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Alfa Romeo’s 164 sedan served as a base for unconventional builds.

The Museo Alfa Romeo vault holds a pickup and a mid-engined racer.

Both the Proteo and Scighera concept cars borrowed the sedan’s DNA.

The Alfa Romeo 164 sits at a hinge point in the company’s modern history, the final car the Biscione engineered under its own direction before Fiat took the keys. What gets lost in that footnote is how far the Pininfarina-styled flagship strayed from its executive-sedan brief. I found two of them at the Museo Alfa Romeo, and between them they make the case better than any spec sheet. One is a chopped two-door pickup. The other is a V10 racing car with almost nothing underneath it a 164 owner would recognize.

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Starting with the pickup, the story of Alfa Romeo’s firefighting fleet traces its roots to the Balocco proving ground, which opened its doors in 1962. To provide support for high-speed testing incidents , the track employed firefighters equipped with custom vehicles developed by the internal skunkworks division known as the Alfa Romeo Reparto Esperienze.

More: Take A Ride With Me To Alfa’s Homeland In Its Smallest SUV, Sins And All

After building Vigili del Fuoco conversions of the 1750 Berlina, the Alfetta, the Alfa 6, and the Giulietta sedans, the team applied the same treatment to the 164. The donor vehicle was the high-performance all-wheel-drive Quadrifoglio 4 variant, fitted with a 3.0-liter V6 engine that was good for 229 hp (171 kW / 232 PS).

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Alfa Romeo 164 Vigili del Fuoco | Photos Thanos Pappas / Carscoops

Emergency duty meant taking a saw to the rear section of the roof, which turned the 164 sedan into a pickup with a bed behind the cab. That space went to heavy-duty hoses and water pumps, kept out of sight beneath a soft aerodynamic cover that stopped the load from wrecking the aerodynamics on the way to an incident. Furthermore, the Vigili del Fuoco got emergency lights on the roof, and a special livery with white decals on the red bodywork.

More: Alfa Romeo 164 Restomod Looks Gorgeous With Telephone-Dial Wheels And Carbon Bodykit

When it was retired, the one-off pickup model went to the museum, preserving a forgotten corner of Alfa Romeo history.

The Mid-Engine V10 Racecar

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Alfa Romeo 164 ProCar | Photos Thanos Pappas / Carscoops

The second special 164 I encountered at the Museo Alfa Romeo shares even less with the production sedan. This one was built in 1988 for ProCar, the Formula S championship the FIA floated as a support series for Formula 1 weekends. It died before a single race, largely because Alfa Romeo was the only manufacturer that bothered to commit.

More: Reborn Alfa Romeo 155 Race Car Is Really A Giulia QV In Disguise

The rules required each car to keep the silhouette of a road-going model, which is why the Alfa Romeo 164 ProCar passes for a hot version of the sedan from a distance. Underneath, it has nothing to do with one.

The model is based on a bespoke carbon fiber tub chassis developed by Brabham, allowing a total weight of 750 kg (1,653 lbs). Power comes from a mid-mounted naturally-aspirated 3.5-liter V10 engine originally engineered for the Ligier F1 team, producing an impressive 620 hp (462 kW / 629 PS). While it never raced, the mid-engine sedan made a public appearance at the 1988 Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

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The Concepts

1991 Alfa Romeo Proteo Concept | Photos Thanos Pappas / Carscoops, Stellantis

The pickup and the racecar are strange enough to carry a story on their own, but the 164 platform also spawned a pair of concepts worth accounting for.

More: I Gave Alfa’s Last Busso V6 Coupe A Digital Restomod, Then Let The Purists Judge It

The 1991 Alfa Romeo 164 Proteo concept was designed by Walter de Silva, adopting a two-door silhouette that could transform from a coupe into a convertible thanks to a folding glass top. The concept used a shortened version of the sedan’s platform and was powered by a 3.0-liter V6 engine, featuring all-wheel-drive and four-wheel-steering. Although it never reached production, its design influenced the GTV and Spider sports cars.

1997 Alfa Romeo Scighera Concept | Photos Italdesign

The 1997 Scighera is the outlier here, since it lives at Italdesign headquarters rather than the museum. It was envisioned as a roadgoing supercar accompanied by a racing version. The low-slung body with the removable gull-wing windows was made of aluminum for the road car, while the track-focused GT variant utilized carbon fiber panels. Under the skin it used components from the 164 architecture with a mid-mounted twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 producing 400 hp (298 kW / 406 PS) and an AWD system derived from the 155.

