and an electric motor on each axle to make a combined 430kW/740Nm, and claim a top speed of 260km/h. While matching its boxy sibling's grunt, the Ioniq 6 N is also set to cost more than the Ioniq 5 N's $110,083 starting price before on-roads, which will make the electric performance sedan the most expensive model to ever wear the Hyundai badge so far – pending pricing and specifications of the upcoming Ioniq 9 electric SUV flagship. The Ioniq 5 N has proven a hit with enthusiasts as evidence a high-performance electric car can deliver similar driver involvement and engagement to that offered by conventional petrol-powered hot hatches. The regular Ioniq 6 – which uses the same E-GMP platform as the Ioniq 5 and the Kia EV6 – saw heavy discounting in 2024 after a 40 per cent sales decline resulted in just 357 new registrations for the year in Australia. Currently, the Ioniq 6 range starts from $67,300 before on-road costs for the entry-level single-motor rear-wheel drive version. Three model grades are available locally, with Dynamic and Epiq versions offered in both rear-drive and dual-motor all-wheel drive. The updated 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 6 range is due in local showrooms in the second half of 2025, with the hi-po N earmarked for launch in the new year. Stay tuned to CarExpert for all the latest! MORE: Everything Hyundai Content originally sourced from:
