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VIDEO: Alfa Romeo proves that no place is safe from billboards - not even Marianas Trench

Jonny Lieberman — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 12:28:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Europe, Videos, Alfa Romeo

Alfa Romeo can't go any lower - click above to watch the video

Years ago, we read a book by Jerry Mander called Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television. While we can't remember the four arguments, we'll never forget one point Mr. Mander made. "People in advertising are either good at controlling peoples' minds, or they enjoy it." With that said, it looks like Alfa Romeo hired a bunch of people that enjoy controlling folks' minds, but aren't very good at it.

What are we talking about? Alfa is selling its sexy little 147 for less than €15,000 (circa $21,600 USD) with a tagline, "We Couldn't Go Any Lower." To prove that mantra, they decided to go ahead and lower a billboard more than 36,000 feet down into the Marinas Trench. If you don't know, the Marianas Trench is the absolute lowest point on earth, more than seven miles below sea level (actual depth is 11,034 meters, or 36,200 feet). And Alfa Romeo just dropped a billboard into it.

We don't know about you, but we had a pretty visceral reaction to this video. From the self-satisfied, spiky-haired, twenty-something Euro-boy ad men to the fact that they actually went ahead and stuck a billboard in the Marianas Trench, the whole thing feels wrong and sits wrong with us. It would be like placing a Big Mac ad on top of Mount Everest, or advertising Quarter Pounders atop Angel Falls. Of course, there is the chance that either A) The whole campaign is a well staged hoax - although they've gone to the trouble of building a whole website to chronicle the process B) They raised the billboard up after filming the video. But still... bad taste... or is that just us? Make the jump to watch the video, decide for yourself, and then drop us your thoughts in Comments. Hat tip to Oliver!

[Source: YouTube via Expedition 147]

Continue reading VIDEO: Alfa Romeo proves that no place is safe from billboards - not even Marianas Trench

VIDEO: Alfa Romeo proves that no place is safe from billboards - not even Marianas Trench originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Dec 2009 12:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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C-Evo: Alfa Romeo 149 to get its own new platform... sorta

Noah Joseph — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 18:58:00 EST

Filed under: Alfa Romeo

Alfa 149 rendering by Progetto 940

Remember how Ferrari kept saying it wasn't making a cheaper model despite the plethora of spy shots indicating otherwise? Well technically they were right: the California, as it turned out to be, is no cheaper than an F430. Ferrari's sister company Alfa Romeo seems to be going the same route. Although earlier reports had suggested that the upcoming 149, as it's being tentatively called, would share its platform with the Fiat Bravo, Alfa insisted the new car, pictured above in a rendering from Progetto 940, would get its own distinct platform.

The truth, it seems, lies somewhere in the middle. Although the basic architecture will be based on what underpins the Fiat Bravo and Lancia Delta, Alfa's platform will be heavily modified to the point of bearing little resemblance to its corporate cousins. Dubbed "C-Evo", the newish Alfa Romeo platform will be more performance-oriented than the Fiat one on which it's based, and will underpin the five-door hatchback slated to replace the 147, as well as the future successor to the 159. The next Brera and Spider could also borrow off that (unfortunately front-drive) platform, along with an anticipated upcoming crossover.

[Source: Progetto940.it via eurocarblog]

C-Evo: Alfa Romeo 149 to get its own new platform... sorta originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Sep 2008 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spied & Rendered: Alfa Romeo 149

Noah Joseph — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 07:58:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Europe, Hatchback, Alfa Romeo, Rendered Speculation

As Alfa Romeo prepares to launch its next all-new model, dubbed the 149, test mules have been spotted, details have come into focus and speculations have been rendered.

The five-door hatchback will join the MiTo in replacing the aging 147. Sources suggest that the 149 moniker could be dropped before the car is unveiled next year, only a few telling months after the Volkswagen Golf VI is due for its debut. Borrowing styling cues from the 8C Competizione and MiTo, the Alfa 149 is expected it to include a new three-arm rear suspension and Alfa's trick Q2 differential, with the eventual availability of Q4 all-wheel-drive remaining a question mark. Diesel and gasoline engines are anticipated to range between 120 and 250 horsepower, and the 149 is tipped to be complying with the upcoming six-star EuroNCAP safety rating, and more tellingly, new U.S. crash requirements as well.

Some still maintain that the Alfa hatch will be based on the same platform that underpins the Fiat Bravo and Lancia Delta, although Alfa representatives have asserted that the 149 will spearhead its own unique platform. Either way, the platform could underpin the replacement for the 159 sedan and wagon, as well as the replacements for the Brera and Spider, while Alfa executives continue to deliberate over the possibility of a crossover model as well.

[Sources: Autocar and Projetto 940]

Spied & Rendered: Alfa Romeo 149 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Aug 2008 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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