Autoblog

Is the next Dodge Viper really just a reskinned Alfa 8C?

Noah Joseph — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 19:32:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Dodge, Alfa Romeo, Rumormill

Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione - Click above for high-res image gallery

Snakes are known to regularly shed their skin to reveal a shimmering new coat underneath. Doing it the other way around would be a unique trick, but if the latest reports are to be believed, that might be what we're looking at.

Last week at a dealers' conference, Fiat/Chrysler chief Sergio Marchionne reportedly pulled the covers off a new-generation Dodge Viper. With the current model having already been axed, our interest was, to say the least, piqued by this development. New reports emanating from the exclusive preview have given us cause for a little more consternation, however.

According to AutoWeek, the new Viper - expected to arrive sometime late next year as a 2012 model - looked eerily like an Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione with a more Dodge-like front end. That would be a shame, since the Alfa's styling is its biggest asset; its chassis and performance dynamics, less so. Giving the 8C - based, as it is, on age-old Maserati architecture - a new shell and calling it a Viper strikes us as all kinds of wrong. Then again, like a great many rumors in the autosphere, this could all be mere conjecture.

Gallery: Quick Spin: 2009 Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione

[Source: AutoWeek]

Is the next Dodge Viper really just a reskinned Alfa 8C? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 19 Sep 2010 19:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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200 Chrysler dealerships to sell Alfa Romeo by late 2012

Chris Shunk — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 08:29:00 EST

Filed under: Chrysler, Alfa Romeo, Fiat

Alfa Romeo Spyder concept by Pininfarina - Click above for high-res image gallery

Fiat is a few months away from awarding 200 Fiat-branded retail outlets to select Chrysler dealers. The first vehicle those new stores will sell will be the Fiat 500, and there won't be any Chrysler, Dodge or Jeep-branded models in sight. But that doesn't mean Fiat will have those dealerships to themselves for very long.

According to Automotive News, company CEO Sergio Marchionne announced at an event in Toledo, Ohio that those Fiat stores will also sell Alfa Romeo vehicles by late 2012. Marchionne has already announced that the first Alfa to hit North American shores will be the Giulia sedan and wagon, followed at some point by a midsize SUV, a subcompact, a hatchback and even a roadster. That's a lot of Alfa, and the Italian automaker will need all of those models to be at least moderately successful if it has any shot at reaching its lofty goal of 500,000 Alfa Romeo sales by 2014.

Before we get to 2012 and the return of Alfa Romeo on our shores, we need to get a clearer picture of what Fiat's plans are for the U.S. AN reports that the Fiat forecast will clear up soon, as the Turin, Italy-based automaker plans to educate Chrysler dealers during an August 30th briefing.

Gallery: Alfa Romeo 2uettottanta by Pininfarina

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

200 Chrysler dealerships to sell Alfa Romeo by late 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Aug 2010 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Marchionne: Chrysler profit not likely for 2010

Dan Roth — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 13:59:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Chrysler, Earnings/Financials, Fiat

Sergio Marchionne harbors no illusions about Chrysler being in the black for 2010. The Detroit News reports the Chrysler chairman and Fiat CEO stated flat out that a net profit in 2010 isn't likely during an August 23rd tour of a Toledo Jeep plant. Despite recent reports of operating profits from Chrysler, there's still tremendous cost associated with loan interest payments and a lineup of moribund product to turn over. Add to the mix the reintroduction of Fiat automobiles to the U.S. market, and you've got an outlook that's best described as "challenging."

Still, Marchionne told U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, also in attendance, that Chrysler is "ahead of plan" during the tour. That plan includes paying back its $12 billion in governmental loans and launching the Fiat 500 in North America. A meeting on August 30th will lay out the requirements for dealers interested in Fiat stores, and Marchionne reports strong interest.

Dealers that choose to take on Fiat must create standalone showrooms for the brand, requiring significant investment, though there's little overlap between Fiat and Chrysler product lines to muddy sales efforts. Other rumors that Marchionne dodged were talk of a Jeep Liberty-based SUV to be built in Toledo, and whether or not an Alfa Romeo sedan will be built in Brampton, Ontario.