The sedan that started all of this arrived in 1987 wearing Pininfarina bodywork, its FWD and AWD platform co-developed with the Saab 9000, Lancia Thema, and Fiat Croma. It sold well by Alfa standards and stayed in production until 1997, when it got replaced by the 166.

Alfa Romeo 164 | Photos Stellantis

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At around $600, the AOC GAMING Q27G4ZD is a superb little monitor, offering decent quality high dynamic range (HDR) and solid gaming performance. Rated up to 240Hz, 1440p, the Q27G4ZD slipped incredibly easily into the rest of my setup, becoming my portal into the world of Pragmata. I played through the whole game, with the only issue stemming from Linux conversing with the panel about said HDR.

For a budget brand like AOC, it's neat to see them diversifying the roster of gaming monitors into the upper-echelon range. $600 isn't anything to sneeze at, but the Q27G4ZD really impressed me with how low-key it is.

Design

Future Future Future Future Future Future I think for a $600 monitor, when I am in the process of connecting it to the base, the back, decorative ring shouldn't fall off. There's a definitive cheapness to the entire device, with its thin, harshly angled back not masking the small whining noise that came when the monitor was on. Once speakers were blaring or headphones went on, this wasn't as noticeable, but it was very much present.

As you'll begin to find as I discuss this monitor more, it just is a quiet soldier. It gets the job done, and isn't filled to the gills with frills. There are four USB-A ports, which connect over USB-B, rather than C, all situated underneath the monitor, but can easily be accessed thanks to the stand featuring a 90-degree swivel. This is a boon for those of us who sometimes like to go "TATE mode" when playing retro games. That said, it's just a very bog-standard monitor with very little fanfare.

Features

(Image credit: Future) Playing through Pragmata was a real treat and a real stress test for the color on this monitor. Despite not getting HDR to work, the game was played with full ray tracing and path tracing turned on. Out of the box and with just a few minor tweaks to the brightness, the AOC GAMING Q27G4ZD showed off that game to the best of its ability that I had given it. I'm sure that it would have looked even better with HDR, but the QD-OLED panel allowed the clinical sci-fi areas to shine in their best light and popped with vivid colors.

I found a lot of the additional features these gaming monitors seem to pack in now a little on the useless side. I'm not an esport player, and also don't need a fake on-screen reticle from the monitor to interfere with the gaming side of things. Another feature to potentially steer clear of is AOC Game Color, which is a series of presets that all seem to lean into the saturated range a little too often.

Using the Switch 2 for HDR showed off some of what I'd been missing on PC, but using a Windows device confirmed that it's a serviceable monitor in HDR. For work-related usage, this would be one I'd steer clear of, as it's just not bright enough at 400 nits. To work and grade HDR, it's recommended to use 1000 nits at a minimum. As such, the short videos I recorded to test out editing in HDR on the monitor came out a little too off base in looks.

Speaking of HDR, much like the other AOC monitor I've reviewed, this is a nagging monitor. Every four hours, a warning to get the pixel refresh sorted popped up. AOC needs to take another look at this, as gaming sessions were continually interrupted by an irritating reminder.

Performance

(Image credit: Future) As with most gaming panels at this point, the performance is just peachy. From 120Hz to 240Hz, the monitor never showed any obvious signs of latency or unresponsiveness. Going lower on consoles also didn't seem to introduce any issues that impacted gameplay. It's, again, that quiet soldier, never really rocking the boat.

Even on Linux, using CachyOS presented no issues outside of HDR. Again, with the QD-OLED behind it, those colors looked just fine to me, and when the corridors in Pragmata would gradient into darkness, it truly kept the atmosphere up. My current go-tos to test the pace of monitors, like TerraTech Legion and Tetris: The Grandmaster 4, showed this monitor off in its best light. For those needing performance but don't want to sacrifice how everything looks on the screen, AOC might have the panel for you.

Retro games via the MiSTer or SuperStation One looked generally good, despite a lack of black frame insertion. Everything played smoothly enough, with older games like Earthbound and Mother 3 in their element with the vibrancy from the monitor.

Again, in Pragmata, I was able to hit every shot and complete every puzzle without ever feeling as if the monitor was fighting against me. The way the AOC Q27G4ZD manages to melt away into the background, despite beaming directly into the eyes, is a good thing. It just never let me down in my time reviewing it.

Should you buy the AOC GAMING Q27G4ZD?

