Alfa Romeo News

Alfa will start production of the affordable rear-drive sports-coupe 4C next year But it won't be Alfa making the car - Maserati has been charged with adding the Giulietta-powered 4C to its production line at Modena from May next year.It is expected to sell for about $65,000 in Europe, equivalent to about $80,000 in Australia thanks to domestic taxes and distribution, with annual production of about 2500 cars. The 4C was unveiled as a concept car at the 2011 Geneva motor show.The two-seater has a mid-mounted 1.8-litre engine that was shown in turbocharged version. It is 4m long and has a 2.4m wheelbase and Alfa says it would weight about 850kg. However, production models are likely to be heavier as they may not have the concept car's carbon-fibre components.The 4C follows the theme of the outrageously expensive, Maserati-built 8C Competizione which, in its final Spider iteration, cost the equivalent of about $280,000 in Europe. The 8C models were made from 2007 to 2010.The 4C will be built alongside the Maserati GranCabrio and GranTurismo models in Maserati's centre-city Modena factoryAt less than one-quarter of the 8C's price, the 4C is expected to be a hit not only in Europe but in the US where a large slice of its sales are expected to head as a hero model to Alfa's 2013 foray into the American market.The 4C will be built alongside the Maserati GranCabrio and GranTurismo models in Maserati's centre-city Modena factory. Maserati's upcoming new-generation Quattroporte and E-class mid-size "baby Quattroporte'' sedan will be produced at the former Bertone plant at Turin.About 50,000 cars are expected to be made at the Turin facility, possibly including platforms for some Chrysler and Fiat Group vehicles. The Bertone plant has a maximum capacity of 100,000 vehicles a year. Maserati says with the two new sedans - and possibly an SUV - it plans to sell 50,000 cars a year by 2015 in its 65 markets.

... rival the prices on the BMW options' list for things like salad and spuds.So it's no surprise that the top end of town calls the shots at the Palexpo alongside Geneva Airport as Europe's carmakers go head-to-head for the first time in 2012. Ferrari and Lamborghini battle for go-faster bragging rights as Rolls-Royce and Bentley get serious about family motoring for the ultra-rich, while Infiniti pitches an new exotic coupe and even Ssangyong of Korea goes upmarket with a new concept. There are also dozens of one-off dream machines and hotrod tuner cars in Geneva, a show that is traditionally dominated by European design stars including Pininfarina and Giugiaro. But there is plenty, too, for ordinary car buyers as the Fiesta ST brakes cover, Hyundai updates the i20 and teases with the Veloster Turbo, Jaguar confirms an XF station wagon, Audi and Mercedes-Benz previews their A3 and A-Class, and Ford even updates its box-boring Transit workhorse. Picking the best of the best is tough with so much gorgeous stuff on the stands, but Alfa Romeo is the winner for 2012 and edges out the Infiniti Emerge-E with its Disco Volante.The pretty little red coupe is dreamy without being stupid and is already confirmed for production, although the slightly-retro body will be draped over Alfa's existing 8C Competizione chassis - 4.7-litre V8, 335kW, 0-100km/h in 4.2 seconds - which means it's no chance for Australia with only left-hand drive.The Ferrari F12 is exactly what you expect from the fastest car to wear the badge - 340km/h and 0-100km/h in 3.1 seconds - including a swoopy body that taps the past as well as the influences that created the California convertible, but Lamborghini goes even better with an Aventador J preview car that is snapped up for a rumoured $2.8 million ahead of genuine production of an open-topped Aventador supercar.Rolls-Royce updates the Phantom with a new nose that still demands respect, as well as tweaking its colour choices with a two-tone approach that triggers memories of cheap seventies vinyl roofs, and Jaguar gets serious for families with an XF Sportbrake that will still struggle in a world of SUVs.Further down the food chain, the Audi A3 looks good but not as edgy as an A-Class that must break away from the bus pass generation into something closer to the Y-Gen futurists, and Volkswagen previews a more car-like Tiguan crossover with its Cross Coupe.Hyundai has a preview of a new flagship coupe called the i-oniq - did it mean ironic? - Kia shows a Track'ster that will become the new Soul, Honda shows the CR-V design that's coming to Australia, and the pocket rocket Ford Fiesta ST breaks cover with a confirmation for Australia.The action and excitement at Geneva goes on and on, and that is - really - the best thing about the show. Detroit in January hinted that the word's carmakers are finally emerging from the austerity and fear of the global financial crisis and the big-spending effort in Geneva confirms it, with good news for almost everyone from Euro billionaires to ordinary Aussie families.PG PICKS:1. Bentley EXP 9 F.Only one word fits - Ugly. With a big capital U. The hulking British bulldog might tick the boxes for cashed-up families, but this SUV makes a LandCruiser look elegant, and subtle.2. Giugiaro Brivido.Exactly what you expect to see in Geneva, as designers go all-out to impress the crowds - and each other. Not for production but a great looker with huge gullwing doors.3. Range Rover Evoque Convertible. A certainty for production as Land Rover milks its most successful design - ever. This one will never go bush but is being fast tracked for Double Bay and Toorak.4. Ssangyong XIV-2. Who knew the South Koreans could trump the Euros with a design that combines SUV practicality with a coupe-convertible body? A big surprise.5. Toyota FT-Bh: Just when you thought the uglies were done, Toyota lobbed with this. If it's the future for hybrid cars then sales will be slow. Very slow.

