Top down, pulse up: Alfa Romeo confirms 4C Spider in Paris

By Andrew Hard Published October 5, 2014

If topless Italian sports cars make your heart race, i.e. if you’re alive, get some baby aspirin handy: the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider is coming.

The 4C has won awards – and hearts – all over the world since it debuted as a concept back in 2011. Earlier this year, Alfa previewed the drop-top 4C Spider as a concept at the Geneva Auto Show. Now, six months and 350 miles away, the Italian brand has finally made the model official at the Paris Motor Show.

The chariot currently being showcased in Paris is officially dubbed the 4C Spider preview version, hinting that there are some changes Alfa may still need to make. The company teased “distinctive elements and aesthetic treatments” for the car in its press release, exclusive Triple Coat Glossy White paint being one of them.

Related: More power, you say? Alfa Romeo planning 270-horsepower 4C

The mid-engine’d speedster has also forgone the insectoid headlamps in favor of more conventional units, but to be honest, the change dulls up the front end a bit.

Any time a vehicle transitions from hardtop to no top, there are concerns about structural rigidity. To combat this, Alfa Romeo has added a carbon fiber roll bar and windshield surround to the car, while the roof remains a lightweight soft-top.

Speaking of lightweight, which is a main selling point of the 4C, Alfa claims the Spider will weigh about 132 pounds more than the coupe, which already had 220 lbs tacked on for the North American version. Still, with a starting point of less than 2000 lbs, the little 4C should be plenty spry. Engine choices will also remain the same, with a 1.7-liter turbo four producing 237 horsepower.

Enhancing the top down experience, however, is a new dual-stage exhaust system, which features carbon and titanium tailpipes fitted with electric, sonic-shaping valves.

At the end of the day, there’s just something special about a prancing Italian sports car and the wind in your hair. Production for the 4C Spider is scheduled to commence in early 2015.

Former Staff Writer

Andrew first started writing in middle school and hasn't put the pen down since. Whether it's technology, music, sports, or…

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Electric Muscle Misfire? Dodge Pulls Charger Daytona R/T from 2026 Lineup

electric muscle misfire dodge pulls charger daytona r t from 2026 lineup all new

The Dodge Charger Daytona R/T, once hailed as the vanguard of Dodge’s electric muscle car future, is being dropped for the 2026 model year.
According to a report from MoparInsiders, the Scat Pack variant will now lead the Daytona lineup, marking a significant pivot in Stellantis’ EV strategy.
Originally introduced with bold ambitions, the Charger Daytona R/T was designed to offer an accessible gateway into electric performance. With its 456-horsepower dual-motor setup and optional 509-horsepower Direct Connection stage kit, it seemed poised to excite both muscle car fans and EV newcomers. However, market realities have painted a different picture.
Industry and media reports highlight the core issue: buyers just weren’t biting. Despite its impressive specs and nostalgic design cues, the R/T struggled to justify its price tag, starting near $60,000. At that level, buyers expected either more performance or more premium features. Without strong sales traction, Dodge made the tough call to shelve the R/T variant for 2026, opting instead to focus on trims that resonate better with customers.
As we reported in December, the Charger EV was launched with an off-beat marketing message to “save the planet from self-driving sleep pods.” The goal was to retain Dodge’s brand identity—muscle, aggression, and driver engagement—even in the electric era. The Charger Daytona R/T was supposed to be the perfect balance of price and performance, but it seems the target audience wasn’t ready to make that leap at that price.
Importantly, this doesn’t spell the end of the Charger Daytona altogether. Higher-performance models like the Scat Pack and Banshee are still in the pipeline and, interestingly, are being adjusted for price competitiveness. Several trims are reportedly seeing price cuts, suggesting Stellantis is serious about making these vehicles more appealing and accessible.
For enthusiasts, the takeaway is clear: the electric muscle car isn’t going anywhere, but automakers are still figuring out how to sell it. The demise of the R/T is less a failure and more a recalibration—proof that even the boldest plans need to stay flexible in the face of consumer demand.

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The all-electric Cadillac Vistiq makes the Escalade redundant

2026 Cadillac Vistiq front-quarter view.

Cadillac wants a full lineup of electric vehicles, and it’s nearly there. It has a standard crossover SUV (the Lyriq), an entry-level model (the Optiq), an electric version of its flagship Escalade (the Escalade IQ), and even a baroque showpiece (the Celestiq). But something’s missing.

For a modern luxury brand, a midsize three-row crossover is key. Customers for whom a Toyota Highlander is too déclassé need something to take their kids to lacrosse practice, but may not want something as big as an Escalade. This isn’t the most exciting design brief, and that’s reflected in the gasoline Cadillac XT6, which has always felt like nothing more than a placeholder. Its new electric counterpart, the 2026 Cadillac Vistiq, is anything but.

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With the Ioniq 9, Hyundai struggles to clear its own high bar

2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 front quarter view.

Hyundai has used the clean-sheet nature of electric powertrains to make new vehicles radically different from its internal-combustion models, but what happens when the best thing a new car can be is ordinary? The 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 is a three-row SUV that, to succeed, needs to prioritize space and an effortless ownership experience over radical styling or sports-car driving dynamics. That doesn’t leave much room for creativity, but Hyundai has done its best by giving the Ioniq 9 futuristic styling combined with the proven E-GMP dedicated EV platform from its other Ioniq models and the Kia EV9. The enthusiastic response to the EV9, from Hyundai’s sibling brand, shows why, despite having two gasoline three-row SUVs in its lineup already, Hyundai needed an all-electric one as well.

Another daring design from Hyundai