Paul Tan's Automotive News » Alfa Romeo

VIDEO: Alfa Romeo Giulietta plays ice hockey in the UK

Danny Tan — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 08:28:47 +0000

With cold wintery weather forecast for the UK this week, and freezing temperatures set to affect many UK roads, Alfa Romeo UK thought of an unusual way to promote the Italian brand – get the Giulietta to play ice hockey!

The key was to showcase the Giulietta’s All Weather mode via Alfa’s driver selectable D.N.A. system, and Alfa teamed up with stunt driver Paul Swift and the UK’s top ice hockey team, Coventry Blaze, to create the video you see here.

In the 1:41 clip, captured solely by the iPhone 4S, you’ll see the sexy C-segment hatchback taking on Blaze star David Phillips in the Coventry Skydome ice rink, in a challenge of icy skill and pinpoint control.

In the “man vs car” battle, the fella in red delivered two cool trick shots – striking a one-inch thick by three-inch diameter hockey puck from just inside the end zone into the home team’s six feet wide net guarded by a goalie. Remember, do not attempt to drive into Sunway Pyramid to repeat these tricks, however fun it looks

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 14:23:07 +0000.

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Alfa Romeo developing 1.8L turbo engine with 300 hp!

Danny Tan — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 08:33:18 +0000

Good news for the alfisti. According to reports from Italy, Alfa Romeo is planning a 1.8-litre turbocharged petrol engine with a whopping 300 hp! This translates to an amazing 167 hp per litre. And knowing Alfa, it should sound the part too, making this a much anticipated motor.

Designed for both transverse and longitudinal installation, the all-aluminium engine will have high-pressure (200 bar) fuel injection and is predicted to use Fiat’s unique Multiair variable valve timing system. The company says that this new engine will meet the super-strict European EU6 and US Tier2Bin5 emission standards.

This 1.8L turbo is expected to debut in the new Giulia sedan, the replacement for the 159, in early 2014. Reviving a famous name from the 1960s, the new Giulia will be Alfa’s rival to the upcoming F30 BMW 3-Series and the Mercedes C-Class. The planned 4C sports car should be another recipient.

Autocar UK points out that since this engine can be mounted longitudinally, it should also make it into Alfa Romeo’s planned rear driven big flagship saloon. The last big Alfa was the 166 that was discontinued in 2007.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 14:23:07 +0000.

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Alfa 4C gets new fluid metal colour for Frankfurt 2011

Paul Tan — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 12:14:42 +0000

Alfa Romeo will be exhibiting the Geneva 2011 show’s Alfa 4C Concept at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, updated with a new ‘fluid metal’ colour. Just as a recap, the 4C is a two seater rear wheel drive coupe with a mid-mounted engine, approximately 4 meters long and with a short wheelbase of less than 2.4 meters.

Think of it as a scaled down version of the 8C Competizione, featuring construction made out of carbon and lightweight aluminum and powered by Alfa Romeo’s 1750 direct injection turbo engine, mated to an Alfa TCT dual dry clutch transmission.

Look after the jump for a small teaser gallery of the fluid metal 4C.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 14:23:07 +0000.

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Supercharged Novitec 8C – The fastest Alfa of all time

Danny Tan — Tue, 03 May 2011 09:22:20 +0000

Famous Alfa tuner Novitec has on its hands what the company claims is “the most powerful and fastest street legal Alfa Romeo of all time”. They’ve supercharged the 8C’s 4.7-litre V8 engine to achieve 600 hp and 588 Nm, which is a huge jump from the stock 450 hp and 470 Nm. Top speed jumps from 290 km/h to 305 km/h, while the 0-100 km/h sprint is done in just 3.9 seconds, down from 4.2.

The supercharger is driven by a cogged-tooth belt directly from the crankshaft. Maximum boost pressure is limited to 0.37 bar. The mechanical charging system is rounded out by a water-to-air intercooler with dedicated radiator, and by custom injectors. Of course, there’s newly calibrated mapping for injection and ignition.

In addition, the tuner offers a stainless-steel high-performance exhaust system and height-adjustable sport suspension. The former is optional and is comes with an integrated flap system varies the exhaust note depending on engine speed. The coil-over suspension allows the driver to select ride height and damper rates.

Available as Coupe or Spider, the sexy good looks of the 8C is untouched. But Novitec does replace the standard rims with three-piece NA3 wheels, 21 inches in front and 22 inches at the back, shod with Pirelli rubber.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 14:23:07 +0000.

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Alfa Romeo MiTo revised for 2011 – new engines included

Anthony Lim — Tue, 03 May 2011 03:33:39 +0000

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Alfa Romeo has released details of the revised MiTo, which gets new engines for 2011 as well as a more streamlined and focused range of versions – nine as opposed to 17 previously.

The sports compact now comes in Sprint form (which replaces both Turismo and Lusso trim levels) as well as Distinctive and Quadrifoglio Verde versions (which replace Veloce and Cloverleaf). At the entry-level point, the car comes in Progression guise.

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Specifications are up, and prices are down, always a good thing. In terms of enhanced specification, Distinctive (formerly Veloce) and Quadrifoglio Verde (Cloverleaf) feature additional equipment, including cruise control, sports pedals and rear parking sensors.

