Currently reading: Autocar confidential: Alfa plots next-gen Giulia, Pininfarina's usable hypercar and more

Our reporters empty their notebooks to round up a week in gossip from across the automotive industry

In this week's round-up of automotive gossip, we hear how Volkswagen's inching nearer to a brand-wide electric revolution, why Pininfarina thinks its Battista has the edge over the Aston Martin Valkyrie and more. 

New plan for Milan's sedan

Sales of Alfa Romeo’s critically well-received Alfa Romeo Giulia are not strong, saloons being a declining segment – and FCA’s European design boss Klaus Busse says Alfa is already thinking about what kind of vehicle might replace it. “We have an idea, but it’s too early to share,” he said. 

A1814539 large

Vorsprung durch tech-quick 

Audi exterior design chief Andreas Mindt said the E-tron GT, the firm’s Tesla Model S-rivalling flagship electric saloon, is a “miracle”, owing to its short development time. He added that “our competitors will be shocked” by the performance of the production version, due next year with Porsche Taycan underpinnings. 

Pini

Pininfarina’s 1900bhp runabout

Automobili Pininfarina boss Michael Perschke reckons the forthcoming 1900bhp Battista EV shouldn’t be compared with track-focused machines such as the Aston Martin Valkyrie. Perschke said the Valkyrie is “designed with a different purpose: it’s a collector’s item for crazy guys who want a track tool, but are probably never going to use it to its best. Our purpose is to give you a car you can drive on a daily basis and, if you want to go on a race track and clock more than 200mph, it’s doable.” 

Advertisement

Read our review

Car review

Alfa Romeo's fast sports saloon receives minor updates but stays one of the most engaging and entertaining cars in the class

Back to top

Db2015fa00003 large

Volkswagen’s new ‘green’ house

Volkswagen is converting its Zwickau factory in Germany from Volkswagen Golf and Volkswagen Passat assembly into its first home for electric car production. The site should be ready in the next couple of months. In time, up to 330,000 electric cars a year will be built there for VW, Audi and Seat, the first being the VW ID hatch due next year. 

Read more

Alfa Romeo Giulia review

Audi E-tron GT concept 2018: first drive of electric sports saloon​

Pininfarina Battista: 1900bhp EV hits the road in new images​

Join our WhatsApp community and be the first to read about the latest news and reviews wowing the car world. Our community is the best, easiest and most direct place to tap into the minds of Autocar, and if you join you’ll also be treated to unique WhatsApp content. You can leave at any time after joining - check our full privacy policy here.

Join the debate

Comments
14
Add a comment…
dickieb 3 September 2019

...and the dealers are hopeless...

...I can’t even get a test drive...the Newcastle dealer has decided it can’t be bothered to sell Alfas any more...not even Alfa HQ knew that...so no dealers = no sales.  Not rocket science!

dickieb 3 September 2019

...and the dealers are hopeless...

...I can’t even get a test drive...the Newcastle dealer has decided it can’t be bothered to sell Alfas any more...not even Alfa HQ knew that...so no dealers = no sales.  Not rocket science!

superstevie 3 September 2019

I think, like many, I am

I think, like many, I am frustrated at Alfa. I was looking at a 159 the other day, and that is a fantastic looking car, even 14 years since it was launched! The Guilia, nice though it is, just doesn't do it for me. The proportions are right, but I think it is the detailing that lets it down. The blobby shapped front lights need more definition. The rear is very generic, could be a Kia Optima. The iterior as well, has nothing WOW about it.