Category: Alfa Romeo

Categories
Alfa Romeo

Alfa Romeo 4C GTA coming in 2012

Alfa Romeo 4C GTA teaset

Cover your trousers Alfistas there’s about to be some very serious movement down there. The image above is a teaser of the upcoming 4C GTA which is due for release late next year apparently.

What will excite the pulses of Alfa Romeo fans, though, is news the 4C GTA will be a rear-engined rear-wheel drive sportscar which Alfa will use as its aspirational hero model. The target weight of just 850kg will also heighten anticipation for this car. And, unlike the expensive and limited 8C Competizione, the 4C GTA should be much more affordable with an expected European price of €40,000 (AU$54,000).

It’s understood the 4C GTA will source its power from the Giulietta line up with a 1750 TBi four-cylinder turbo tweaked to provide in excess of 250hp. That might not sound like much for a hero sportscar, but due to the car’s light weight it will have a power-to-weight ratio of around 3.5kg/hp. That’s better than a Porsche Cayman S.

Even more exciting is word the chassis used for the 4C GTA will be based on the bonkers two-seat track day special KTM X-Bow. As for how it will look, well check out the images of the 2uettottanta concept from last year’s Geneva show after the break. The 4C GTA probably won’t look exactly like that, but it will most likely inherit a few 2uettottanta styling cues.

We expect any Alfistas reading now will be blushing somewhat. This car sounds fantastic. Let’s hope it’s not some teasing fantasy and it comes to life.

[Source: Automotive News]

Continue reading “Alfa Romeo 4C GTA coming in 2012”
Categories
Alfa Romeo

Alfa Romeo Giulietta launched in Australia

Alfa Romeo Giulietta

Alfa Romeo’s spunky little Giulietta has just arrived down under. There’s currently two models on offer, the entry level Giulietta, priced from $36,990 (not including delivery or statutory fees), while the powerful “Cloverleaf” QV model starts at $41,990. Both models can also be optioned with metallic paint ($995) and a full leather/sunroof package ($4000).

In the base spec you get a 125kW 1.4 litre MultiAir engine capable of reaching 100km/h in 7.8 seconds. A lighter foot will reward you with a combined fuel consumption figure of 5.8l/100km. That’s quite reasonable performance, really.

If that’s not enough, though, the 173kW 1750TBi unit is the one for you. As the name suggests, it’s a 1.75 litre four-pot turbo, and can propel you to the speed limit in 6.8 seconds. With a healthy 340Nm of torque on tap from 1900rpm you can access that power at virtually any time, as well. When you’re not in a mad rush you can expect to sip fuel at the rate of around 7.6l/100km.

Actually, the QV looks the value proposition here. For an extra five grand you get the go faster engine along with sports suspension (10mm lower), fancy seats with red stitching and microfibre trim, a Bose stereo and 18″ alloys to go over your flash red brake calipers.

It’s a pretty car, the Giulietta, but for similar pricing, does it make more sense than a comparable Volkswagen Golf, for example? Your heart might well say yes, but we’d love to hear if you’d actually go through with the deal.

More pics and detail from Alfa Romeo after the break. Alfa’s latest price list is also available.

Continue reading “Alfa Romeo Giulietta launched in Australia”
Categories
Alfa Romeo Aston Martin Mercedes-Benz MINI Rolls-Royce Volkswagen Volvo

E-Class surprise leader in “shaggin’ wagon” poll

Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate

A recent UK report has revealed that 54% of British motorists admit to having sex in a car. And it seems the older you are the more likely you are to find paradise by the dashboard light. Almost 40% of over 55s interviewed claimed sex in a car was fantastic, compared to just 13% of those aged between 18 and 24.

The raunchy research was carried out by the appropriately named Autoquake.com, an online retailer, and CEO Dermot Halpin says, “We’re surprised that so many of drivers have used their cars as mobile bedrooms, and impressed that the older generation are leading the way.”

A top 10 list of sexy cars was compiled as part of the study. The wide open spaces of the Mercedes E-Class Estate proved a worthy, if surprising, leader in the poll. Shaggin’ wagons have gone a bit upmarket since the 70s it seems. The full list is available after the break.

We’re sure readers won’t be surprised to learn no Toyota made the top 10. Which begs the question, just what is that feeling they keep going on about; loneliness, perhaps?

If you’ve enjoyed a few extra “services” between scheduled intervals, leave us a comment and tell us all about it!