Three new engines find their way on to the car – a 1.4 8v 78 hp unit (available in Progression and Sprint, replacing the 1.4 16v 95 hp unit) with Start&Stop as standard, a 1.4 MultiAir 105 hp available with Sprint or Distinctive trims and a 1.3 JTDM-2 85 hp mill that’s available for the Sprint only.

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The trio join the 135 hp and 170 hp versions of the 1.4 TB MultiAir as well as the 120 hp 1.6 JTDM-2 in the lineup, bringing the number of engine options available for the car to six.

There’s also a new colour for the car, and this is the Metal Bronze shade that was previewed in Geneva earlier this year – on Progression and Sprint versions, the MiTo can also be chosen with new Sprint Bronze upholstery.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 14:23:07 +0000.

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Alfa Romeo 159 gets new interior and 136 hp 2.0 JTDM diesel

Anthony Lim — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 12:53:55 +0000

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To keep things fresh and kicking, Alfa Romeo has dressed up the interior of its 159 sedan for 2011, as well as introduced a new engine variant into the lineup – the new motor is a 136 hp 2.0 JTDM unit. The Euro 5, variable geometry turbocharger-equipped diesel block offers 350 Nm of torque from as low as 1,750 rpm.

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Interior-wise, the 159 now features new sports cloth upholstery or sports leather in black or natural, depending on the trim level chosen (there are three – Turismo, Lusso and the sporty TI). Elsewhere, the cabin gets dressed up with elegant chrome-plated three-layer treatment or brush black aluminium inserts on the dashboard, on the mouldings and on the central console.

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Bagging a TI variant not only gets you the sport bits, all replete in black and aluminium, new carbon fibre inserts on the central console and steering wheel may be ordered as optional items to complete the sport theme.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 14:23:07 +0000.

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Alfa Romeo shows off sexy 4C Concept, on sale in 2012!

Danny Tan — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 12:00:47 +0000

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UPDATE: Interior pic added after the jump.

Beautiful, isn’t it? This is the 4C Concept, a “compact supercar” according to Alfa Romeo. It’s clear that this 4C is the younger sibling of Alfa’s 8C Competizione, both in name and styling. However, the 4C isn’t a front engined, rear driven car like its bigger brother – it has a mid-engine, RWD layout.

Well, if the 8C has a V8 then the 4C would have a four-cylinder, so the 4C Concept is motivated by Alfa’s 1750 turbo petrol engine as found in the range topping Giulietta. It’s a direct injection, dual CVVT engine that features a revolutionary scavenging control system which eliminates turbo lag. In the hatchback, this unit produces 235 PS and 340 Nm. Coupled with the just launched Alfa TCT dry twin-clutch transmission, the 4C Concept does 0-100 km/h in under five seconds. Top speed is above 250 km/h.

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The 4C Concept was developed to be lightweight, so it uses carbon extensively. The chassis supports a body crafted completely from carbon, while the rear frame structure and crash boxes are from aluminium. Final weight is “less than 850 kg” and weight/power ratio is lower than 4 kg/hp. Weight distribution is 40:60. The 4C has Alfa’s DNA selector, which controls the car’s throttle, steering and suspension.

Size wise, the 4C is about four metres long and has a wheelbase of less than 2.4 metres. This means that it’s a very compact sports car – a Porsche Cayman is 4,347 mm long with a wheelbase of 2,415 mm.

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The best news is that the 4C will make it to production. Alfa Romeo says that it will go on sale next year! Pic of the cabin is after the jump.

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This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 14:23:07 +0000.

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Ferdinand Piech: Alfa Romeo sales could quadruple under Volkswagen Group ownership

Paul Tan — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 08:22:47 +0000

Volkswagen’s Ferdinand Piech takes another shot at Alfa Romeo’s current owners Fiat/Chrysler, claiming that Volkswagen could turn around Alfa Romeo and increase sales of the Italian brand up to 400,000 cars a year within 5 years, which is almost quadruple of what the brand is currently doing – about 112,000 cars.

Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne has stated repeatedly that the group would not sell Alfa Romeo anytime soon, even going on to say that as long as he is the CEO of Chrysler and Fiat, Mr. Piech will never have Alfa Romeo.

Such is the allure of the sexy Alfa Romeo brand, that these two bosses seem to treat the ownership of the brand as some kind of status symbol. Alfa Romeo certainly isn’t a profitable brand under Fiat, and in fact Marchionne claims Alfa had always been a money loser in the 7 years he has been at the company, even going as far to say that he wasn’t sure if Alfa Romeo ever really made any money.

On the matter of the sale to Volkswagen, he suggested the German car manufacturer group concentrate on fixing Spanish brand Seat first. Why does Alfa Romeo struggle to sell as many cars as it should, despite having good designs and brand image? Who knows, perhaps with reliable Volkswagen underpinnings it could really do much better than it currently is. The idea of an Alfa Romeo is certainly sexier than a Seat.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 14:23:07 +0000.

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Rumour: Alfa Romeo 4C 2-seater sportscar for Geneva?

