Alfa unveils Mi.To

Alfa Romeo's new supermini will be called Mi.To when it goes on sale in early 2009.

The name comes from Alfa Romeo's links with the Italian cities of Milan (Mi) and Turin, or Torino in Italian (To).

The Mi.To was designed in Milan and will be built at Alfa's factory in Milan.

Much of the style of the Mi.To is taken from Alfa's limited edition 8C Competizione sports car.

The round headlights and rear lights are shared with the 8C, though the Mi.To's hatchback shape owes more to Alfa's 147 small car.

Based on the Fiat Grande Punto, the Mi.To will come with engines ranging in power from 90- to 155bhp.

The Mi.To goes on sale in the UK in early 2009 and it's thought a hot hatch version will follow towards the end of that year.

A hot GTA model is likely to have a 180bhp turbocharged petrol engine.

Prices for the standard Mi.To are expected to start at £12,500 when it reaches the UK.

Stunning Alfa coupé set for debut

As a further celebration of its centenary, Alfa Romeo will show off a stunning concept coupé in Italy on Friday (23rd April 2010).

All we have of the new TZ3 Corsa Concept so far is a single top-down image, but it's enough to suggest the car will be quite special. Already apparent is a Ferrari Enzo style bonnet with aggressive cooling vents.

It's the third one-off concept car Alfa has commissioned for its centenary celebrations. It's designed by Italian coachbuilder Zagato, famous for the stunning Aston Martin DB7 Zagato.

Alfa displayed concepts at this year's Geneva motor show by Pininfarina - known for its work with Ferrari - and Bertone, which styled the 2000 Vauxhall Astra Coupé. Geneva's Pininfarina 2uettottanta and Bertone Pandion were stunning in very different ways.

Unfortunately, the TZ3 isn't a road car and won't go on sale. It's a fully-fledged racer powered by the 4.7-litre V8 engine from the Alfa 8C Competizione.

It will debut at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este historic car show, before a likely appearance at July's Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCT

- Twin-clutch 'TCT' for Giulietta and MiTo. - Quicker and cleaner than manual equivalent. - Available for petrol and diesel cars.

There are no new cars on the Alfa stand, so the traditional array of Alfa girls are smiling even wider to make the Giuliettas, MiTos and 159s look more appealing. However, the TCT twin-clutch gearbox debuting in Paris is big news for buyers.

What's all the fuss about?

Each new Alfa Romeo brings with it the hope that the brand can finally compete on a par with the likes of VW and BMW. Well, this TCT twin-clutch automatic gearbox is just the sort of thing that will get it there. It has been developed in-house by Fiat and looks every bit as sophisticated as VW's DSG transmission.

Anything that stands out?

At first the gearbox will appear in the 178bhp 1.4-litre MultiAir Giulietta and the 135bhp MultiAir MiTo, though it will be extended to diesel versions too. In the MiTo, the 0-62mph sprint is lowered by 0.2 seconds and CO2 emissions go down by 3g/km as well. Not enough to reduce VED or dent fuel costs, but remarkable for an automatic.

Estimated release date: Before 2011

Estimated cost: From around £16,000 in the MiTo.

Alfa Romeo to launch hot 4C coupe

Alfa Romeo is planning to unveil a new coupé concept car at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

The 4C Coupé will be a rival for the Audi TT, and it's expected to look a lot like the stunning 8C Competizione supercar (pictured).

Details are sketchy at present, but according to 'Autocar' the 4C is destined for production and will cost around £35,000.

The concept car will also preview a new styling direction for the company, which has never struggled to come up with a good looking car. The Italian firm's Brera, MiTo and Guilietta models are considered by many to be the most stylish in their classes.

The 4C will be sold in Europe, but it will also serve as a relatively affordable halo model for the brand's re-launch in America. Alfa is planning a 4x4 as well, to give the company greater appeal to US buyers.

Intended to be a car for keen drivers - something Alfa has been missing for some time - the 4C could even have a mid-mounted engine, like a Porsche Cayman. It will be rear-wheel drive and use lightweight materials so that it can make do with smaller engines, to keep CO2 emissions down.

On that basis, tuned versions of the MultiAir petrol engine found in the Giulietta are likely to provide the power, with the flagship model developing more than 200bhp.

Expect more detail when the concept is unveiled at next month's Geneva show.