(Image credit: Future) OLED monitors have, despite the world's ongoings, somehow managed to come down in price at a steady clip. AOC can feel like a bit of a crapshoot at times, but this particular QD-OLED-backed monitor can hang with the rest in its price range. While quite a few competing monitors might offer just a bit more in the feature side of things, not many will actively stay out of the way of the gaming time as this one does.

In 2026, getting a tech product that works as advertised and doesn't overreach is relatively rare in some sectors. AOC's Q27G4ZD is precisely that, and at $600, it isn't too shabby in the performance either.

Take a peek at the best monitors for PS5 if you're seeking console-flavored options.

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Beloved toys around the world, teddy bears are icons of childhood wonder. These plush effigies put soft paws and friendly faces on one of nature's most dangerous creatures. Normally, they're tiny, confined to bedrooms and car backseats — except in Stillwater. The 'Birthplace of Minnesota' houses a park bristling with some of the only teddy bears in the world that are larger than their animal namesakes.

The park, a five-million-dollar investment featuring over half a dozen teddy bear statues that range in height from two to over ten feet tall, was given to the city as a completely anonymous gift in the mid-2000s. The identities of the benefactors have since been revealed: former Dell executive Tom Armstrong and his wife, who also committed millions of dollars to other local parks. The resolution of that mystery has robbed the park of none of its magic, however.

The person-sized teddy bears are posed enjoying the other amenities of the park, such as the amphitheater and some of the rides. The park also features a two-story building available as an event venue, a playground area with a miniature of the historic Stillwater Lift Bridge, a climbing wall, and more.

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Here’s TWZ’s weekly carrier tracker monitoring America’s flattop fleet, including deployed Carrier Strike Groups (CSG) and Amphibious Ready Groups (ARG), using publicly available open-source information. Check out last week’s report here .

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the end of a weekend wave of air strikes yesterday, the ninth consecutive night of precision strikes “further degrading Iranian military capabilities,” and the beginning of a new, tenth round today . As the blockade approaches the one-week mark, CENTCOM forces have redirected seven commercial vessels and disabled one kinetically, firing AGM-114 Hellfire missiles into the smokestack of an unladen oil tanker heading toward Kharg Island, since reinstating the blockade on July 14.

U.S. forces enforce naval blockade measures against Iran, July 15, by disabling an unladen oil tanker attempting to sail toward an Iranian port. U.S. Central Command

Over 20 U.S. Navy warships are operating in the Arabian Sea and broader Indian Ocean, which we covered extensively last week , and naval force posture has not changed since. Two CSGs, led by USS Abraham Lincoln and USS George H.W. Bush , plus an ARG, centered on USS Boxer , are the primary naval assets supporting Blockade 2.0 and the renewed strike campaign, alongside some 14 guided-missile destroyers and a mix of other surface ships. The video below released by CENTCOM shows F/A-18 Super Hornets armed with AIM-9X, GBU-31, and GBU-54 launching during the campaign.

U.S. forces launching aircraft and precision munitions against Iranian military targets. U.S. Central Command

Moving east, USS George Washington is operating in the Western Pacific. The flattop was spotted conducting a fueling-at-sea with USNS Earl Warren and a replenishment-at-sea with USNS Charles Drew last week in the Philippine Sea. Lt. Arren Halfacre, serving aboard Washington , said the complex operation with Warren , which involved three fuel lines simultaneously, was a “rarely done evolution” that included roughly 150 Sailors and Merchant Mariners.

USS George Washington (CVN 73) during a fueling-at-sea evolution in the Philippine Sea. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Tyler Crowley

Also in the Pacific, USS Theodore Roosevelt is well into the sea phase of exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2026 and underway in the Hawaiian Islands Operating Area. RIMPAC 2026 is the world’s largest international maritime exercise and the 30th iteration in a series that started in the early 1970s. Participating units have been operating over the past week south of Oahu, to the west of the Big Island, with AIS transponders broadcasting publicly . Roosevelt welcomed the acting Secretary of the Navy, Hung Cao, who observed flight operations , met with senior brass, and took photos with the crew on July 18.

USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) during Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC). U.S. Navy photo by Seaman Apprentice Tyler Harstad

Back in the continental United States, USS Nimitz is at Naval Station Norfolk, her final homeport before a deactivation that was delayed until next year , moored at Pier 14N. A couple of piers down, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower is berthed at Pier 11S. And, further south along the Elizabeth River, USS Gerald R. Ford moved to Pier 5N at Norfolk Naval Shipyard in advance of her first Planned Incremental Availability . On the west coast, USS Carl Vinson , the only carrier currently in San Diego, moored at Kilo Pier on July 17 after a weeklong underway completing flight deck certifications and carrier qualifications with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2.

Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) arrives to Naval Station Norfolk, July 9, 2026. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Oscar Pichardo

Overall, three U.S. carriers are deployed, three are training or in port in various states of readiness, four are in maintenance, and one is being used primarily for training. Two amphibious ready groups are deployed, four are training or in port, and three are in maintenance.

Note: Positions are general approximations. Non-deployed LHA/LHD amphibious warships are not shown.

Contact the author: ian.ellis-jones@teamrecurrent.io

The post Where Are The Aircraft Carriers: July 20, 2026 appeared first on TWZ .

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Halloween might seem like a long way away, but it's never too early to start getting ready, and if you're anything like me, then you can't wait for the weather to start getting cooler, with crisp leaves underfoot and misty mornings. It seems the designers at IKEA agree, because they've already launched a whole set of Kustfyr Halloween decor so you can start preparing for spooky season now.

The new seasonal lights are particularly cute, and I defy anyone not to be charmed by the adorably spooky LED ghost table lamp with its arms raised mid-scare. Pair it with a set of ghostly battery-powered LED string lights for a full themed room.

It wouldn't be Halloween without pumpkins, and you can avoid the mess and hassle of carving a real gourd by picking up one of IKEA's fun pumpkin lamps. The globe-shaped LED pumpkin table lamp is a cute classic, while the matching battery-powered pendant lamp is safe to use outdoors, so you can hang it on your porch when it's time for trick-or-treating.

Want more creepy ways to decorate your home? Check out the full Kustfyr collection , which includes everything from plushies to plates.

Adorably spooky Halloween lights

IKEA

Kustfyr Battery LED Table Lamp - Ghost

IKEA

Kustfyr LED Table Lamp - Pumpkin

IKEA

Kustfyr Battery Pendant Lamp - Pumpkin

IKEA

Kustfyr Lantern for Pillar Candle - Black

IKEA

Kustfyr Battery LED Table Decoration - Pumpkin

IKEA

Kustfyr LED Lighting Chain With 32 Lights - Ghost

IKEA

Kustfyr LED String Light With 12 Lights - Ghost

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The Audi A2 e-tron has been spied with less disguise than ever before.

Model resembles a modernized, Sportback version of the classic A2.

Hatchback debuts this fall and will borrow heavily from VW ID.3 Neo.

Audi is gearing up to introduce the A2 e-tron later this year as their most affordable EV. While we’ve seen numerous prototypes in the past, spy shooters recently caught a lightly covered pre-production model.

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More: Audi Confirms The A2 Is Back, Prays It’ll Sell This Time

Looking surprisingly faithful to the MPV that was produced from late 1999 through 2005, the A2 e-tron is an electric hatchback that has a lot in common with the Volkswagen ID.3 Neo . However, it has a unique design that borrows a few cues from crossovers.

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While the front end is heavily disguised, we can get a glimpse of a rounded front bumper and a rectangular lower intake. Previous spy photos have also revealed the car will have split lighting units and a fully enclosed grille that echoes the rest of the e-tron lineup.

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The profile recalls the classic A2, but with a Sportback vibe. This results in a dynamic greenhouse and a gently sloping roof that terminates at a pronounced spoiler. Designers also gave the model gloss black cladding and aerodynamically optimized wheels. They’re joined by pronounced wheel arches as well as winglet-style door pulls that mirror those found on the BMW X5 and Ford Mustang Mach-E.

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There isn’t much to see out back, but we can get a glimpse of the gloss black lower bumper and a peek of the taillights. They’re accompanied by a stylized liftgate with angular accents.

Spy photographers didn’t get close enough for interior pictures, but previous images have shown a familiar cabin that resembles the Q3 . This means we can expect an 11.9-inch digital instrument cluster as well as a 12.8-inch infotainment system. They’re joined by a flat-bottom steering wheel with a fixed bar that houses the shifter as well as some vehicle controls.

SHProshots

Audi has been coy on performance specifications, but they’ll presumably echo the ID.3 Neo. It features 50, 58, and 79 kWh battery packs that allow for a WLTP range of up to 391 miles (630 km). The Volkswagen also offers motors with 168 hp (125 kW / 170 PS), 188 hp (140 kW / 190 PS), and 228 hp (170 kW / 231 PS).

The A2 e-tron , which is also based on the MEB+ platform, will likely stick to the higher-end powertrains. It’s also worth noting the model may eschew quattro all-wheel drive.

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