The Giulietta's new oiler aims for spirited performance but cuts fuel consumption to 4.5 litres/100 km on the combined fuel consumption test.  Alfa Australia reckons the new powertrains will account for most Guilietta sales because the market is dominated by self shifting gearboxes and diesels.  They claims the Giulietta's diesel is capable of dispatching the 0-100kmh sprint in 7.9 seconds for the turbodiesel.  Equipped with the next-generation twin clutch automatic transmission with shift paddles behind the steering wheel, the latest Giulietta is available with either the International Engine of Year Award Best New Engine 2010', the petrol 1.4 TB MultiAir 125kW, or the 2.0 JTDM-2 125kW turbodiesel, the ALFA TCT range increases the Giulietta's appeal in both the fleet and consumer sectors. The petrol consumes an average of 5.2 litres/100 km while the diesel betters that at 4.5 litres/100km.  The 2012 Alfa Romeo Giulietta range opens with the 1.4 TB in manual form at recommended retail price of $36,990 and TCT is $38,990. The new Giulietta JTDM-2 with the TCT gearbox as standard has a recommended retail price of $41,990. The range topping Giulietta QV is priced at $41,990 ..

The Alfa Romeo 4C in concept for has been doing the motor show rounds since the start of the year and will  go into series production some time this year with expected on sale dates next year. The 4C is designed to deliver on Alfa's core values - exhilarating performance and handling delivered by rear wheel drive. Designers also paid close attention to safety and driving pleasure. It's a lightweight vehicle powered by  Alfa's impressive 1750 TBi engine with around 180kW that pushes the stylish two door from 0-100 kmh in under five seconds and on to a 250 kmh top speed at the local air strip. Fuel economy and emissions are comparable to some economy cars. The 4C concept presents the classic formula of the two-seater, rear-wheel drive coupe with its engine at the centre, a length of approximately four metres and a wheelbase of less than 2.4 metres. These dimensions serve to emphasise the compact size of the car and to accentuate its agility. The graceful and clean external lines stand out in a crowded street and the interior is similarly ground breaking in styling terms. The 4C concept draws on technology and materials from the 8C Competizione - carbon, aluminium, rear-wheel drive and components lifted from other Alfa models currently on sale like the 1750 turbo petrol engine with direct injection, the "Alfa TCT" twin dry clutch transmission and the Alfa DNA dynamic control selector. Its weight is reduced through the liberal use of carbon fibre in body structure and panel components  to give an advantageous power to weight ratio. Aluminium is similarly used throughout the vehicle. The final result is a sports car tipping the scales at "less than" 850kg with optimised centre of gravity. The Alfa Romeo 4C Concept has an extremely sophisticated suspension layout (high quadrilateral at the front, MacPherson at the rear) to ensure maximum agility and road handling. The 4C is tipped to hit the streets globally in 2012, some time later in Australia.

Many carmakers exhibit a concept car at one show after another, unchanged. But Alfa has decided that after its appearance the Geneva Motor Show last April, the 4C Concept should have a change of wardrobe. Or at least the outer garment. At Geneva is was finished in lava red – a coat of Alfa Romeo Metallic Red over Metallic Black, that produced black shadows coupled with bold red highlights to accentuate the lines and planes of the bodywork. We love it. However Alfa has decided it will appear at Frankfurt in a silver finish the Italian manufacturer has dubbed ‘fluid metal’. Alfa says it has also refined the 4C’s technology, and has confirmed its weight at around an ultralight 850kg, the engine delivering more than 149kW, giving it a power to weight ratio less than 4kg/hp. It is reported to have a top speed of more 250km/h and to get to 100km/h in less thanr 5 seconds.