Alfa Romeo could get Porsche engines

Alfa Romeo could soon be using Porsche engines, if the Volkswagen Group gets its way and buys the Italian company from Fiat.

The war of words between VW and Fiat is heating up, with Volkswagen boss Ferdinand Piech making no secret of his desire to buy the iconic, but underperforming, Italian marque from Fiat.

Piech first made public his desire to buy Alfa at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, though Fiat boss Sergio Marchionne has always made it clear that Fiat has no intention of selling.

But according to Autocar, Volkswagen is already planning how it will develop Alfa Romeo should the sale take place - a plan that involves Porsche engineering and power plants.

The first fruit of a takeover could be the stunning 4C coupé - unveiled in Geneva this month (March 2011) - with chassis tuning and a new four-cylinder engine by Porsche.

The engine is already in the works for an entry-level Porsche roadster; its appearance in the 4C and other Alfas will help justify its development cost.

But it's seemingly all fantasy on Volkswagen's part at present, with Fiat unflinching in its desire to hold onto Alfa. The brand is about to have a big re-launch in America, which should see its sales improve dramatically.

And with a Fiat spokesman saying that “we shut the door in their faces and now they're trying to get in the window,” it appears VW has its work cut out to get its second Italian sports car brand on the books.

UK debut for Alfa's bargain supercar

Alfa Romeo will use the Goodwood Festival of Speed to show its stunning 4C concept to British buyers looking for a bargain supercar.

The Alfa Romeo 4C Concept was one of the stars of this year's Geneva Motor Show, coming as a complete surprise and with a startling specification.

If it matches its promise, the 4C could catapult Alfa Romeo back to its glory days. The company says it will have a carbon fibre and aluminium body, resulting in a weight of less than 850kg - not much more than a Lotus Elise. It will also hit 62mph in less than five seconds.

Its waifish frame means it doesn't need massive power for supercar-like performance, so it will make do with the 200bhp four-cylinder 1750 TBi engine currently found elsewhere in Alfa's range.

The powerplant will be mounted in the centre of the car for better weight distribution, like a Porsche Cayman. Fuel economy will be excellent too, especially as it will have an efficient twin-clutch automatic transmission.

Alfa has yet to officially confirm production, but it's thought that's only a matter of time. And with a price tag rumoured to be around £45,000, the 4C really will be a junior supercar in every respect.

The Goodwood Festival of Speed will begin on July 1 this year, with a number of classic and supercars already confirmed. Alfa Romeo's stand will include an Alfa 6C 3000CM, raced by legendary driver Juan Manuel Fangio in the 1951 F1 World Championship, which he won.

An Alfa 750 Competizione and a 33 TT 12 will also feature (both pictured), as well as today's Alfa showroom line-up.

Alfa Romeo Giulietta

 

Introduction

Alfa Romeo has, at best, a mixed record in producing mass market cars in recent times. The 146 and 147 were both individual and appealing in their own rights, but fundamentally flawed. Following off the back of the successful Mito, it would be a big step if Alfa could repeat the feat in the big selling family hatch market. On the face of it, the Giulietta has all the ingredients to be a success in its own right.

What are its rivals?

The ever expanding, and dripping with talent, medium hatch segment has had an established pecking order for a generation of model releases now. In their latest guises Volkswagen's Golf is now vying for class honours with the Ford Focus and the Vauxhall Astra is snapping at their heels, but ultimately outclassed. In addition, Hyundai's i30 remains a highly capable contender, as does the Kia Cee'd.

How does it drive?

Alfa's DNA functionality has the impact on the car's persona that it was intended to as it changes the Giulietta from a supple and soothing cruiser, to a harder edged and enjoyable back road tool. In any mode, the Giulietta drives well, accurately and pleasingly. The diesel engine is strong and smooth, with a broad power band and good manners. The gearbox is slick and its ratios allow for a fine blend of performance and economy. On longer journeys, the refinement and comfort make themselves felt in a comfortable cabin and eases the miles away. When things get a little more interesting, the direct steering and fine chassis balance allow keen drivers to indulge themselves with no fear of nasty surprises and plenty of talent to engage them.

What's impressive?

There is a lot to like in the Giulietta, both in the traditional Alfa strongholds of style and also in newfound areas such as quality and execution. To form, Alfa has added function. It is hard to avoid being seduced by the styling; an exterior of myriad curves with styling cues, new and old, combined in to an overall look that couldn't be anything other than an Alfa and will leave the more mundane opposition running for cover.

