Monday, June 25, 2018

Trump Trade War Hits Harley Davidson, Wisconsin


This week marks the first in which American motorcycle icon Harley-Davidson has to face stiff trade tariffs in EU markets. It’s a move that’s being called a retaliation to Trump administration tariffs on European aluminum and steel that sees a 25% import tariff on large motorcycles coming from the US.
“Large”, in this case, references motorcycles whose engines displace 500cc or more. That means the new 25% tax will hit both Harley-Davidson and Indian Motorcycles, but won’t impact electric brands like Zero. To quote Asphalt and Rubber, “the (EU) is adding the 25% tariff to the goods that fall under HS code 87114000 & 87115000 on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System,” which state:

  • 87114000: Motorcycles, incl. mopeds, with reciprocating internal combustion piston engine of a cylinder capacity > 500 cm3 but <= 800 cm3
  • 87115000: Motorcycles, incl. mopeds, with reciprocating internal combustion piston engine of a cylinder capacity > 800 cm3
There is speculation that this move is intended to specifically target Harley-Davidson, rather than Indian.Harley has received some Trump flavored love recently, and just so happens to be based in Wisconsin. Wisconsin is the home of Paul Ryan, the Speaker of the House of US Representatives and Republican Party big shot. Harley sold roughly 40,000 motorcycles in Europe last year compared to a handful of Indian bikes as that company still seems focused on building out its US-based business.
What do you guys think? Is the EU specifically targeting a GOP stronghold and a largely conservative base of Harley customers with this move, or is Harley just getting caught in the crossfire of a bigger issue? Is “Trump Flavored Love” the worst thing Stormy Daniels you’ve had to think of today, or do you kind of like the sound of it? Let us know your thoughts on these and other pressing matters of national importance in the comments section at the bottom of the page.

Trump Flavored Love

Sources | Imagesthe EU, via Asphalt and Rubber.

Friday, June 22, 2018

Electric Mercedes SUV Testing in Spain

The upcoming, 100% electric Mercedes SUV is set to be revealed early next year. Mercedes-Benz doesn’t want Tesla and Porsche to get all that sweet, electric PR, though. As such, they’re giving everyone a sneak peek at the new EV in these photos from a hot weather testing session in Almeria, Spain.
Here’s what we know so far: the new Mercedes-Benz EQC sub-brand of electric vehicles will be built in France, with an eye towards the European market. That’s a market, you’ll recall, that’s home to a number of heavily populated, wealthy cities with plans to ban internal combustion cars sooner rather than later. If Mercedes plans for its cars to still be seen and admired there, in other words, it needs to give its city-dwelling customers something to buy.
Beyond that, erm– it looks like the new EQC will have a super big sunroof and huge rims. Understandable, I think, since Mercedes’ customer base seems to have swung away from people who appreciate solid engineering and more towards people who appreciate giant, light-up grille emblems.

Light-up Benz Logos are a Thing

That’s all for me, then. What about you guys? Do you think this is Mercedes’ foot in the door of an all-electric future? Is this a direct result of Tesla disrupting the market? Is this a PR grab to shift attention away from the fact that Mercedes is doubling down on V8 SUVs? Let us know what you think in the comments section at the bottom of the page.

Source | Images: Mercedes-Benz, via MotorpasiĆ³n

Trump Trade War Will Hurt GM, Tesla in China


In response to Trump’s new trade policies, China has announced it intends to impose an additional 25% tariff on cars imported from the United States, which could bring the total levy to 50%. The existing 25% import duty is scheduled to go away on July 1, but things are very fluid at the moment as The Mouth That Roared stomps around the White House in a state of high dudgeon.
Donald Trump’s ill-considered trade war against China will have the same effects all wars have — collateral damage. And standing in the crosshairs of the conflict are Tesla and General Motors, both of which are anxious to expand their presence in the Chinese automotive marketTesla is in the midst of negotiations to build a new factory in the Shanghai Free Trade Zone. GM has been doing business in China for 21 years and is looking to cash in on the electric car revolution the Chinese government is demanding.
So far, the conflict has been mostly a war of words, with The Donald doing what he usually does — bullying, blustering, and browbeating opponents real or imagined. No one seems to notice that if his threats don’t work, he tends to slink away with his tail between his legs, declaring victory to any who will listen. The Chinese, however, are not neophytes when it comes to high stakes games. Their response so far has been carefully calibrated to cause the most economic pain for Trump supporters.