Continue reading “E-Class surprise leader in “shaggin’ wagon” poll”
Categories
Alfa Romeo Fiat Volkswagen

Volkswagen CEO admits “we’d be interested” in Alfa Romeo

Volkswagen-Alfa Romeo-Fiat

In late August news emerged that Volkswagen insiders had confirmed a keen interest in buying Alfa Romeo. Back then people were willing to talk, but they weren’t prepared to give their names. Now, word has come straight from the top with Martin Winterkorn, Volkswagen Group CEO, admitting, “Alfa is a very emotional brand. If Fiat considers selling, we’d be interested.”

Winterkorn went further, offering a critique of the Alfa brand and highlighting where improvements could be made, “It’s a beautiful brand but there are quality issues with the engines and suspension systems for example. I’m quite sure we could make a beautiful brand out of Alfa again.”

According to the Volkswagen CEO they no interest in making a bid for Alfa and would only be willing to deal if Fiat expresses an interest to sell.

[Source: Autocar]

Categories
Alfa Romeo

Alfa Romeo Giulia GTAm voted fan favourite

Alfa Romeo Giulia GTAm

Alfa Romeo has made 70 models in their 100 year history. 2010 just happens to be the centenary year of the famous Italian marque, so what better time to work out which car Alfa fans (that’s Alfisti to you and I) think is the best Alfa made to date. As the article title suggests the Giulia GTAm won the poll, with a narrow margin over the 8C Competizione. Voting was conducted via the Alfa Centenary website.

The Giulia GTAm, based on the 1750 GT Veloce, achieved notoriety in 1970 when it won the European Touring Car championship.

There’s more from Alfa after the break, including wallpaper sized pics of the first two cars and a list of the top nine cars.

Continue reading “Alfa Romeo Giulia GTAm voted fan favourite”
Categories
Alfa Romeo Chrysler Fiat Seat Volkswagen

Volkswagen “seriously interested” in Alfa Romeo

Volkswagen-Alfa Romeo-Fiat

Volkswagen’s quest to grab the world’s biggest car maker title from Toyota has taken a new twist with news it wants to buy Alfa Romeo. It’s all a bit like shcoolyard secrets at the moment, though, with executives from Volkswagen and Fiat only willing to provide quotes on condition of anonymity.

Automotive News Europe says not one, but two Volkswagen employees have said they are “seriously interested” in purchasing Alfa Romeo. In reply the secret Fiat exec told ANE, “We have no intention at all of selling the brand to VW.”

Rumours of VW’s interest in the iconic Italian manufacturer emerged late last year. Indeed, in April Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn admitted he admired Alfa, but there were currently no plans to add another brand to the Volkswagen Group.

Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne reckons they can push Alfa Romeo into the premium segment and achieve 500,000 sales per year by 2014. Just 102,000 sales were registered in 2009. It’s certainly an ambitious target.

Credit Suisse motoring expert Arndt Ellinghorst thinks it may be too ambitious and says the might of the Volkswagen Group would be necessary, “Maybe Alfa could get to a half million unit sales a year, but only after the brand is sold to Volkswagen.”

Whatever the outcome of this latest motoring marriage something needs to be done to support Alfa Romeo. It is understood the maker has been costing Fiat €200–400 million per year in losses over the last decade.

Follow the source link below and to learn how some analysts think Volkswagen should add Alfa Romeo to its portfolio at the expense of the Seat brand.

[Source: Automotive News Europe]

Categories
Alfa Romeo Motor Shows

2010 Goodwood Festival of Speed

Alfa Romeo statue - Goodwood FoS

The annual Goodwood FoS kicks off tomorrow. Each year there is a centrepiece statue unveiled in front of the main building. This year, in honour of its 100 year anniversary, Alfa Romeo got the gig.

Somewhat amazingly the sculpture features an Alfa Romeo P2; there are only two of these cars in existence and their value is estimated at around AU$30 million. The car featured in the work was used to win the world’s first championship for grand prix cars back in 1925. It’s a pretty special car to have hanging off an oversized coathanger; don’t you think! Alongside the P2 is an otherwise common as muck 8C Competizione.

Alfa will be sending over 50 cars from its museum for the show, including the first UK showing of the new Giulietta.

To keep up to date with what’s happening in Lord March’s backyard keep an eye on the official FoS website. Twitterists are also catered for and Autocar also has some good info.

[Source: Autocar]

Categories
Alfa Romeo Safety Issues

Five stars for Alfa Romeo Giulietta

Alfa Romeo Giulietta

The cute Alfa Romeo Giulietta has recently been awarded a 5 star crash rating by Euro NCAP. With an overall score of 87 points from a maximum of 100 the Giulietta ranks as the safest car in the compact class.