Paul Tan — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 21:15:09 +0000

Alfa Romeo is rumored to be set to introduce a concept car at this year’s Geneva show called the Alfa Romeo 4C GTA Concept. It will basically be a preview of an affordable rear wheel drive sports car to be added to the Alfa Romeo model line-up sometime in the future.

Unlike the flagship 8C which can cost over 200,000 Euros, the 4C is intended to be more of a sports car for the masses and an indicative price tag has been set at the 40,000 Euro mark. Alfa Romeo has exhibited similar looking cars in the past, like the Alfa Romeo Diva Concept shown above.

Interestingly, rumors are saying Alfa Romeo is targeting an 850kg curb weight for the 2-seater car, which would basically make it a sort of Italian Lotus Elise. Power will be via a 1.8 litre turbocharged direct injection 4-potter making around 250 horsepower, which would give the car a very nice power to weight ratio if the 850kg target is met. Apparently the chassis will be a derivative of the KTM X-Bow’s.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 14:23:07 +0000.

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Selespeed retired, Alfa MiTo first to get dual-clutch TCT

Danny Tan — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 12:37:41 +0000

Designed to offer the best of both manual and automatic worlds, the Selespeed robotized manual transmission by Alfa Romeo wasn’t as perfect as it could have been. The Magneti Marelli developed gearbox, which made its debut in the Alfa 156 back in 1999, is clunky when left in D and requires some footwork for seamless progress in manual, although it can be quite fun in the right mood. VW’s introduction of the double-clutch DSG left Selespeed with nowhere to hide.

Well, Alfa Romeo has finally pensioned off the Selespeed, replacing it with a 6-speed dry twin clutch gearbox called the TCT. The compact MiTo will be the first to get TCT, which will be partnered with the 1.4 TB MultiAir 135 bhp petrol engine with Start&Stop. Now available in RHD in the UK, the TCT MiTo does 13.7 km/l over an urban cycle, 128 g/km of CO2 and 8.2 seconds from 0-100 km/h, compared to the manual’s 13.5 km/l, 129 g/km and 8.4 seconds.

Developed by Fiat Powertrain Technologies, TCT can modify the speed of gear shift, manage torque delivery (on low grip roads for instance), operate completely automatically or as a manual sequential gearbox, and adopt a usage profile which focuses on reducing fuel consumption.

The TCT is also a compact unit, and more efficient because it’s of the dry type, which means that the clutches aren’t bathed in oil, which introduce viscous friction. The 7-speed DSG on the VW Polo and Golf TSI are also dry clutch ‘boxes, and they’re typically suited to lower torque applications.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 14:23:07 +0000.

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Alfa Romeo and Maserati to get SUV based on Jeep Grand Cherokee platform

Paul Tan — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 15:59:59 +0000

The bond between Fiat and Chrysler continues to grow with this latest piece of news that Maserati and Alfa Romeo may get SUVs based on the Jeep Grand Cherokee platform, which according to Sergio Marchionne can easily take on the larger and more powerful powertrains that a luxury SUV has to offer.

This very same platform is actually shared with Mercedes-Benz and the German company uses it for their ML-Class, which has AMG models on offer. Jeep’s own offering includes a 5.7 litre Hemi and a 6.4 litre SRT-8 Hemi. A large Maserati/Alfa Romeo SUV based on this platform could house Ferrari’s front mounted rear wheel drive engines, already used in Maserati passenger cars.

The new Italian SUV duo could hit the market in 12 to 18 months and a production site is already planned – Chrysler’s Jefferson North assembly plant in Detroit, right smack in the land of SUVs and trucks. We’ve seen a design study of a Maserati SUV in the past – back in 2003 at the Detroit show, the Maserati Kubang concept shown above was exhibited.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 14:23:07 +0000.

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Volkswagen Group said to be interested in Alfa Romeo, but Fiat wont give it up so easily!

Jacob Alexander — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 13:03:54 +0000

It seems that VW may be looking to buy an Italian brand, if reports from Autonews is to be believed, despite there being word in the past that VW already had all the brands it can handle. Two VW executives have said that VW are “seriously interested” in buying Alfa Romeo.

Another unidentified manager at VW also revealed to Automobilwoche: “Alfa is a globally recognized brand with sporty genes and a great tradition. If such a treasure could be had, we must not hesitate… too long.” This comes despite Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn stating: “Our appetite for buying in Italy is fully satisfied.”

As much as VW would like to buy the Italian brand, parent company Fiat aren’t interested in selling. A high-ranking Fiat exec revealed to the publication, “We have no intention at all of selling the brand to Volkswagen,” opting to stick to the turnaround plan Fiat (and Chrysler) has laid out for Alfa Romeo.

This would involve selling 500,000 Alfa Romeos a year, which is said to be an ambitious target if still under Fiat. ”Maybe Alfa could get to a half million unit sales a year, but only after the brand is sold to Volkswagen,” said one analyst from Credit Suisse automotive research department.

”Alfa plans to sell 85,000 units in the United States in 2014, therefore Fiat’s plan really means it wants to boost sales in Europe from 100,000 units to more than 400,000. I do not see how they will be able to steal so many buyers from their German competitors, “ said another analyst in Milan, laying out the facts.