Trade War Will Hurt GM in China

Trump doesn’t care about anyone but Trump. He hasn’t got time to study and understand a situation. Details bore him. He refuses to read the briefing papers his staff prepares for him. He is too busy preening and tweeting to govern. So he is unaware that Chinese people actually prefer to buy Chinese products. Golly, what a shocker, huh?
As Bloomberg points out, Hyundai got jammed up with the Chinese government recently because Korea allowed a US-made antimissile defense system to be installed on its borders. Suddenly, China said electric cars with batteries made in Korea could not be sold there. Hyundai was forced to switch its battery supply from Korean companies to Chinese battery makers.
The damage was done. Chinese shoppers avoided Hyundai showrooms like the plague and sales went into a steep decline. Similarly, when China and Japan got into a flap over who should control the South China Sea in 2012, Toyota, Nissan, and Honda saw their sales fall off a cliff. Some Chinese citizens got so angry they burned down a Honda showroom in the port city of Qingdao.
Even without tariffs, governments can make it hard for foreign companies to do business domestically. Some may remember the days when Japan was the most powerful economy in the world. (Hard to believe today but true nonetheless.) As flotillas of Japanese cars swarmed across the Pacific toward America, US manufacturers complained bitterly that Japan put so many bureaucratic obstacles in their path that selling their cars was in Japan was nearly impossible.
Cars languished at Japanese ports waiting for customs inspectors who never showed up. Japan declared that all American-made cars had crappy exhaust systems. Manufacturers were forced to rip off the factory exhaust systems and replace them with aluminized components. Eventually, the manufacturers just bit the bullet and made aluminized exhaust systems standard equipment on every car manufactured. The change actually benefited American consumers. When was the last time you replaced a muffler? A nation that wants to put the kibosh on imports has a thick playbook of bureaucratic hurdles that can be set in place with a phone call from the right government minister.
“China could retaliate against U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Chinese goods with a full-blown boycott of American automobiles in the nation,” says Steve Man, a senior auto analyst for Bloomberg Intelligence in Hong Kong. He warns Trump’s tariffs “could derail automakers’ plans to open new manufacturing and export bases in China.” The risk is that after the dust settles and China and the United States kiss and make up — which will happen eventually — Chinese shoppers may simply turn their backs on all US goods. Whether American manufacturers will ever be able to recover from Trump’s intemperate assault on trade relations is an open question.
Additional import duties could hobble Tesla’s push to open a factory in China. Some people will still pay 50% over sticker price for Tesla, of course, but they will be few and far between. One phone call from Beijing could delay an agreement for a factory in Shanghai for years. Investors in automotive stocks recognize the dangers ahead. Tesla was down 6.6% in trading on June 19 and GM stock suffered a 4% decline.
No one denies there is a trade imbalance between China and the US. It make no sense that American companies have had to pay a 25% tariff to sell cars in China while Chinese companies could ship cars to the US and pay little to no import duty. It makes no sense that American companies have been required to enter into a joint venture with a Chinese company in order to build factories in China while a Chinese company is under no such obligation if it wants to operate a factory in the US. Those are issues that need to be addressed. But whether using the economic equivalent of a tactical nuclear device to address those inequities is wise is a question on the minds of many people.

Friday, June 15, 2018

GM, Honda Partner to Develop Next-Gen Batteries


General Motors and Honda have announced a partnership to develop new battery components for electrified vehicles.
The two automakers already have a proven relationship when it comes to electrification, having established the industry’s first manufacturing joint venture for an advanced hydrogen fuel cell system set to arrive around 2020. Now, GM and Honda will work together on new advanced chemistry battery components, including the cell and module, in hopes of accelerating both companies’ plans for all-electric vehicles.
In a statement released by both companies, the joint venture promises to deliver a next-generation battery that features higher energy density, smaller packaging, and faster charging capabilities for future products, mainly for the North American market.
The companies will collaborate based on GM’s next-generation battery system, with the intent for Honda to source the battery modules from GM. The goal is to combine scale and global manufacturing efficiencies from both companies to provide greater value for consumers.
“This new, multi-year agreement with Honda further demonstrates General Motors’ capability to innovate toward a profitable electric portfolio,” said Mark Reuss, General Motors executive vice president of Global Product Development, Purchasing and Supply Chain. “GM’s decades of electrification experience and strategic EV investments, alongside Honda’s commitment to advancing mobility, will result in better solutions for our customers and progress on our zero emissions vision.”