In 2009 Euro NCAP raised the bar on what is required to achieve a 5 star rating and the testing is still on a upward sliding scale. By 2012 the testing regime will have reached its toughest measure. The good news for Alfa is the Giulietta just tested has achieved a high enough score that will ensure its maximum rating will still be achieved.

Crash testing rates four main criteria: Adult Occupant, Child Occupant, Pedestrian Protection and Safety Assist. In those categories the Giulietta scored an almost perfect 97% for Adult Occupant protection and a very high 85% for Child Occupant safety. Pedestrian Protection was rated at 63% and a score of 86% for Safety Assist shows the car’s on board electronic safety systems are very effective.

More from Alfa Romeo and Euro NCAP after the break.

Continue reading “Five stars for Alfa Romeo Giulietta”
Categories
Alfa Romeo Ferrari Fiat Lamborghini Lancia

Auto Italia 2010

Auto Italia, Canberra, April 2010

It was a perfect autumn day in Canberra today. Ideal weather for the annual Auto Italia car show, then. Every year Italian car owners and enthusiasts gather in the nation’s capital to show off their shining metal and this year the lawns adjacent to the National Library of Australia provided the ideal setting.

Of course, cars are much more than shiny metal, and the perfect example of this are marques like Alfa Romeo, de Tomaso, Fiat, Ferrari, Lancia, Lamborghini and Maserati. All were represented at Auto Italia 2010 today. Indeed, this year the featured marque for the Italian show was Alfa Romeo in honour of Alfa’s 100th anniversary. Alfa owners obliged by showcasing some truly beautiful cars, some incredibly rare, all incredibly cherished.

You can catch a glimpse of today’s show by checking out the photos after the jump. More info on Auto Italia in Canberra can be found at their official website.

Continue reading “Auto Italia 2010”
Categories
Alfa Romeo

Alfa Romeo Giulietta prepares for Geneva

2010 Alfa Romeo Giulietta

The Alfa Romeo Giulietta is the latest model to be previewed ahead of next week’s Geneva Motor Show. Alfa first teased us with a few images in early December last year. A few weeks later Autocar got the scoop and published a number of images that gave the game away for Alfa. New images have now been released by Alfa Romeo and they confirm what we have already seen.

The Giulietta range is built on a new “Compact” platform and will be powered by a mix of diesel and petrol powered engines. Most readers of AUSmotive will centre their interest around the 235hp (175kW) Giulietta 1750 TBi Quadrifoglio Verde model. Alfa’s press release states the “Cloverleaf” will guarantee “best-in-class driving pleasure… with greater environmental awareness.”

That’s some claim in a space that is already full of competent hot hatches, especially from Germany and France. We shall have to wait and see how the Italians compare. Alfa’s Australian importer is remaining coy on a local launch of the Quadrifoglio Verde confirming only that the Giulietta will be here before the end of the year.

More after the break.

Continue reading “Alfa Romeo Giulietta prepares for Geneva”
Categories
Alfa Romeo

Pininfarina to woo Alfa Romeo with Spider Concept

Alfa Romeo Pininfarina Spider Concept

Masters of automotive styling Pininfarina will reveal a new Alfa Romeo Spider Concept at the Geneva Motor Show next month. This illustration gives us a good idea what to expect. The concept is currently untitled and, at this stage, is a proposal to Alfa Romeo only. However it will mark the start of a pair of important anniversaries for both companies—Pininfarina will be celebrating its 80th birthday, while Alfa Romeo will be kicking off its centenary.

Pininfarina are no strangers to designing sportscars for Alfa Romeo and there’s some nice eye candy after the jump. For me, the more recent designs don’t quite match the timeless beauty of the models released in the 1950s and 1960s. The concept above, though, might just hit the spot in a very 21st century way.

Continue reading “Pininfarina to woo Alfa Romeo with Spider Concept”
Categories
Alfa Romeo

2010 Alfa Romeo Giulietta – new images leaked

2010 Alfa Romeo Giulietta

Following the official reveal of three pictures earlier this month, new images of the 2010 Alfa Romeo Giulietta have emerged.

It would seem that the Giulietta is only planned to be built in a five door configuration. Although, Alfa’s familiar disguised rear door handles do give a coupe-like look at first glance. Apart from that there’s not much else to report.

There’s 13 new pics in all, so take the jump to check out the rest.

[Source: Autocar]

Continue reading “2010 Alfa Romeo Giulietta – new images leaked”