[Source: Detroit News]

Marchionne: Chrysler profit not likely for 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Aug 2010 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monterey 2010: Pebble Beach honors Alfa Romeo on its 100th birthday

Frank Filipponio — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 14:29:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Concept Cars, Motorsports, Classics, Misc. Auto Shows, Alfa Romeo

A Century of Alfa Romeos at the 2010 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance - Click above for our high-res image gallery

It might be hard to believe, but Alfa Romeo is a century old. Check that - A.L.F.A. (Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili, or Lombardy Car Manufacturing Company) is 100, having been established in 1910. That was the year that a group of Milanese enthusiasts decided they could build cars better than the stuff they were getting from foreign automakers. ALFA wasn't very successful at first - at least not financially - but during World War I, the company was taken over by a young engineer, Nicola Romeo, and the rest, as they say, is history. 100 years later, we have some of the most incredible and memorable sports and racing cars of all time wearing the cross-and-serpent or the Quadrifoglio.

At the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance on Sunday, the automaker received a warm welcome, with two dozen or so of their most significant models on hand for the festivities - many from the factory museum. Those 24 cars represented just a small sample of the sports and racing cars that made the company famous - everything from one of their first 1910 A.L.F.A. 24-hp Torpedo model, to the bio-mechanical 2010 Alfa Romeo Pandion Bertone Coupé.

It was a great gathering of incredible cars to honor this legendary automaker as it enters its second century, a century that will thankfully see its return to the United States market. It's hard to say if today's models will stand the test of time like the classics gathered at Pebble, but we think that the 8C Competizione will look sensational out there on the 18th fairway in 40 years, just like it does today.

Gallery: Alfa Romeo 100th Anniversary at Pebble Beach

Monterey 2010: Pebble Beach honors Alfa Romeo on its 100th birthday originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Aug 2010 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monterey 2010: Alfa Romeo centenary celebrated con brio

Frank Filipponio — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 17:10:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Alfa Romeo

2010 Concorso Italiano celebrates Alfa Romeo centenery - Click above for high-res image gallery

The year 2010 marks the 100th birthday of Alfa Romeo, the great Italian automaker that has given us some of the most lust-worthy road and race cars of, well, the last century. It was fitting, therefore, that Concorso Italiano celebrated the occasion with gusto. They even let the Alfas spell out the annual message to the heavens: a simple "100." It would have been interesting to see them try to use 100 cars to do so; goodness knows there were at least that many Alfas on hand.

Check out the gallery and you'll see a small sampling of the great variety of Alfas on display. As much as we like the new 8C Competizione, we have to say our favorite Alfa Romeo at Concorso was probably John Shirley's 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B. Just take a look at that rear!

Gallery: Monterey 2010: Alfa Romeo 100th birthday at Concorso Italiano

Monterey 2010: Alfa Romeo centenary celebrated con brio originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 14 Aug 2010 17:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Alfa MiTo Touring Sport is more equal, less special than others

Noah Joseph — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 08:29:00 EST

Filed under: Hatchback, Alfa Romeo, UK

Alfa Romeo MiTo Touring Sport - Click above for high-res images

"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others." George Orwell may have thought he was writing about the pitfalls of communism, but though he may not have known it, his words were eerily prophetic in the context of the auto industry. Take, for example, the latest special edition from Alfa Romeo.

Created specifically for the UK market, the MiTo Turismo Sport is another example of a special edition that's hardly any more special than the model it's based on. In fact, all it seems to do is limit selection - to three colors (black, white or red) and two engine options (gasoline or diesel, each producing a paltry 95 horsepower). What's "special" about it is that it bundles several popular options - alloys, cruise control, Blue&Me infotainment system, etc - into one package that sells at a value. So it's special, as long as you would have ordered yours within those parameters anyway, or don't mind limiting your choices.

All special editions are special, but some are more special than others. This particular example, then, is more the former than the latter. Details in the press release after the jump.

Gallery: Alfa Romeo MiTo Touring Sport

[Source: Alfa Romeo]

Continue reading Alfa MiTo Touring Sport is more equal, less special than others

Alfa MiTo Touring Sport is more equal, less special than others originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Aug 2010 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Happy Birthdays: Chopard celebrates Alfa Romeo with special line of timepieces

Noah Joseph — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 08:28:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Alfa Romeo, Design/Style

Chopard GT XL Chrono Alfa Romeo (above) and table clock (below right) - Click either image for high-res image gallery

In a field of automotive-inspired wristwatches, one marque stands above the rest as the connoisseur's choice: Chopard. From its ongoing sponsorship and participation in the annual Mille Miglia revival rally to exquisite timepieces like the LUC Engine One Tourbillon, Chopard's made a name for itself among lovers of classic cars. And this year they celebrate their 150th anniversary, conveniently in the same year as Alfa Romeo marks their 100th.