Kia Niro EV Will Get 236 Miles of Range


This time, the Korean automaker unveiled two new battery options, a U.S.-exclusive 64-kWh battery for a 236-mile range and a 39.2-kWh battery pack with a 150-mile range for other markets. These numbers translate to a 7.8-second zero-to-62-mph time and up to an 80 percent charge in under an hour using a 100kW fast charger.
Last January, Kia also present the EV in concept form as the Las Vegas Consumer ElectronicsShow without providing power numbers. As has been customary with Kia, different presentations have unveiled new specs, with CES showcasing its concept and the following International Electric Vehicle Expo in Jeju, Korea, showcasing its production version.
On the driver assistance side, the Niro EV will feature Level 2 autonomy, which is defined as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as having one driver assistance feature which can allow for “both steering and acceleration/ deceleration using information about the driving environment”. This translates to adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist, where the driver is expected to assume control of the wheel.
Look for the Niro EV to debut in Europe at the Paris Motor Show in October before going on sale in Korea before the end of the year, followed by expansion to other markets.

Sunday, June 10, 2018

Elon Musk: Tesla Motorcycle Will Never Happen


It’s a little known fact, but Elon Musk was nearly killed on a motorcycle when he was 17. It’s that accident all those years ago that, he says, is behind his answer to a journalist’s questions about an electric motorcycle. That answer being: Tesla will never develop an electric motorcycle.
Musk confessed that he had been an avid motorcycle rider in his childhood, and that he had been riding dirt bikes for nearly eight years when an unpleasant encounter with a truck almost cost him his life. Since then, this article on the Spanish site, MotorpasiĆ³n claims, he hasn’t ridden a motorcycle.
So– yeah. We already knew the Tesla Model M concept motorcycle shown, above, wouldn’t happen, but stuff like this is just depressing. Especially since, you know, Tesla might actually have a shot at seriously disrupting the flailing US motorcycle industry.
What do you guys think? Is Tesla going to change the world building high-end sedans, or should Ol’ Muskystart looking into pickups and motorcycles to broaden the company’s heartland appeal? Let us know what you think in the comments.

Source | ImagesMotorpasionGreen Car Reports.

Tomahawk Will Be World’s First Electric 4 Passenger Sports Ca


Two founders quit their day jobs in 2013 to build the world’s first four passenger electric sports car. “We want to be unequivocally the reference in the electric sports car market. We strive to push the limits and intend to offer the ultimate of what is possible,” says Mike Kakogiannakis, COO of Dubuc Motors*. He promises his company’s Tomahawk sports car will offer customers the highest level of engineering available.
Let’s begin by looking at the Tomahawk. Its looks are a combination of McLaren, Lamborghini, and Corvette. Its low center of gravity will contribute to excellent handling while the scissor type doors and aggressive cab forward design make access to the two rear seats easy and convenient.
“The battery is a key design attribute, it is 110 kilowatts,” says Kakogiannakis. “A separate battery drives the air conditioning and other features, therefore mileage is not decreased.” Hands-free voice commands, a built-in wifi hotspot, advanced collision warning and a live 360° camera are also part of the package.
The Tomahawk Will Be World’s First Electric 4 Passenger Sports Car
Now the specs. The company says the Tomahawk will have a range of 400 miles — far more than any current production electric car. Top speed is 160 mph and 0-60 acceleration runs take just 2 seconds. There are few cars from any manufacturer that can match the performance of the Tomahawk, even those with gasoline engines. And of course the Tomahawk will do it all with zero tailpipe emissions.
The two founders told Forbes their target market consists of “25 to 65, more millennials, the successful entrepreneur, a driver who appreciates lotsa swag and a showstopper.” Because their car has more generous headroom than most, “We can differentiate ourselves by appealing to the 6’- 6’5” drivers out there.”
Comparisons to Elon Musk and Tesla are inevitable. Is the Tomahawk just a reconceptualized Tesla Roadster. No way, the founders say. “The Tomahawk is way more spacious and wider, we don’t compare ourselves to Tesla. Elon Musk has different models and targets,” Mike says. “We did not need to leverage any of Musk’s Tesla patent portfolio,” adds Mario, “We had much similar technology already developed.”
The Tomahawk Will Be World’s First Electric 4 Passenger Sports Car
So, how much will all this mechanical marvellousness cost? The projected selling price is $125,000. Deliveries are expected to begin in 2019 but the Tomahawk has an interesting twist. Those interested in owning one can pre-order now with a deposit of $5,000.
Thanks to something called Title IV of the JOBS Act, individuals can invest alongside the founders and their 800+ investors which gets them equity, a stake in the company before their planned IPO listing.
Isabelle Tremblay, a professional NASCAR racing driver, says the Tomahawk is ”An Exemplary achievement by two men driven by passion to create a sexy, unique, and even better Electric car! It all starts with a dream. My next dream is to drive the Tomahawk around the track.”
The Tomahawk Will Be World’s First Electric 4 Passenger Sports Car
Adds Redouane Mekideche, Canadian Deputy Director for Foreign Affairs, ”The vehicle is really in a category of its own in terms of style and functionality. Not mentioning the fact that it is 100% electric which makes it really appealing. The owners are really dynamic, a good mix of creativity, ingenuity and strong business acumen. I hope to see many Tomahawks on North American roads in the not too distant future.”