Unfortunately no one really knows the Alfa’s financial predicament at the moment, as Fiat doesn’t separate financial results for its brands, but sources say that Alfa has lost between 200 million and 400 million Euros a year over the past 10 years. Thus if Fiat’s turnaround plan for Alfa doesn’t work, VW could be a viable option for the company.

Source

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 14:23:07 +0000.

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Alfa Romeo 159 TI 3.2 V6 auto spotted at SDAC showroom!

Harvinder Sidhu — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 05:46:57 +0000

We have an interesting piece of news for ‘Alfaholics’ out there! Upon a quick visit at Sime Darby AutoConnexion’s showroom in Petaling Jaya, we stumbled upon a new 159 variant that is likely to be introduced soon. At first glance the red 159 pictured above looked just like a regular 159 2.2 JTS but a TI logo on the front right fender caught our attention!

TI which stands for Turismo Internazionale is a sportier trim level and in Europe it is offered with either a 2.2 JTS 4-cylinder engine, a 3.2 JTS V6 or a 2.4 JTDM. Naturally the 159 TI comes with a unique body kit, a lowered sports suspension, large 19-inch wheels, red Brembo brake calipers as well as other trim upgrades such as chromed wing mirrors and exhaust tailpipes.

The interior sports electric and heated front seats, different instrument dials, aluminum sports pedals, kick plates, trim inserts, a leather-clad sports steering wheel and gear knob. On the 159 TI we have here, we can see a sportier body kit, 19-inch wheels and red brake calipers. The rear end sports chrome exhaust tailpipes and a V6 designation! This goes to indicate that the 159 has a 3.2 JTS V6 with 256hp and 322Nm of torque at 3,800 RPM. Compared to the 2.2 JTS, the V6 makes 71hp and 92Nm of torque more.

A quick look at the interior reveals different seats, which look sportier and feature Alfa Romeo emblems that are stitched in red. We can also see a slightly different centre-dash trim and a gear lever fitment that suggests an automatic transmission. This could well be the QTRONIC 6-speed automatic. If the rather jerky Selespeed transmission in the 2.2 JTS is stopping you from buying the 159, this could help change that.

In Europe the TI with the 3.2 V6 also comes with a Q4 all-wheel-drive system, but that is unlikely for the local version we are bound to get. The Alfa Romeo 159 2.2 JTS currently carries a RM195,888 price tag. The 159 TI 3.2 V6 could be priced anywhere between RM200,000 and RM300,000.

Continue reading to view high-res versions of the spy images.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 14:23:07 +0000.

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Special edition Alfa GT Quadrifoglio d’ Oro for Japan

Jacob Alexander — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 04:34:40 +0000

Fiat Automobiles Japan have released a special edition Alfa Romeo GT Quadrifoglio d’ Oro that will have a limited run of 60 units. If you’re racking your brain trying to figure out what Quadrifoglio d’Oro means, it’s Golden Clover. This has been used in the past by Alfa to symbolise top of the range models, using either a gold or silver clover leaf.

Changes to the car are cosmetic such as the 18-inch five-spoke alloy wheels, 225/40 tyres, brake calipers finished in red, body coloured door mirrors and gold leaf clover badging. Inside, the interior will feature leather, sports seats and aluminium sports pedals.

Under the hood is a 163 hp/206 Nm 2.0-litre JTS petrol engine coupled with a 5-speed Selespeed transmission. This is the same drivetrain that Sime Darby Auto Italia brings in for our GT, which retails at RM218,888.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 14:23:07 +0000.

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ItaliaAuto celebrates Alfa Romeo’s 100th anniversary

Harvinder Sidhu — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 04:05:25 +0000

It was exactly 100 years ago when Ugo Stella along with some investors established a Milan-based company called A.L.F.A (Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili). The foundation of A.L.F.A was first laid by the SAID company or Società Anonima Italiana Darracq. SAID was formed in 1906 and it was set up by France’s Alexandre Darracq and some investors including Ugo Stella.

SAID did produce cars like the Darracq 8/10 HP but sales were not doing well, which led to the formation of A.L.F.A. The company produced it’s first car, the A.L.F.A 24 HP in 1910 which was also raced in the 1911 Targa Florio. The car featured a 4.0 litre 4-cylinder engine which made 42hp. Ten years later the name of the company was changed to Alfa Romeo and the first car to use that designation was the 67hp Torpedo 20/30 HP.

Many years later in 1986 the company was suffering from financial turmoil and was subsequently taken over by the Fiat group and it continues to remain under the group’s umbrella. Today Alfa Romeo is going strong and is famously known as a very enthusiast-centric car maker, with gorgeous looking cars such as the 159, GT, Brera, Spider and the cute little MiTo. However Alfa Romeo cars are also known for notorious unreliability, nevertheless its something Alfa Romeo seems to be keeping in check these days.