To celebrate, Chopard has rolled out not just a single model, but a whole line of timepieces honoring Alfa Romeo. The range includes the Gran Turismo XL Alfa Romeo and the GT XL Chono Alfa Romeo (available in either stainless steel of carbon-coated steel), both of which feature COSC-certified in-house automatic movements, 46-hour power reserve, anti-reflective sapphire crystal, 44mm cases and Chopard's signature vintage Dunlop-inspired rubber straps. Only 500 of each of the three variants will be offered, along with a table clock in PVD-coated steel and a black leather, red-stitched case, and an additional travel alarm clock.

All in all, not a bad way to celebrate a birthday. Read about 'em in the press release after the jump and take a closer look in the gallery below.

Gallery: Chopard for Alfa Romeo

[Source: Chopard]

Continue reading Happy Birthdays: Chopard celebrates Alfa Romeo with special line of timepieces

Happy Birthdays: Chopard celebrates Alfa Romeo with special line of timepieces originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Jul 2010 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: Alfa Romeo planning Giulietta Sprint coupe?

Noah Joseph — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 08:28:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Europe, Alfa Romeo, Rumormill

Connoisseurs of historic Alfa Romeos - which seem to be coming out of the woodwork now that the firm is celebrating its 100th anniversary - will recall that the original Giulietta came in a number of variants. A hatchback like the reincarnated model wasn't one of them, however.

The first of the Giuliettas was actually the Sprint, a two-door coupe that debuted in 1954. The sedan and Spider convertible (like the one we drove in Montreal) came along later. So with the new Giulietta hatchback already hitting markets around the world, speculation is already surfacing of a revival of the Sprint in a new coupe variant.

If you're thinking a two-door Giulietta would step on its baby brother's toes, you're not far off. The Mito was envisioned as part of a two-pronged approach to replacing the old 147. But with the Alfa GT in need of replacement, a Giulietta Sprint could help Alfa capitalize on the new platform which is also set to underpin a new crossover as well.

[Source: Autoblog.it | Image: Theophiluschin.com]

Rumormill: Alfa Romeo planning Giulietta Sprint coupe? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Jul 2010 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kamal-Back: Alfa Romeo reportedly cooking up two new crossovers

Noah Joseph — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 18:21:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Crossover, Alfa Romeo

Alfa Romeo Kamal concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

Alfa Romeo, in case you hadn't noticed, is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. And it seems like rumors of an Alfa CUV have been floating around for just as long. But the wait may finally be over as the Italian automaker reportedly plans on making it up to its customers with not one, but two new crossover models.

With its sights set firmly on Audi's Q5 and upcoming Q3 compact crossovers, the two-pronged approach may help Alfa launch into the CUV market. The smaller of the two is tipped to be based on the new C-Evo platform developed for and recently launched on the Giulietta, while the larger model could borrow Jeep underpinnings, substantiating earlier reports. Expect the first to come along in a couple of years and the second to follow a couple of years after that, with North American sales a distinct possibility.

Gallery: Alfa Romeo Kamal concept

[Source: Autocar]

Kamal-Back: Alfa Romeo reportedly cooking up two new crossovers originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Jul 2010 18:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Goodwood 2010: Celebrating 100 years of Alfa Romeo

Drew Phillips — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 12:32:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, UK

Celebrating 100 Years of Alfa Romeo - Click above for high-res image gallery

2010 marks the 100th anniversary of Alfa Romeo, and the Italian car company will be the most celebrated marque at nearly every concours and motorsports events this year. The Goodwood Festival of Speed, however, will likely top them all, at least in terms of artistic expression. Alfa Romeo was the theme of the perennial sculpture outside of the Goodwood house, with a 1925 Alfa Romeo P2 and an 8C Competizione mated to 12 tons of red steel standing more than 60 feet high.