Saturday, June 9, 2018

Honda Super Cub, the best-selling vehicle of all time, returns to USA

Honda Super Cub, the best-selling vehicle of all time, returns to USA
The best-selling motorized vehicle of all time will soon be sold in the United Sates. Honda has announced the return of the Super Cub motorcycle to the American market, where it was last offered as the Passport in 1983. Over 100 million Super Cubs have been sold worldwide since was introduced in 1958. It was advertised in the 1960s with the slogan “You Meet the Nicest People on a Honda,” which became one of the most famous form the Mad Men-era. The latest version is a 125cc model with a four-speed transmission, automatic clutch and modern anti-lock brakes. It still features the Super Cub's signature step-through design and comes standard as a single-seater with a storage rack over the rear fender,
honda ad
 (Honda)
The latest version is a 125cc model with a four-speed transmission, automatic clutch and modern anti-lock brakes. It still features the Super Cub’s signature step-through design and comes standard as a single-seater with a storage rack over the rear fender, but can be outfitted for two passengers instead.
Honda says it will be priced at $3,599 when it goes on sale in January, and will initially only be available in a red, white and blue color scheme. Honda currently builds the Super Cub at 15 locations around the world.
2019 Honda Monkey
 (Honda)
Along with the Super Cub, Honda is also bringing back a new version of another classic called the Monkey. Based on the popular Grom mini-motorcycle, the Monkey is another 125 cc that features 1970s-inspired styling, with chrome bumpers, exhaust shield and a retro Honda logo.
The Monkey will be available in Banana Yellow or red and is scheduled to hit dealers this fall, starting at $3,999, with ABS a $200 option.

Tuesday, June 5, 2018

Electric Maserati Alfieri: 0-60 Under 2 Sec.

When Maserati announced plans to launch an all-electric GT, the faithful moaned and howled in protest. This week, though, the prospect of an electric Maser doesn’t seem too bad. That’s especially true when you consider the follow: the electric Maserati Alfieri GT will sprint to 60 MPH in under 2 seconds.
Not only that, but after the new Alfieri hits 60 in under 2 seconds, it will keep on pulling to a top speed just north of 186 MPH. So, yeah- I feel like that’s a thing even the most fervent believers in internal combustion can get behind. Both figuratively and, with performance figures like that, literally!
The Alfieri’s performance figures were reportedly announced last week at FCA’s five-year plan presentation to investors. Make of that what you will, in other words. All the same, you just know that FCA will want to take back some of the glory they’ve been losing to Teslas at drag strips across the country!
For those of you who, like me, forgot the Alfieri was a thing that was happening, I’ve included the original press release that accompanied the Maserati during its launch at Beijing in 2013. Enjoy!

