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

November 9, 2010 at 11:59 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Alfa Romeo, Cars, International News, Jeep, Maserati

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.

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

August 28, 2010 at 9:03 pm By Jacob Alexander Filed Under Alfa Romeo, Cars, Fiat, International News, Volkswagen

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

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

August 28, 2010 at 1:46 pm By Harvinder Sidhu Filed Under Alfa Romeo, Cars, Local News

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.
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Special edition Alfa GT Quadrifoglio d’ Oro for Japan

August 5, 2010 at 12:34 pm By Jacob Alexander Filed Under Alfa Romeo, Cars, International News


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.

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ItaliaAuto celebrates Alfa Romeo’s 100th anniversary

July 4, 2010 at 12:05 pm By Harvinder Sidhu Filed Under Alfa Romeo, Cars, Local News

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

June 7, 2010 at 3:17 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Alfa Romeo, Cars, International News


Click to enlarge

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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Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa race car by Zagato

April 27, 2010 at 10:13 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Alfa Romeo, Cars, International News

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.
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VIDEO: New Alfa Romeo Giulietta Promo Released!

March 22, 2010 at 11:52 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Alfa Romeo, Cars, Videos

Alfa Romeo Giulietta

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.
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Pininfarina’s Alfa Spider proposal is impossibly sleek

March 10, 2010 at 1:14 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under 2010 Geneva Motor Show, Alfa Romeo, Cars

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.
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Sexy Alfa Romeo Giulietta says ciao to Selespeed!

March 8, 2010 at 5:10 am By Danny Tan Filed Under 2010 Geneva Motor Show, Alfa Romeo, Cars

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!
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