If you already have a garage of off-the-shelf exotica, your next purchase needs to be something really special.FERRARI SUPERAMERICA 45THE most committed (and cashed-up) Ferrari aficionados build up a relationship with the brand through long association, and buying lots of cars. Ferrari knows them by name and likes to think of them as family. One such is New York real estate supremo Peter Kalikow, who has an impressive car collection that includes vintage Ferraris.When it comes to buying something new for a special occasion, Kalikow likes to commission Ferrari's special projects department. Then it's a case of tell them what you'd like, and they'll knock one up.This year, to mark 45 years as a customer, Kalikow took delivery of the Superamerica 45, a one-off set of wheels based on the 599 GTB. It was unveiled last month, like so many of these cars, at the annual Villa d'Este Concorso d'Eleganza on the shores of Lake Como, Italy.The bespoke Superamerica 45 design features a rotating carbon-fibre roof, including the rear glass, which flips into the boot to turn the coupe into a convertible. This idea appeared on a version of the 575 Maranello, the predecessor to the 599 GTB, and was also called Superamerica.Kalikow was also inspired by a car in his collection: a 1961 400 Superamerica cabriolet, which was an equally exclusive vehicle a half century ago. The bodywork and wheels of the 45 are painted the same blue to match. The car's carbon fibre elements, including the roof, body kit and much of the cabin, are in a contrasting darker blue. The chromed grille, burnished aluminium A-pillars, wing mirrors and door handles are also unique.Changes to the bodywork include rear buttresses integral with the rear wheel arches and air vents in the front wings, while the boot had to be redesigned to fit the roof.Ferrari says nothing about what's under the bonnet of this car, but a standard 599 GTB is powered by a 456kW 6.0-litre V12.Kalikow is no stranger to customised Ferraris, having previously ordered a special version of the 612 Scaglietti, the brand flagship that recently made way for the FF.Ferrari doesn't reveal the price of these cars but its best-known special project recently was the P4/5 from 2006, a Pininfarina design based on the Enzo supercar. It was a one-off ordered by US financier James Glickenhaus that reportedly cost $4 million.ASTON MARTIN V12 ZAGATOITALIAN specialist Zagato has been in the bespoke design and production business for more than 90 years and its long association with elite brands extends beyond its homeland to take in the racier badges from Britain.Its most recent car is the Aston Martin V12 Zagato, which was built to mark the 50th anniversary of the first project between the two, the DB4GT Zagato of 1961. Only 20 of those cars were made and it has spawned many replicas. DB4GT originals have become very collectable and fetch millions of dollars.The modern reinterpretation of the DB4GT starts life as the Vantage, Aston's junior sports car, in its most extreme form with a 380kW, 5.9-litre V12 under the bonnet. Like that car, it features a limited slip differential and carbon fibre propeller shaft, but it drives through an automated six-speed manual instead of a traditional manual.Most noticeably, the bodywork is all bespoke and handcrafted out of aluminium using traditional techniques and body bucks. To make the double-bubble roof alone takes five pieces of aluminium, joined and shaped into one flowing form. The front wings need seven pieces each.Like the DB4GT, the V12 Zagato will go racing, with an appearance planned for the last weekend in June at the Nurburgring 24-hour race in Germany. The V12 Zagato in race trim has reduced weight and retuned suspension as well as a 120-litre fuel tank, rollcage and huge rear wing.At the car's debut at the Villa d'Este concours last month, it scooped the prize for best design. Company chief executive Ulrich Bez was encouraged: “Based on the reactions of our customers to this race car, we hope to offer a road-homologated V12 Zagato in a small, limited number as soon as possible.'' According to Aston insiders, there's at least one Australian in the queue to buy.ALFA ROMEO TZ3THE takeover of Chrysler by Fiat is already throwing up some oddities, including a whole line-up of Lancias that are little more than rebadged versions of American cars. And that's just the start.To celebrate the 100th anniversary of Fiat-owned Alfa Romeo last year, former race partner Zagato designed the TZ3, named for the TZ race cars that campaigned in the 1960s. Built for German collector Martin Kapp, who owns TZ originals, the TZ3 first appeared as the Corsa at the Villa D'Este showpiece in Italy last year.Designed for lightness, it's built on a carbon fibre monocoque with a hand-formed aluminium body. Under the bonnet is a 4.2-litre V8 driving the rear wheels through a six-speed sequential gearbox. With a kerb weight of just 850kg, it can reach 100km/h in 3.5 seconds.As its name suggests, the Corsa was designed as a track car, and it's unique.Production of the TZ3 Stradale, which followed this year, will run to nine examples and it shares many design features with the Corsa, including the aerodynamic tail shape that was pioneered by the 1960s TZ racers. But the Stradale is fundamentally different.Its body is formed from carbon fibre and underneath sits the chassis from the most extreme form of Dodge Viper, Chrysler's blue-collar supercar.Power comes from the Viper's monster 450kW 8.4-litre V10.Unlike the Corsa, the Stradale is road legal and, in effect, the first American Alfa Romeo. Suitably enough, the first example went to collector Eric King in the US.Meanwhile, Chrysler and Fiat are denying that future production versions of the Viper will share mechanicals with Alfa. Although worse things can happen, as Lancia can attest.Read more about prestige motoring at The Australian.