There were plenty of Alfas on the ground as well, with quite a few examples competing in the hill climb, including a beautiful 1968 Tip 33/2 Le Mans that won its class at the 24 hour race and a stunning 1991 SE 048 SP Group C prototype. Perhaps our favorite Alfas, though, were the wacky concept cars at the concours event sponsored by Cartier, like the 1968 Carabo Concept, the 1969 Iguana Concept and the 1976 Navajo Concept. Some of the more famous classic Alfas were in attendance as well including a gorgeous 1937 8C 2900B Touring Berlinetta and perhaps on of the most cars of the 1960s, a 1967 Tipo 33 Stradale. You can view all of the photos of Alfa Romeo at the 2010 Goodwood Festival of Speed in the high-res gallery below.

Gallery: Goodwood 2010: Celebrating 100 Years of Alfa Romeo

Goodwood 2010: Celebrating 100 years of Alfa Romeo originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Jul 2010 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Alfa Romeo planning to reach 500,000 annual sales by 2014

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 08:28:00 EST

Filed under: Alfa Romeo

The Alfa Romeo brand is a tough one to pin down... or perhaps it's parent company Fiat that's elusive, or maybe just CEO Sergio Marchionne that refuses to be a fixed target. New Alfa-Abarth-Maserati CEO Harald Wester has said that Alfa's long-term sales target is 500,000 vehicles by 2014. That's a mountainous 400,000-unit increase over 2009 sales, yet the route to the peak of that mountain isn't any clearer than it was in January when Alfa wasn't coming to the U.S., except that Alfa finally has "the right conditions, the right products and the right synergies to get there," according to Wester.

A brief summary of the timeline: in January Marchionne says Fiat can't come to the States unless it makes a business case - which, at that point, hadn't been made; later that same month Harald Wester takes his consolidated CEO position; in February Marchionne says Alfas will be sold in the U.S. by 2012; and in April Fiat's five-year plan is unveiled with Alfa slotting in six new models, some based on Chrysler platforms.

The only detail we're missing is why Alfa Romeo thinks it will work this time, this well. Alfa has been underperforming in Europe in spite of the models its been releasing, and we don't know why Chrysler platforms would change that. True, Alfa is only relying on the U.S. market for that growth, but an average year-on-year increase of 80,000 cars, starting this year, is an order of the tallest kind. And that's before any talk of Alfa having to battle Lancia for market share and marketing dollars.

Audi may have big U.S. targets too, but Audi won't need to fight the perceptions of a dishonorable discharge from the U.S. market two decades ago in order to meet them. We've been expecting Alfas product assault to be good. But with these numbers, we'll expect it to be phenomenal.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req'd]

Alfa Romeo planning to reach 500,000 annual sales by 2014 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Jul 2010 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Abarth to tune Alfa Romeos?

Noah Joseph — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 17:38:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Rumormill

Anyone who's spent time in a desert climate knows all to well how fast a scorpion can move, and the same can be said of the reborn marque that bears the scorpion as its badge. Not just in terms of the vehicles it produces, but the busy pace which Fiat's tuning division keeps.

With only two core models in its line-up, Abarth always seems to have something new in the works. The latest debuts were hot versions of the Fiat Punto Evo and 500C. A new purpose-built roadster is reportedly in the works again. And now reports have it that the recently revived tuning studio is preparing to branch out beyond Fiat's own catalog and take on some offerings from Alfa Romeo.

The development follows the unification of the two Fiat Group brands under common management, a move which has already bred the Maserati edition Alfa MiTo. No word yet on exactly which Alfa models could get the Abarth treatment, but while the MiTo might seem a logical starting point, reports suggest that - with the Quadrifoglio Verde (Cloverleaf) model already on the market and a GTA still rumored to be in the works - the stylish little hatch will be immune to the scorpion's sting.

[Source: Autocar]

Abarth to tune Alfa Romeos? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 17:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 Dana Point Concours: 100 Years of Alfa Romeo

Frank Filipponio — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 19:01:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Alfa Romeo

1949 Alfa Romeo Villa d'Este Berlinetta - Click above for high-res image gallery

The 28th Annual Dana Point Concours d'Elegance took place this past Sunday, once again adorning the Monarch Beach Golf Links at the St. Regis Resort with some of the most beautiful pieces of rolling sculpture ever created. Celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2010 is Alfa Romeo, so it was only fitting that this maker of some of the most incredible Italian sports and racing cars be one of the featured marques at this year's concours.