Internally things are also more positive. The interior styling is typically Alfa but the quality of materials and finish isn't something you'd take for granted for the badge. Perhaps the most noteworthy point is not one about a specific facet, it's the fact that with the Giulietta Alfa has managed to produce a truly talented all-rounder capable of troubling the established stars in the class.

What's not?

Normally one would expect a long list of flaws, minor and major, when reading about a new Alfa. However, in the Giulietta's case that's not going to happen. Of course, the driving position isn't perfect, but it's not far off and the pedals' locations will matter by differing amounts to individuals. The switchgear is a little haphazard and lacks the crispness and solidity of its Germanic rivals. Some viewed the latest switches as a backward step relative to the GT coupe and Brera. Finally, the throttle response in dynamic mode is artificially aggressive and if anything is too great a contrast to the normal mode, actually making smooth progress more difficult and overly abrupt.

Should I buy one?

Normally an Alfa Romeo is the enthusiast's choice; a buying decision made on an emotional level, often in the face of logical persuasion offered by rivals, infinitely more capable in all tangible area. However, in this case, arguably for the first time in decades, the Giulietta represents a mass market Alfa Romeo one would buy on absolute merit. Added to the traditional Alfa virtues of style and beauty are a feeling of robust engineering and quality and a genuine depth of talent in the chassis. Overall, it's a significant, noteworthy, car.

2011 Novitec Alfa Romeo 8C Spider Limited Edition Sports Car

The most powerful and fastest street-legal Alfa Romeo of all time comes from NOVITEC, the world leader in tuning for the automobiles from Alfa Romeo, Fiat and Lancia. Power output of the Alfa Romeo 8C, Coupe and Spider, jumps to 600 hp thanks to a high-tech supercharger system. Top speed grows to 190 mph. In addition, the tuner offers a stainless-steel high-performance exhaust system, a custom-tailored tire/wheel combination with 21- and 22-inch diameters and a height-adjustable sport suspension.

The limited-edition sports car is based on the technology of the Maserati GT. For this reason NOVITEC adapted a development by sister company NOVITEC TRIDENTE, which specializes in tuning the models carrying the trident emblem, to the 8C. The high-tech supercharger conversion for the 4.7-liter V8 was modified to fit into the space under the hood of the Alfa Romeo 8C.
The supercharger is driven by a cogged-tooth belt directly from the crankshaft and thus breathes more power into the eight-cylinder four-valve engine even at very low engine speeds. 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.

Newly calibrated mapping for injection and ignition ensure a potent and harmonious power delivery and clean emissions.

Performance figures are accordingly impressive: The compressor conversion, which sells for EUR 19,900, boosts power output of the 450-hp stock V8 by 150 hp. The maximum rated power output of 600 hp is available at 7,300 rpm. Peak torque jumps to 434 lb/ft torque at 5,400 rpm.
This elevates driving performance to a level never before attained by a street-legal Alfa Romeo: the sprint from rest to 62 mph is shortened to just 3.9 seconds. Top speed increases from standard 180 mph to 190 mph.

The optionally available NOVITEC stainless-steel sport exhaust system for the Alfa Romeo 8C benefits more than just power yield. The integrated flap system varies the exhaust note depending on engine speed from sporty to racing-like. The exhaust system with its four tailpipes is designed to perfectly fit into the standard cutouts in the rear apron.

While the body of the 8C Coupe or Spider remains untouched, NOVITEC adds some thrilling highlights to the appearance of the two-seater with three-piece NA3 wheels. To further emphasize the wedge-shape design of the 8C, the specialists chose a staggered combination with 21-inch diameter in front and 22 inches on the rear axle. The alloy wheels feature five double spokes and are available in any desired color. In sizes 9×21” and 11.5×22” they fill out the available space in the wheel wells perfectly. The matching high-performance tires are supplied by Formula 1 supplier Pirelli in sizes 255/30 ZR 21 and 315/25 ZR 22.

The height-adjustable NOVITEC threaded coil-over suspension is precisely calibrated to these king-sized tires. It allows each driver of the Alfa Romeo to select ride-height and damper rates to suit his or her personal taste.

Upon customer request NOVITEC also personalizes the cockpit of the 8C with exclusive appointments made from the finest leather and Alcantara in any desired color.