    The Maserati Alfieri stars at Beijing Auto Show

    This centenary concept explores Maserati's stylistic heritage and hints at the brand’s future design language
    Maserati unveiled the Alfieri, a 2+2 concept car to celebrate the brand's centenary at the Beijing Auto Show today. The Alfieri is an exciting but realistic and 100% functional prototype that says much about the design DNA of future Maseratis. In fact, the Alfieri could well be a door to the future of Maserati.
    The striking new concept bears the name of Alfieri, the most prominent of the Maserati brothers, and the engineering genius who founded "Officine Alfieri Maserati" in Bologna a century ago. The Alfieri was created at the Maserati Centro Stile in Turin by a small group of talented young designers led by Marco Tencone. The project was masterminded by Lorenzo Ramaciotti.
    In this, its 100th year, the Maserati company is in fine health. An ambitious plan that took off in 2013 with the presentation of the Quattroporte and Ghibli models is transforming the Italian manufacturer into a serious player in the premium sports car segment. In just one year, from 2012 to 2013, sales increased by 150%, from 6,200 to 15,400 cars.
    Today Maserati is a global automotive player with a complete model range made up of two four-door saloons, two GT sports cars, four engines (a V8, a V6 Twin Turbo, a V8 NA and a turbo Diesel), and two different architectures (AWD & RWD). And there's an SUV coming soon!

    The Maserati Alfieri Concept

    Design concepts
    The Alfieri is being unveiled at just the right time to re-establish Maserati’s true orientation in terms of design and production. If the new Quattroporte and Ghibli gave the impression that Maserati was becoming oriented towards sporty, upper class four door saloons, this new concept is striking back and reminding everybody that the brand has a remarkable racing heritage and a unique tradition in exotic GT cars.
    There is no doubt that the Alfieri concept represents the true essence of the Maserati brand. It is a sleek, Italian style 2+2 like the 1957 3500 GT, the 1959 5000 GT and the 1969 Indy before it, and clearly affirms Maserati's racing DNA. Sportier in character than the GranTurismo, the Alfieri boasts proportions that might well be archetypal for a future true sport car and certainly hint at the brand's stylistic intentions for the near future. "Maserati doesn't change. Maserati is always Maserati", as Ramaciotti puts it.
    As with all concept cars, there is a strong desire to turn the Alfieri into reality. Though not yet at the final prototype stage like tomorrow's grand touring, it has nevertheless been conceived, designed and created in an approach aimed at 100% realism.
    According to Lorenzo Ramaciotti, "The Alfieri is a transition point between 100 glorious years of history and the future that is opening up before us. I sincerely can't say that we'll see this car in production in two years-time, but I'm certain we'll see something very similar."
    The development process kicked off last summer. Designers were asked to start from a blank sheet to create a concept for Maserati's centenary. The sketches that would lead to what is now the Alfieri emerged among various other proposals.
    One of the most fascinating cars of all times, the Maserati A6 GCS-53 designed by Pininfarina in 1954, proved a valuable source of inspiration for the designers. Far more than a rare racing machine for gentlemen drivers, the A6 GCS-53 was a masterpiece of design. It was also the last car that Pininfarina designed on a Maserati model before making a comeback in the first decade of the 21st century with the Quattroporte and the GranTurismo. The A6 GCS-53 was an iconic piece of automotive technology and simply breathtaking for its proportions and design features: a diminutive cabin positioned almost over the rear wheels, a seemingly endless bonnet and long, sinuous wings stretching nearly to the rear wheels.
    The Alfieri is obviously much more than a futuristic interpretation of the A6 GCS-53. Maserati has a diversified design history that encourages designers to look forward rather than back: "We wanted the Alfieri to test future design paths", Ramaciotti explains. "The car is very aggressive but still sober in style, forceful but understated."
    The acronym A6 GCS stood for Alfieri 6 cylinder, Ghisa, Corsa, Sport, epithets that well convey its long bonnet, and rear-set 2 cabin.
    While the inverted A pillars of the A6 GCS-53 were not an option in the new Alfieri, their optical effect has been recreated by a sculptured line that starts from the bonnet and fades to the door high line, making the windscreen look larger.
    The long, low nose is a stylistic evolution from contemporary Maserati models. The grille is divided vertically into two concave sections that seem to hang in the air. The sleek DRLs are connected by a clear accent line with the iconic "V" motif in the centre. The aggressive headlights incorporate bi-xenon-LED bulbs and are rendered distinctive by a characteristic eyebrow, repeated on the twin exhaust tail pipes.
    The three dimensional candy-cane tail lights are made up of two red external elements with a white element inside. Their shape harmoniously follows the rear shoulder of the car and complements the air ducts underneath to create an impressive, racing style rear view.
    The Alfieri’s designers have developed a streamlined, uncluttered form where the only decorative elements – the restyled triple air ducts on the wheel arches – are finely integrated. This eye-catching silhouette almost entices you to caress it.
    The wheels have been specially designed for the Alfieri concept. Forged from single aluminium elements, the 21" diameter rear and 20" front wheels feature integrated decorative spokes that wink at the classic spoke wheels of the 1950s.
    Though form is the dominant element, colour and detail play a key supporting role. A liquid metal colour called "Steel Flair" has been chosen for this Maserati 100th anniversary concept. This choice of finish gives the Alfieri's elegant shape a refined, technical and contemporary look, as if a metallic veil has been draped over a naked body.
    The decorative spokes of the forged wheels, the brake calipers, the grille, the iconic triple air ducts, the rear diffuser, the provocative eyebrow of the exhaust tail pipes are all finished in Maserati Blue. The Alfieri signature, retrieved from an old Maserati document and sculpted in the number plate recess on the rear of the car is also in blue. The front bumper spoiler and rear diffuser are in carbon fiber with aluminium inserts.