Right here in Malaysia, an Alfa Romeo club called ItaliaAuto held a Centenary Celebration Drive event which saw up to 70 Alfa Romeos drive up to Awana Genting via the Ulu Yam route, which offered beautiful curvaceous roads. The drive event was flagged off from Sime Darby AutoConnexion’s brand new showroom at Jalan Ipoh yesterday morning. Among the cars that graced the event was a rather special, white colored 1964 Alfa Romeo Giulia Spider. Also part of the classic Alfa Romeo movement was a 1973 Alfa Romeo GTV 2000 and a 1975 Alfa Romeo Giulia 1600 Super.

We have compiled an image gallery filled with 100 photos for your viewing pleasure. Check it out after the jump, enjoy!

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 14:23:07 +0000.

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Sydney cops use Alfa MiTo patrol car to “attract attention”

Danny Tan — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 07:17:50 +0000

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The Sydney Police Force in Australia has taken delivery of its latest patrol car, the Alfa Romeo MiTo. Alfa’s chic baby isn’t the first interesting car to be driven by the coppers from Down Under however; past desirable police cars include the Holden HSV GTO, Fiat 500, Lotus Exige, Chrysler 300C and Alfa Romeo GT.

But isn’t the MiTo a little too tame and dainty to chase down big Aussie muscle? Before you imagine a fashionable, petite lady chasing down a burly beer guzzling guy down the street, the Alfa’s role in the Force isn’t to pursue, but to advocate, although with 155 bhp/230 Nm from its 1.4-litre turbo, it shouldn’t do too badly when duty calls.

“When it comes to visibility, the MiTo has proven to be an exceptional car, attracting attention and interest like no other car, with its primary role as providing a talking point from which we can discuss road safety,” Chief Superintendent Bradley Shepherd explained.

“We see this as practical and highly cost effective way that we can play our role in a safer community for everyone. Our cars assist the Police in making contact with a wide range of people so they can discuss and offer help with road safety and crime prevention, as well as providing the practical assistance of transport. We believe that this is a very positive role that we can play in the community,” said Andrei Zaitzev, GM of Alfa Romeo Australia.

One more photo after the jump.

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This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 14:23:07 +0000.

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Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa race car by Zagato

Danny Tan — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 02:13:38 +0000

This is not a concept car like the Alfa Romeos we saw in Geneva, namely the 2uettottanta roadster by Pininfarina and the outrageous Pandion by Bertone, but a real race car. It was commissioned by Alfa collector Martin Kapp (you can see the German’s name on the car) who owns rare stuff like the SZ coda tonda, SZ coda tronca, TZ and TZ2, Junior Z and S.Z, among others.

Zagato says that the TZ3 Corsa honours 100 years of racing and winning in the 20th century. Alfa and Zagato has a long history together, from the Mille Miglia victories of the 1500 6C, 1750 GS and 8C 2300 Zagato to the Formula 1 championship of Juan Manuel Fangio, aboard his Alfa 159 bodied by Zagato. In the 60s, they conqured the 12 hours of Sebring, Targa Florio, Nurburgring and the 24 hours of Le Mans together.

Powered by the 8C Competizione’s V8, the TZ3 Corsa is based on a monocoque carbon fibre tubular chassis, coupled with a tubular frame and a lightweight aluminium body. It comes with goodies from OMP and Pirelli. Check out the gallery after the jump.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 14:23:07 +0000.

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VIDEO: New Alfa Romeo Giulietta Promo Released!

Paul Tan — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 15:52:46 +0000

Here’s another promo video for the new Alfa Romeo Giulietta and this time they’ve made it a little more exciting than the first one we checked out back in January. With Sime Darby AutoconneXion really getting the ball rolling with new models here in Malaysia (I just saw the facelifted Range Rover on trucks today across the Federal Highway), there’s a good chance we may just see the Giulietta here in Malaysia by the end of the year to accompany the 159. Four turbo engines are available at launch – two turbo petrols (120 bhp 1.4TB and 170 bhp 1.4TB MultiAir) and two MultiJet turbodiesels (105 bhp 1.6 JTDM and 170 bhp 2.0 JTDM). All these powerplants come with a 6-speed manual gearbox, but a dual-clutch transmission will be coming soon as the automatic option – with this, we can finally bid farewell to Alfa’s frustrating Selespeed!

Anyway, enjoy the new promo video after the jump.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 14:23:07 +0000.

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Pininfarina’s Alfa Spider proposal is impossibly sleek

Danny Tan — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:14:32 +0000

Alfa Romeo and Pininfarina have a long history of over 70 years working together to create some of the most seductive cars ever seen. The famous carrozzeria designed and assembled the beautiful original Alfa Spider “Duetto” back in 1966, and also penned the next Spider of 1995 along with its fixed roof GTV sister. Pininfarina also had a hand in today’s Spider, although the Brera on which it’s based on is a Giugiaro design.

Named the 2uettottanta, this roadster concept marks its maker’s 80th anniversary and is also a tribute to Alfa Romeo, which celebrates its centenary this year. Described as “a car that can make people dream and excites even after many years” the 2uettottanta is a “simple 2-seater” proposed with a 1,750 cc turbo engine placed longitudinally – a reference to the 1750 Veloce of the 70s. Measuring 4,213 mm long with a 2,500 mm wheelbase, the concept is slightly more compact than today’s car.