Celebrating the centenary of Alfa Romeo, the Zagato-penned TZ3 Stradale is the unmasked Zorro of Italy - except that, to be honest, it's not a pure-bred Italian. Alfa's birthday cake tastes a bit stale after news that the TZ3 is based on a Dodge Viper - now part of the family thanks to the takeover by Fiat (owner of Alfa) of Dodge's parent Chrysler. It's dubbed "the first American Alfa Romeo". Which is probably akin to the first Irish pizza. The TZ3's chassis and drivetrain is borrowed from the Viper over which Zagato has draped a carbon-fibre body that has hints - particularly the abrupt Kamm tail - of previous designs such as the TZ, TZ2 and the track-only, one-off TZ3 Corsa. Alfa will build nine TZ3 Stradale - which means it's street legal - units but expect a high price and suitability only for left-hand drive markets. Apparently the first one has already gone to American collector Eric King and the second and third have been spoken for by customers in Japan and Europe. That makes six for you and your mates. For the money - and we don't know what that is, but can guess - you get the 8.4-litre V10 engine with 400kW and 760Nm and a hot body with two seats. Alfa Romeo says the Stradale differs from the single TZ3 Corsa, which has a Maserati 4.2-litre V8 and six-speed sequential gearbox. The Corsa was commissioned by Alfa Romeo Zagato collector Martin Knapp. The TZ3 Corsa and Stradale have a Kamm tail which claims high aerodynamic efficiency with minimal drag. It has previously been used with Zagato's "Coda Tronca" bodies in testing in the 1960s and realised later with the TZ and TZ2. TZ stands for the initials of tubolare (for the tubular frame) and Zagato. The TZ3 Corsa won the Villa D'Este Design Concept Award in 2010.