It's odd to think that this quintessentially Italian firm actually started out as a French company way back in 1906, but its SAID (Società Anonima Italiana Darracq) ancestor quickly dropped off the map when the Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili (A.L.F.A.) opened its Milanese factory doors on June 24, 1910. It wasn't until 1915 that Nicola Romeo came on board and the company we know and love finally started to flourish after the war, with its return to car building in 1920 under the Alfa Romeo name. It wasn't long before Enzo Ferrari and other drivers were establishing the racing prowess of the marque, eternally cementing the legacy of the automaker.

The Alfa Romeo turnout at most concours is usually pretty healthy, so with the special centennial this year, it wasn't surprising to see such a spectacular display of Alfas at Dana. Check out our gallery below and you'll see some of our favorites, from the Villa d'Este above, to the pair of Giulia Sprint Speciales, to the audacious '65 TZ2 GT Coupe of General Lyon.

Gallery: 2010 Dana Point Concours – Alfa Romeo

2010 Dana Point Concours: 100 Years of Alfa Romeo originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Jun 2010 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 Dana Point Concours d'Elegance at the St. Regis

Frank Filipponio — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 13:28:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Performance, Bugatti, Porsche, Ferrari, Specialty, Design/Style, Luxury, Racing

2010 Dana Point Concours d'Elegance - Click above for high-res image gallery

It seems a bit odd calling this the 28th Annual Dana Point Concours d'Elegance when it's only been in this city for three years and has only had that name officially for one, but after spending a good portion of Sunday at the St. Regis and its Monarch Bay golf course, it really felt like this is where this show was always meant to be. With dramatic views of the ocean, the rolling greenery of the links and the surrounding mansions, the venue feels like it was built solely to play host to Southern California's premiere concours.

Second only to Pebble Beach in prominence among the California concours, Dana Point has really come of its own. With nearly 200 judged entries and perhaps an equal number of display vehicles, it's a big show that still manages to feel manageable, and the field of entrants was once again amazing. This year's show honored 100 years of Alfa Romeo, 80 years of Pininfarina and 20 years of the Ferrari F40, as well as drag racing legend Don "The Snake" Prudhomme. Classes included American Pony & Muscle Cars, Corvettes to 1967, Kustoms & Hot Rods, and the second annual exhibit of Supercars, as well as a new category for vintage motorcycles.

With proceeds going to support the Ocean Institute, the Mary & Dick Allen Diabetes Center at Hoag Hospital and other Southern California youth charities, the Dana Point Concours is run as a Classic Car Club of America (CCCA) Concours, but with some of those additional classes thrown in to showcase particularly interesting and relevant automobiles. Just take a look at the photo above and you'll see the wide variety of outstanding vehicles that this show attracts. Click through the rest of the gallery and you'll see everything from a Bugatti 57SC to the nicest Oldsmobile Starfire you're ever likely to encounter.

Some favorites this year included just about everything in the gallery, but especially the low mileage original '57 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham, '32 Ford Phaeton Hot Rod, '58 Ferrari 250 Tour de France, '59 Ferrari 250 GT Series I Pinin Farina Cab, 1980 Kawasaki K2, "Animal House" Death Mobile, that crazy cute 1957 Fiat "Eden Rock" Yacht Tender, and the fantastic '52 Muntz Jet Convertible. The Muntz, however, wasn't our top pick. That honor had to go to the Bugatti among the classics, Don Prudhomme's funny car collection among the American cars and the Alfa Romeo TZ2 GT Coupe as the car we'd most like to drive. Click below to check out the massive gallery and pick out your favorites.

Gallery: 2010 Dana Point Concours

2010 Dana Point Concours d'Elegance at the St. Regis originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Jun 2010 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Australian police hope to attract stares with Alfa MiTo cruiser

Noah Joseph — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 15:35:00 EST

Filed under: Hatchback, Alfa Romeo, Police/Emergency, Australia

NSW Police-spec Alfa Romeo MiTo - Click above for high-res image gallery

If your aim in choosing a new car is to get noticed, there's no shortage of attention-grabbing wheels to pick from, but few cars get noticed as quickly as a police cruiser. Sure, the flashing lights and blaring sirens might help, but not as much as the looming threat of being ticketed. Still, Australia's New South Wales police department seems to think it needs some help getting noticed.