The car’s cabin has a minimalist driver-oriented configuration starring Alfa Romeo’s trademark “tubes” that contain the instruments (which has been copied by about everyone by now). It’s all very realistic too, Pininfarina even incorporated Alfa’s DNA switch into the design. The centre tunnel that runs through the cabin has a cutout to expose the carbon fibre chassis beneath.

Judging from how impossibly sleek and sexy this proposal for the next Spider is, we won’t be surprised if Alfa bosses sealed the deal with Pininfarina immediately. There was talk before the Geneva show that all three big Italian design houses were to come up with one concept each for Alfa Romeo’s birthday, proposing a new design direction for the marque’s future mid-sized range. Pininfarina has this, Bertone has the Pandion, but all Italdesign had for Geneva was for Proton! Perhaps Signor Giugiaro decided that EMAS is a better investment!

You MUST check out the live and official images of this beauty. It’s after the jump.

Pininfarina 2uettottanta live images from Geneva

Pininfarina 2uettottanta official images

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 14:23:07 +0000.

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Sexy Alfa Romeo Giulietta says ciao to Selespeed!

Danny Tan — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 21:10:32 +0000

The 147 replacement Alfa Romeo Giulietta will be without doubt the most sensational looking five-door hatchback in the market when it goes on sale in Italy later this month. Making its world debut in Geneva, the first right-hand drive models will go to the UK in June. Sime Darby Auto ConneXion, how about this for a 2010 Christmas present for the Malaysian market?

The Giulietta takes on Alfa’s current long headamps as seen on the Mito supermini, but with a strip of four LED driving lamps residing within them. Alfa’s famous shield grille sits inside a larger triangle while the lower bumper is very sculpted. The profile features a strong shoulder line that “disappears” in the middle before emerging again on the rear doors, which handles are hidden like the 147′s (there won’t be a three-door variant). The Giulietta’s rear end sports a distinctive LED pattern in the taillamps and a diffuser-style rear bumper with two exhaust tips. To sum it all up in one word – sexy.

Four turbo engines are available at launch, all Euro5 compliant and with Start/Stop tech: two petrols (120 bhp 1.4TB and 170 bhp 1.4TB MultiAir) and two second-gen MultiJet diesels (105 bhp 1.6 JTDM and 170 bhp 2.0 JTDM). All these powerplants come with a 6-speed manual gearbox, but a dual-clutch transmission will be coming soon as the automatic option – with this, we can bid farewell to Alfa’s frustrating Selespeed ‘box. Ciao!

Also coming soon is a hot 235 bhp 1750 TBi Cloverleaf version. This engine is said to have “performance comparable to – or better than – that of many 3.0-litre engines while still delivering fuel consumption typical of a compact four cylinder unit,” says Alfa Romeo. The Italian firm also pointed out that at 134 bhp/litre, specific output is the highest ever achieved by an Alfa Romeo engine. Max torque of 340 Nm (at 1,900 rpm) is much more than what the VW Golf GTI produces, so performance should be superb, and we’re guaranteed a good soundtrack from Alfa too. We’re salivating already thinking of it!

Live pictures from Geneva after the jump!

Alfa Romeo Giulietta live images from Geneva

Alfa Romeo Giulietta official images

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 14:23:07 +0000.

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Bertone Pandion for Alfa Romeo – a beautiful mess!

Danny Tan — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 04:23:08 +0000

After a two year absence from the international scene, Bertone returns with a bang by unveiling one of the most memorable cars of this year’s Geneva show – the Pandion concept, as a tribute to Alfa Romeo’s’ 100-year anniversary and also a proposal for the future look of the brand.

The first car penned by Mike Robinson in his new role as Design and Brand Director at Bertone, the Pandion is named after the Pandion Haliaetus, a scientific name for the Osprey sea hawk. And it’s this bird’s wings that inspired the Pandion’s most striking feature – those spectacular doors that open upwards to the air. They incorporate the car’s front and rear fenders and stand exactly 90 degrees straight from the centre of the rear wheels. In the event of a rollover, the doors are designed to fall off for easy exit, says Bertone.

Apparently, the bird’s face also influenced the Pandion’s front design, which its creator describes as looking like the “helmet of ancient warriors” while still recognisable as an Alfa. More interesting is the rear, which sports blades in various width and length intertwined randomly. Bertone designers call this “dematerialization”, which makes the car looks like it’s moving even when standing still. This randomness continues in the cabin that is nestled in “vines”. All very messy, but somehow very beautiful.

Motor shows are about eye candy (we’re not just talking about the ladies), and the dramatic Bertone Pandion is a very sweet example in a store full of increasingly predictable concept cars. Live and official images after the jump!

PS: If you’re wondering who is that old lady in the gallery, she’s Lili, widow of Nuccio Bertone, legendary designer and son of the company’s founder.

Bertone Pandion live images from Geneva

Bertone Pandion official images

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 14:23:07 +0000.