"I used to roll my pedal car down our long driveway with my feet up because the pedals would go too fast for me," says the 46-year-old electrician.  I suppose that was the fun thing to do at that age."He graduated from pedal cars to real cars when his father bought him a 1977 XC Falcon ex-taxi.  But what he really wanted was something more exotic.A few years later he bought a 1979 Alfa GTV for $7700 at auction and even though it had "rust like you wouldn't believe on a three-year-old car", Moore had become hooked on Euro-exotica."My neighbour had a lot of Renaults at the time, he says.  "I liked the shape of his 15TS and the Alfa was sending me broke, so I decided to get one.  He wouldn't sell me his, but I got one for $1800."The love affair with French cars, in particular Renaults, had begun Over the years he's owned a Peugeot 205 GTI, two Pug 405s, a 1973 BMW 2002 tii, a 1954 Renault 4CV, a 1989 Renault Alpine GTA Turbo and a 2005 Falcon BA Futura wagon as the daily driver.  The Pugs have since been sold."Generally French cars are more comfortable and I guess I like to be a bit different," he says.  "I appreciate well-made cars and given a few million dollars I'd own a lot of cars from other manufacturers, but four is enough for most of us."Moore bought the 4CV for $500 in 1992 and has since replaced the 749cc engine with a 1605cc donk from a Renault 16TS.  Likewise, he is about to replace the 2458cc V6 engine in the GTA for a three-litre V6 from an early '90s Volvo 960.The 1988-plated engine was made under an alliance with Peugeot and Renault. The flexible engines were made from 1972 to the late '90s for use in either transverse or longitudinal engine bays in the front or rear mated to either rear-wheel-drive or front-wheel-drive.The original GTA model produced 154kW, but Moore has already fitted a bigger GT30 71R Garrett turbo that returns about 186kW.  "With the new engine and bigger cams, valves and injector and depending on the boost I expect to get over 300hp (223kW)," he said.  "I do all my own mechanicals and modifications except for wheel alignments and upholstery," he says.His interest in bigger engines stems from his amateur racing career in motorkhanas, hillclimbs and club sprints.  He mainly uses the 2002 for race duties, but the Alpine will figure more prominently once he shoehorns in the bigger motor.Renault-owned French manufacturer Alpine produced 3400 GTAs in left-hand drive and only 343 in right-hand drive between 1986 and 1991.Moore bought his rear-engined right-hand-drive coupe for about $14,000 in 2004.Apart from the engine, the rest of the vehicle is all original, although he has replaced the wheels with AZEV 255/40 17s because tyres for the original 255/50 15s were too difficult to find and too expensive."It handles well," he says.  "In slow corners it understeers and if you come on the boost mid-corner it will put its tail out a bit.  "They say rear-engined cars don't handle ... someone forgot to tell Mr Porsche that."Moore also has a shed full of bikes in need of restoring.  "I'll have to work until I'm at least 80 to pay for the things I've got to restore," he says.Allan Moore's garage:1989 Renault Alpine GTA Turbo2005 BA Futura Wagon1973 BMW 2002 tii1956 Renault 4CV1986 Honda TLR200 Trials1976 Yamaha XT5001974 Yamaha TY250A1972 Suzuki T5001970 Triumph Bonneville1968 BMW R60/21938 BMW R711937 Rudge Special

The European crash test body named five top cars, with the Kia Sportage judged best small off-roader, the BMW 5 Series sedan deemed best executive, the Honda CR-Z the best supermini and the Toyota Verso best small MPV. The Suzuki Swift, Kia Venga, BMW X1, VW Sharan and Citroen C4 were also classified top performers.  Last year, Euro NCAP crash tested twenty nine vehicles, with 65 per cent earning a five-star rating, compared to 90 per cent in 2009. Euro NCAP says the decrease in top marks clearly shows the criteria to reach a five-star score is now tougher. To earn top Euro NCAP ratings, vehicles are now required to have electronic stability control systems as standard. ESC is meant to reduce the number of deaths resulting from crashes in which the driver loses directional control of the vehicle, including those resulting in vehicle rollover. To be named a top achiever means the car achieved a high combined score based on the scores in each of the four areas of Euro NCAPs assessment, while notably exceeding the thresholds for a five-star overall rating. All of the top performers achieved an 80 per cent mark in the overall score. The Landwind CV9's two-star racing and three stars for the Citroen Nemo made them the worst-performing vehicles in the 2010 Euro NCAP tests.

A HYBRID sportscar, a model from the past, a Korean SUV, a luxury saloon and a car we won't get in Australia are the top performers in European safety tests. Euro NCAP has announced the highest-scoring vehicles of 2010 in five categories. They are: -  Honda CR-Z (supermini category)-  Alfa Romeo Giulietta (small family)-  Kia Sportage (off-road)-  BMW 5 Series (executive)-  Toyota Verso (small MPV). These vehicles not only scored a maximum five stars, but also scored high in four areas of assessment, exceeding the thresholds for a five-star overall rating. The CR-Z hybrid sportscar is set for release this year, the Guilietta - a resurrected name of Alfa's past - has just been released here, the sixth-generation 5 Series is now complete with the introduction of a wagon, the Sportage was second in the Carsguide Car of the Year and Toyoa Australia says they have no plans to nitroduce the Verso. Other top performers sold in Australia include the Suzuki Swift, BMW X1 and Citroen C4 which exceeded 80 per cent in overall scoring. The worst results were achieved by two vehicles not imported into Australia; the three-star Citroen Nemo and two-star Landwind CV9 SUV from China. Last year, Euro NCAP crash tested 29 vehicles, 65 per cent of which reached the five-star rating, compared with 90 per cent in 2009. Euro NCAP boss Michiel van Ratingen says the 25 per cent decrease illustrates their criteria. "The presence in these categories of high-performing five-star cars demonstrates car manufacturers' commitment to safety for all sizes of vehicles," he says. Euro NCAP now also tests electronic stability control tests which from January 1 became mandatory in all vehicles sold in Victoria and is largely standard throughout vehicles sold across the nation.