That's precisely why Sydney-area law enforcement has taken delivery of an Alfa Romeo MiTo. Noticeably bereft of emergency lighting, the MiTo will be used for community outreach and safety awareness programs. Whether the wee Alfa will prove more effective in its assignment than a Hummer H3 or Holden Commodore remains to be seen, but it might help the authorities catch up with the next F1 champion who tries spinning donuts on city streets.

Gallery: Australian Police Alfa Romeo MiTo

[Source: Car Advice via eurocarblog]

Australian police hope to attract stares with Alfa MiTo cruiser originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 05 Jun 2010 15:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Alfa MiTo Kit-One from Magneti Marelli Elaborazione isn't the GTA

Noah Joseph — Thu, 27 May 2010 18:58:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Performance, Europe, Hatchback, Alfa Romeo

Alfa Romeo MiTo Kit-One by Magneti Marelli Elaborazione - Click above for high-res image gallery

Upon reading his own obituary, Mark Twain once famously quipped, "The report of my death was an exaggeration." Turns out, with apologies to the famous poet, that the same could be said of the Alfa Romeo MiTo GTA. The project may or may not be dead, but what we can tell you for certain is the spy shots that surfaced a couple of weeks ago were not of the GTA.

What we were actually looking at is a tuning kit by Magneti Marelli. Those who recognize the name may know it as Fiat's electronics division and a major OEM supplier, which produces everything from ECUs to headlights. It worked with Ford and Microsoft on the development of the Sync and Blue&Me in-car computer systems, and developed the Kinetic Energy Recovery System for Ferrari. In fact, the company's scope reaches so far that they claim their parts are in just about every new car on the road today, wherever it's made. Now the company is launching its own tuning division called Magneti Marelli Elaborazioni. The MiTo spied - as astute commenter "adpb" pointed out - was actually their first product, called the Kit-One.

The modification package is comprised of stiffer springs than lower the car by 30 millimeters, the "Parco Chiuso" dual-exit exhaust system with bypass valve, 305mm Brembo disc brakes, a competition ECU good for an extra 31 horsepower, 18-inch matte black wheels and a rather divisive body kit made by Carrozzeria Castagna Milano (who you might remember for their Aznom Corvette and various Fiat 500s) of which only 200 sets will be made. Each item can be ordered separately, and the division has also got packages in the works for the Fiat 500 and Grande Punto. And with their new facility going up in Auburn Hills, Michigan, we wouldn't be entirely surprised to see them modifying Chryslers, Dodges and Jeeps in the near future. In the meantime you can check out the MiTo with the Kit-One in the gallery below.

Gallery: Alfa Romeo MiTo Kit-One by Magneti Marelli Elaborazione

[Source: Magnetti Marelli Elaborazioni]

Alfa MiTo Kit-One from Magneti Marelli Elaborazione isn't the GTA originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 May 2010 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Alfa Romeo testing GTA versions of 8C, MiTo for centenary launch

Noah Joseph — Mon, 17 May 2010 14:32:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupe, Performance, Hatchback, Alfa Romeo

You didn't think Alfa Romeo was done celebrating its centenary already, did you? The 100-year-old Italian automaker kicked off the festivities by launching the new Giulietta hatchback, then teamed up with three of Italy's hottest coachbuilders - Bertone, Pininfarina and Zagato - for a trio of mouthwatering concepts. But the party's just started, people.

Next up, if these spy shots and emerging reports are anything to go by, is the return of the GTA. Shorthand for Gran Turismo Allegerito (that's lightweight GT to us yanks), the nameplate has adorned some of the fastest Alfas to date, and is about to return on two highly anticipated sports models.

The most enticing is surely the 8C GTA: Based on the sumptuous 8C Competizione, the GTA version is tipped to gain a 50-horsepower boost from its 4.7-liter V8 to bring output up to 500, unburdened by 150 kilograms (330 pounds) of excess weight trimmed by the use of carbon fiber. Reported improvements to the six-speed sequential transmission and suspension upgrades surely won't hurt, either, with an expected 100-example production run. The 8C GTA was rumored way back in 2008, but was recently spied undergoing testing in its native Italy.

