Development towards the production model Alfa Romeo 4C appears to be ahead of schedule, as the Italian automaker plans on unveiling the model next summer.

The future is looking bright for the Fiat– Chrysler family, especially with the all-new SRT Viper on the horizon. 

The two latest automakers to climb into bed together are Mazda and Fiat and their love child promises to be one impressive performance machine.

Relaunching the Alfa Romeo brand in North America has been a priority for Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne since he assumed the chief executive position for Fiat and Chrysler three years ago.

Through years of setbacks, Marchionne admitted that transitioning Alfa Romeo’s return into the United States would be among his most difficult tasks.

This year marks Queen Elizabeth’s diamond jubilee, and to celebrate, a gathering of sixty rare and beautiful cars will be brought together at the quadrangle in Windsor Castle in England. 

Only cars of the highest caliber have been invited to the event, and will be arriving at the castle from all over the world. One car from every year starting from 1952 will be featured, representing every year since the Queen was inaugurated. The earliest car featured is a 1952 Bentley R Type(54′ R Type Shown Above), and the newest car will be a 2011 Lamborghini Aventador, Ferrari FF or a Porsche 991.

Most of the cars have already been selected, but an open casting call is out right now for owners of specific cars to volunteer to bring their fine machines to the Castle to be displayed for the Queen.

We have to wonder how much the Queen really likes cars? Hopefully she appreciates what she is getting, as this will undoubtedly be one of the nicest gatherings of rare luxury cars ever.

Below is a list of the cars that will be featured at the event. Some of them have been found already, and some haven’t. If you are the owner of one of the cars on the list and would like to participate, click here for more information.

Earlier this month, we shared images of the Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera Disco Volante 2012 Concept that debuted at the Geneva Auto Show. Drawing inspiration directly from the 1952 Alfa Romeo Disco Volante, the homage concept becomes reality as a limited quantity series will be produced for select aficionados.

Built upon a donor Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione body, the front-mid engine rear-wheel-drive italian sports car carries over powertrain and running gear including the 444-hp, 4.7 liter V8 which makes 347 lb.-ft. of torque, the 6-speed sequential gearbox, a limited slip differential, as well as front and rear double-wishbone suspension.

Virtually identical to the 8C Competizione, the Disco Volante 2012 reaches 0-62mph in 4.2 seconds and attains a top speed of about 181 mph.

Touring Superleggera will leave the interior of the 8C Competizione untouched but if requested by clients, personalization to meet tastes and preferences will be eagerly accommodated.

Each donor 8C Competizione will undergo an extensive build process that takes approximately 4,000 hours under the hands of highly skilled craftsmen and engineers of Milan. This translates to a delivery time of eight months after the reception of a donor 8C. As for its price, if you have to ask (and if you don’t already have an 8C), it is more than likely that you will not be able to afford it.

Check out the promotional video of the Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera Disco Volante 2012 below.

Last year, poor sales caused the Alfa Romeo 159 to be discontinued and it appears that its successor won’t be making any sort of debut until 2014. Sergio Marchionne, CEO of Fiat– Chrysler, spoke at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show saying that the 159’s replacement has been delayed once again. 

At next week’s 2012 Geneva Motor Show, Alfa Romeo reaches into its racing archives for inspiration. During the 1950’s, Alfa Romeo formed an alliance with Carrozzeria Touring to create a number of innovative concepts used to test technologies that could be adapted for racing. One particular concept was the 1952 Alfa Romeo Disco Volante (C52), then based on an Alfa 1900.

Based on the C-Evo platform from the Alfa Romeo Giulietta hatchback, the American-twin 2013 Dodge Dart will only be available in a four-door body style.

The U.S. relaunch of Italian automaker Alfa Romeo will be spearheaded by the mid-engine 4C sports car.

Since its reveal at the Detroit Auto Show, the new 2013 Dodge Dart has received a lot of positive reactions and Dodge intends to make it even better. Based on the Italian Alfa Romeo Giulietta platform, the solid European chassis will be further finessed for sport and performance under the care of Ralph Gilles and the magicians of SRT. The SRT4 is back!

While past reports have suggested that the Dodge Avenger is dead, speculation has apparently been a bit premature. Chrysler/ Fiat have plans for a number of new cars in the future including the introduction of new midsize sedans which will update the Chrysler 200 and Dodge Avenger for 2013. The new Avenger and 200 will be based on the Dodge Dart platform. Chrysler/Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne also intends to have a Chrysler premium compact hatchback in the mix, known for now as the “Chrysler 100.” If given the ‘okay’ for production, then the Chrysler hatch will be exported as Fiat European luxury brand Lancia as well.

Better late than never, Alfa Romeo announces the scheduled arrival of their 4C sports car to American soil by 2013. First, an Alfa Romeo 4C prototype will make an appearance in the middle of next year before the Italian automaker’s official return to North America.

While America anxiously awaits Alfa Romeo’s return, Fiat has been getting busy deciding to produce the 4C sports coupe, packing plenty of lightweight carbon fiber, a turbocharged four-cylinder powerplant with 230-hp, rear-wheel-drive and a 4.5-second 0-60 mph time.