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Special Alfa MiTo courtesy cars for Maserati owners

Danny Tan — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 04:08:09 +0000

Courtesy cars are nice to have when you send in your car for dealer attention, but when you own an Italian exotic, not any courtesy car will do, as you still need to look stylish without your mega bucks ride. It’ll be perfect if your temporary car is also Italian, and also exotic.

Well, here is it. The Alfa Romeo MiTo is also Italian and also exotic, albeit on a different level. European Maserati owners will now get MiTo courtesy cars produced exclusively by Alfa Romeo for sister company Maserati. 100 units of these special purpose cars will be made, painted in Maserati Blu Oceano and with a limited edition plaque on the dashboard. The little car’s kick plates will also bear the words “Alfa Romeo for Maserati”.

Based on the range topping MiTo, it will be powered by a 1.4-litre MultiAir turbo engine with 170 bhp. Creature comforts include Pelle Frau leather and a radio navigator covering the whole of Europe. Maser’s MiTo will also get 18-inch alloys and Dynamic Suspension electronic shock absorber control system.

Designer casual wear when you’re not in the usual designer suit. Same concept as Aston Martin’s Cygnet, but this one is not for sale! More pictures after the jump!

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 14:23:07 +0000.

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Alfa Giulietta promo video is an absolute bore

Paul Tan — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 23:52:35 +0000

Look after the jump and you’ll find the first video showing the new Alfa Romeo Giulietta in motion. Except the Giulietta isn’t exactly in motion. All that’s moving is the camera shooting the Giulietta in a rather dramatic style, and you get to hear some ‘inner driver alter ego’ talking to you about how great the car is to drive. All while you watch a white Giulietta just sitting there, doing nothing. You’d think that to set a potential Alfa owner’s heart pulsing we’d get to hear at least the engine. But no. We do get to see how the tail lamps light up in the dark though.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 14:23:07 +0000.

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Alfa Romeo 159 price revised upwards

Danny Tan — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 08:50:04 +0000

Sime Darby Auto ConneXion, the company behind Ford, Land Rover and Alfa Romeo, has announced a new price for the Alfa Romeo 159. Available only in 2.2 JTS spec with Selespeed gearbox, it is now priced at RM195,888 (nett selling price excluding insurance, road tax and registration fees). The previous price was RM188,888.

For your RM200,000, the 159 comes with 9 airbags (front, rear, window, driver’s knee), Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC), auto lights and wipers, bi-xenons, three-zone climate control, sunroof and 18-inch alloys, among other kit.

The direct injection 2.2 JTS engine comes with 185 bhp and 230 Nm of torque, good for 0-100 km/h in 8.8 seconds and a top speed of 222 km/h.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 14:23:07 +0000.

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Alfa Romeo Giulietta: new photos released!

Danny Tan — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 04:14:15 +0000

Alfa Romeo has released fresh images of the Giulietta ahead of its world debut at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. Earlier this month we posted up three pics of a white example of Alfa’s 147 replacement; you can now see the car in red (a more appropriate colour for an Alfa, I think) and a view of the interior, which features some exquisite detailing for what’s essentially a mainstream Golf-class hatchback.

The Italians have an effortless sense of style that seems to come with their genes – Alfa Romeos (in general) are not only a treat to the eyes, but have really sweet engines as well, which adds to the allure.

For more technical info, check out our previous post. The gallery is after the jump.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 14:23:07 +0000.

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Alfa Romeo Brera Italia Independent

Danny Tan — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 08:03:35 +0000

Alfa Romeos are stylish things, and the brand possesses a somewhat exotic image among mass market manufacturers. Perhaps it’s the Italian heritage, or the usually sexy design of its cars, but many of us do have a craving for these Alfas, even if our wallets disapprove. And to further cement its high fashion image, Alfa has collaborated with fashion house Italia Independent for a special edition Brera that’s limited to 900 units.

According to the maker of “personal belongings” the Italia Independent concept is “an eye for detail and the continuous search for quality with a distinctive style”. Our detailed eye spots out “titanium” paint, 18-inch turbine-style dark alloys and red brake calipers hiding inside, plus an aluminum fuel cap with the Alfa logo. The cabin is full of carbonfibre, black leather and red stitching, and a smattering of Italia Independent logos. Not sure if this is nicer than the red leather with gunmetal grey trim Brera that you can view at Auto ConneXion showrooms.

The standard Brera with 2.2 JTS engine sold in Malaysia is poor value for money at RM308,888, and it doesn’t need the VW Scirocco (more power, faster, more space) to point that out – Alfa’s own 159 saloon, which shares the coupe’s engine, Selespeed gearbox and nice dash design goes for RM188,888! I prefer the saloon too in terms of driving – it has better ride quality and feels more light footed.

Check out more pics of the Brera Italia Independent after the jump.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 14:23:07 +0000.

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Alfa Romeo Giulietta – a long overdue first look

Paul Tan — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 14:50:39 +0000

These are the first 3 photos released of the new Alfa Romeo Giulietta, which is finally here! The Alfa Romeo 147 was a really fun little car even in 2.0 litre guise, and no one else has been able to make inline-4 engines sound like how Alfa 4-potters sound. But even so, the 147 is really getting abit old – it’s been around since 2000!