Joining its big brother, the baby MiTo GTA was previewed in concept form at the Geneva Motor Show in 2009, but was subsequently put on the back burner. Which was a real shame, considering its 240-horse turbo four and sport-tuned chassis. But if the latest spy shots are any indication, it looks like the program has been put into high gear. 2010 is quickly shaping up to be one of the most exciting years in Alfa's history, and if its return to North American shores comes to fruition as planned, we just might have reason to celebrate, too.

[Source: Unica-Strada]

Spy Shots: Alfa Romeo testing GTA versions of 8C, MiTo for centenary launch originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 May 2010 14:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Alfa Giulietta sets the pace at Monza as Superbike safety car

Noah Joseph — Tue, 11 May 2010 07:58:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Hatchback, Alfa Romeo, Specialty

Alfa Romeo Giulietta Quadrifoglio Verde SBK safety car - Click above for high-res image

As one of the most historic racing tracks in Italy, if not the world, Monza is inextricably intertwined with Alfa Romeo. Now those ties have been reinforced with the introduction at the circuit of the Alfa Romeo Giulietta as the safety car for the Superbike World Championship, which held its fifth round at Monza this past weekend.

The Giulietta takes over pacing duties for SBK (as the series is known in shorthand) from the MiTo, which itself had assumed the mantle from the 159. The Quadrifoglio Verde version, with its 235-horsepower, 1.7-liter turbo four, will continue its role for the eight rounds remaining in the series this season. If your Italian is up to snuff, you can read more about it in the native-tongue press release after the jump. And if not, well, we've gone ahead and translated it (thanks, Google!) for you, too.

Gallery: Alfa Romeo Giulietta

[Source: Alfa Romeo]

Continue reading Alfa Giulietta sets the pace at Monza as Superbike safety car

Alfa Giulietta sets the pace at Monza as Superbike safety car originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 May 2010 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa live in the flesh

Jonny Lieberman — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 12:29:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Performance, Europe, Alfa Romeo, Design/Style

Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa with Andrea Zagato - click above for high-res image gallery

The caviar and concours-loving world was rocked this past Saturday night when Zagato dropped its Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa bomb. Seriously y'all, this sucker's so stunning that we don't even mind the childish graphics. In fact, our only gripe is that we weren't in attendance at the this weekend's 2010 Villa D'Este Concours so we could check out the tube-framed, almost Kamm-tailed TZ3 ourselves. Meaning we have no real gripes to speak of.

Luckily, an Autoblog reader named Graziano Mancini was there, took some shots, and he was good enough to send them on share with you. We like the live pictures even better than the stock studio shots. The TZ3 has that classic, special early 1960s Euro-racer charm and grace that is simply lacking from modern cars. Long story short, the car's fabulous. But don't take our word for it - the Zagato-penned Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa won the Villa D'Este's concept class. Very well done. Also, we'd be remiss if we didn't offer Andrea Zagato (above) a very happy 50th birthday today. Check out Mancini's full slate of shots in the gallery below.

Gallery: Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa Live

Gallery: Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa

Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa live in the flesh originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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28th Annual Dana Point Concours d'Elegance adds motorbikes

Frank Filipponio — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 17:04:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Alfa Romeo, Motorcycle, Event Alert

If it's good enough for Pebble Beach... For the first time in its history, the 28th Annual Dana Point (née Newport Beach) Concours d'Elegance will host an exhibit of antique and vintage motorcycles alongside the usual assortment of incredible automobiles from every era. The event has been moved up to the summer this year, but will once again be held at the St. Regis Resort in Dana Point, California.

Those who show up on that Sunday (June 27, 2010) will find that Alfa Romeo is the featured marque, celebrating 100 years of great racing and road cars in 2010. The 80-year-old Pininfarina design house will also be feted, but the big news for bike lovers will be the exhibition-only classes featuring 65 significant motorcycles from throughout history. The preliminary groupings divide European, American and Japanese motorcycles, as well as production and competition models.

Entry forms and additional information can be found online at: www.DanaPointConcours.org.

Gallery: 27th Annual Concours d'Elegance at The St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort

28th Annual Dana Point Concours d'Elegance adds motorbikes originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 25 Apr 2010 17:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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