Sergio Marchionne, CEO of Fiat– Chrysler, is looking forward to 2013 for being a big year for the Italian-American brand. Marchionne is looking ahead to a collection of new Chrysler products, the reintroduction of Alfa Romeo back to America and have a chance to fully combine Fiat and Chrysler into one company.

What happens when you mix a stunt driver with a sporty hatchback, skidpad and more than 2,738 water balloons? Just ask Terry Grant.

The driving pro held a total of 19 world records for his fancy automotive footwork, but recently garnered his 20th by bursting the most-ever water balloons.

Grant got to take part in a ridiculous-but-awesome stunt using the Alfa Romeo MiTo. The automaker arranged the balloons in a giant iteration of their iconic snake and cross logo and filmed him from multiple angles crashing and splashing through the aquatic arrangement.

It was a chance for Grant to get another world record under his belt and a great venue for Alfa to show off their 170 horsepower MiTo Quadrifoglio Verde hatchback.

You can watch the video below

Fiat will build Alfa Romeo vehicles in China starting in July, 2012, as part of a joint venture with local partner Guanhzhou Automobile Group Co Ltd.

Chrysler is getting some Italian style thanks to former Ferrari designer Lorenzo Ramaciotti, 63, who will now be lending a hand at Chrysler and Lancia.

With the previous generation Alfa Romeo Spider now firmly in the ground, Alfa is looking to the next generation, and reports indicate that it will be a substantial break from the last car (pictured above), based on the stunning but portly Brera sports coupe.

Dodge will unveil its new 2013 compact car during the January 2012 Detroit Auto Show. Since this is the first all-new car designed by the combined Chrysler and Fiat Company that will debut three months from now, we are used to expecting information to leak prior to the car’s official unveiling, whether from spies and insiders or scheduled leaks from the company itself.

Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne is making Alfa Romeo’s U.S. re-launch a top priority, calling it “the most difficult thing I have to do”. Alfa Romeo last sold cars in the U.S. in 1995, but the brand still has a strong image in the U.S., spurring Marchionne to focus efforts on North America.

Alfa Romeo has announced plans to build a new turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that will produce an impressive 300-hp from a displacement of just 1.8-liters. Claiming it will be, “setting a new performance standard in its category” the all aluminum engine will feature direct injection, dual variable valve timing and will comply with future emissions standards both in Europe and the U.S. – an strong indication that it will find its way in some of Alfa’s U.S.-bound models.

Jeep has scrapped plans to build a replacement for their Patriot and Compass SUVs in Italy, and will instead build a subcompact Jeep product in Italy that will also be badged as a Fiat in world markets.

While Alfa Romeo has delayed its return to the U.S. market, company engineers have been hard at work developing a range topping rear wheel drive sedan by 2014.

Alfa Romeo debuted another version of its 4C sports car concept and announced it will be available worldwide, including North America. In 2013.

That’s a year later than we previous thought. We had previously reported Alfa Romeo would offer the 4C in North America in 2012 with other models to follow in 2013.

Fiat will be gradually discontinuing the beautiful Alfa Romeo 159, as reports have indicated that production of the 159 has come to an end at the assembly plant in Naples, Italy. Last minute 159 buyers may have some luck because the vehicle has been stockpiled by dealers ahead of the factory’s temporary closure.

With little in the way of new product, Alfa Romeo will re-showcase its 4C Concept at the Frankfurt Auto Show, with some changes. OK, maybe we could drop the “s” on changes. The reality is, there’s really just one update… and it’s paint. Yup, Alfa says the 4C Concept will get a “new and exclusive ‘fluid metal'” color which has been designed to better show off the, “smooth and sinuous lines of the car”.

The leading tuner of Alfa Romeos, Novitec, has added some spice to the sporty Giulietta, giving owners several power package options, a styling kit and an assortment of wheels to choose from. Power packages are available for the 1.4L TB 16V engine, 1.8L turbocharged engine, 1.6L JTD 16V engine and the 2.0L JTD 16V engine. The most powerful 1.8L turbocharged engine gets an increase of 26-hp, bringing its peak to an impressive 261-hp figure. To match the horsepower increases, Novitec also offers stainless steel rear mufflers with dual- or quad-tipped designs, giving the Giulietta a sportier tone to match its new performance.

A very slightly used 2009 Alfa Romeo 8C Spider is currently for sale at the Ferrari Maserati dealership in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Sporting only 98-miles on the odometer, this 8C Spider has a $294,900 price tag, not far off from its original $299,000 retail price. Only 500 units of the 8C Spider were produced, with a scant 35 that made it over to the United States.

Some believe that if you are a true petrol-head, you have to have owned an Alfa Romeo at least once in your life. Taking a look at their history, its easy to see why. This Italian brand has produced some of the most gorgeous automotive designs ever, like the Montreal, GTV6 coupe and the 8C Competizione.

Alfa Romeo fans, prepare to once again exercise your well-practiced art of patience. The launch of the brand in North America has once again been pushed back… sort of.