The new Giulietta has been a long time coming. Until just a few days ago it wasn’t even going to be called Giulietta. We first heard of the name 149, and then the name Alfa Romeo Milano. The Giulietta will join the Mito as the second of Alfa Romeo’s new modern range of cars that do not use a numeric naming scheme. The next generation 159 will probably follow suit.

The new Alfa Romeo Giulietta is 4,350mm long, 1,450mm tall and 1,800mm wide with a wheelbase of 2,630mm. The entire engine range will be turbocharged, starting from a small 120 horsepower turbo 1.4 litre up to a 170 horsepower version of the 1.4 litre turbo engine. The other two engines are turbodiesels, rated at 105 hp from a 1.6 litre and 170hp from a 2.0 litre. A range-topping Quadrifoglio (four leaf clover) version will come with the new 1.8 litre TBi engine making 235 horses.

We only have these three photos for now but the car will be fully unveiled to the public at the Geneva show next year. The car is Golf-sized and technically should be cheaper than the 159, so could it be priced in Malaysia between the Mito and the 159? That would put it somewhere smack in the middle of the RM100k to RM200k range. It definitely looks good, but try covering up the front end – do you see a bit of Subaru Impreza hatch in it?

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 14:23:07 +0000.

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Fancy a pair of jeans with your new MiTo?

Paul Tan — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 10:19:04 +0000

Now this is quite interesting, you can now grab a pair of jeans to go with your newly launched (in Malaysia) Alfa Romeo MiTo. Alfa Romeo teamed up with fashion expert Louise Roe and London-based fashion designers Bjork and McElligott to design a range of MiTo jeans. Alfa Romeo icons such as the Alfa Romeo badge’s serpent are used to decorate the designs. The jeans are going for £75 a pair and are available for sale at two Donna Ida retail outlets in the UK. Proceeds from the sales will go towards the Jeans for Genes charity.

Look after the jump for more pix of the MiTo and the jeans.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 14:23:07 +0000.

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Alfa Romeo’s new 1750 TBi turbo engine

Paul Tan — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 10:38:32 +0000

The new 1.8 litre turbocharged Alfa Romeo engine is now officially available in the 2010 Alfa Romeo 159 range, after being previewed to the public earlier this year at Geneva in March. The new model variant is called the Alfa Romeo 159 1750 TBi and is positioned between the 2.2 JTS and the 3.2 JTS.

The 1.8 litre (1,742cc) engine makes a peak torque of 320Nm from just 1,400rpm, and peak power of 200 PS is achieved between 4,750rpm and 5,500rpm. These are very impressive power stats as lots of power is made throughout a rather wide range (thanks to variable valve timing, turbocharging and direct injection).

I believe there’s some very good tuning potential here, at the expense of narrower powerbands as a trade-off. The variable valve timing is configured to set valve overlap times in a way (VVT is on both intake and exhaust) that helps spool up the KKK fixed geometry microcast steel turbocharger up faster. 0 to 100km/h takes 7.7 seconds.

Other than what’s described above, the engine has a few more tricks up its sleeve. The 9.5:1 compression pistons have flexible rings and use materials that are designed to reduce wear. The aluminium alloy cylinder head uses roller rocker arms to help reduce losses through sliding contact by up to 65% at 2,000rpm, compared to normal cylinder heads. In Malaysia, only the 2.2 JTS version is available as of now.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 14:23:07 +0000.

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Cute little turbocharged Alfa Romeo MiTo can be yours for RM153,888++

Paul Tan — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 15:43:10 +0000

Think small, expensive but remarkably charming small hatchbacks and only three cars will come to mind – the MINI, and more recently the Fiat 500 and the Alfa Romeo MiTo. As of today, all three are now available in Malaysia. The MiTo offers a much more affordable price compared to the MINI Cooper and Cooper S, retailing at RM153,888 OTR excluding insurance, registration and road tax.

The 3-door MiTo shares the same engine as the Fiat Bravo – a 1.4 litre turbocharged engine producing 155 horsepower, and in the MiTO it is mated to a 6-speed manual. It is the only transmission available in the car right now, so you’ll have to work your left leg a little if you want to cruise around town with style in this particular Italian baby. 0 to 100km/h takes 8 seconds, and the car is rated to drink only 6.5 litres of petrol per 100km traveled.

There is a decent list of equipment including cruise control, auto clmate control, LED rear lamps, steering wheel audio, VDC with hill holder function (great for starting on a slope if you’re still rusty with the manual’s clutch), a 6-speaker audio system.

There is a little three-position switch near the gear lever which will alter the throttle response and steering assist for three driving environments – Dynamic, Normal and All Weather. This is called the Alfa Romeo DNA system. The MiTo is also equipped with the Q2 electronic limited slip differential, a grand total of 7 airbags including a driver’s kneebag, and finally the chassis is rated 5 stars by Euro NCAP.

Public viewing and test drives are available at the Auto ConneXion Alfa Romeo 3S Centre at Jalan 13/2 Petaling Jaya. More photos of the MiTo available after the jump.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 14:23:07 +0000.

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Paul Tan's Automotive News » Alfa Romeo

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