    Minimalist interior
    In the 2+2 seat cabin, the design team have created a study in simplicity and minimalism. The suspended dashboard is conceptually inspired by that of the Maserati 5000 GT. The dashboard boasts a clean, organic, two-tone design built around a central TUFT screen.
    The instrument panel has a classic layout with two main clocks with two smaller ones in between. The edge of each is embellished with a small "Officine Maserati" label.
    Rather than analogue clocks, the instrument panel features TFT displays inspired by modern photographic camera menus in the way they indicate km/h and engine rpm. Instead of a rotating indicator, the numbers themselves rotate around the clocks. Current speed and RPM are highlighted by a magnifying glass effect.
    There is even a touch of racing brutality inside the Alfieri. The floor is finished in a material that imitates oxidised steel, a material commonly found on racing cars of the 1950s.
    Luna white and dark Basalt blue are the dominant colours inside the airy Alfieri cockpit. Poltrona Frau aniline leather with a natural look and feel covers the seats, dashboard and central console. Copper subtly highlights the most character lines and brings a retro feeling to an otherwise futuristic environment.
    The interior has a classic 2+2 layout with an open space luggage compartment. The rear seat backrests have a unique, elongated design. Well visible from the outside, they add a sense of speed to the interior. The rear seats tilt forwards through 90 degrees and also serve as luggage bulkheads.
    The seat profile inserts, gearbox lever and oval clock on the central console are milled from single piece aluminium billets, hand finished and anodised in a natural copper colour. All other aluminium components, including the pedals, gearbox paddles and steering wheel spokes are also hand finished and anodised in a palladium colour.
    The passenger seats, though inspired by the racing bucket seats of the '50s, look futuristic and have a modern structure with half-integrated headrests and a bridge-like profile that serves as main structural element.
    The three-spoke steering wheel and the crown deep in its centre form a three dimensional sculpture that seems to have been crafted in the workshop of an Italian artisan. Like the remainder of the Alfieri’s interior, it too is 100% handmade .
    The oval clock with red-blue back plate incorporates two sub-dials and is obviously inspired by a classic chronograph.

    Sporting DNA
    The Alfieri is based on the GranTurismo MC Stradale chassis with a 24 centimetre shorter wheelbase, giving it the proportions of a genuine supercar. Alfieri is4,590 mm long with a 2,700 mm wheelbase, 1,930 mm wide and 1,280 mm high.
    Under the sleek body lies the transaxle platform of the Maserati GranTurismo. This 4.7 litre, naturally aspirated, V8 engine from Maranello develops 460 bhp @ 7,000 rpm and 520 Nm @ 4,750 rpm and gives the Alfieri a real driving force. Thanks to a special exhaust layout, this thoroughbred V8 also produces a breathtaking sound that made a real impression in Geneva when the concept was unveiled.
    A six-speed, electro-actuated gearbox (MC Shift) is mounted in a single unit with the limited slip rear differential and connected to the engine via a rigid torque tube. The transaxle layout gives the Alfieri an optimized front-rear weight distribution with a slight predominance to the rear axle.
    The Alfieri's carbon ceramic disc brakes come directly from the GranTurismo MC Stradale and are combined with blue Brembo brake calipers.

Sources | ImagesJalopnikMaserati.