Alfa Romeo News

The Italian car builder has released the first pictures of the Mi.To - and while we're not sure about the name, the little hatch will no doubt revive memories of the much loved 1970s Alfasud.The name is a conglomeration of parts of Alfa Romeo's history - the first two letters of the marque's spiritual home, Milan, plus the first two letters of Torino (or Turin), where it will be built. The sporty three-door small car will be officially unveiled in the metal midyear and it is likely to appear here 12 months after that.Alfa Romeo is aiming the Mi.To as a replacement for the Alfasud, last sold here in the mid 1980s. It says its little Sud was the benchmark small car of the 1970s that “redefined small car performance with a class-leading chassis, peppy performance and crisp styling.”Some owners also may remember its questionable reliability, rust issues and other maladies, but then misty-eyed nostalgia takes over. But Alfa, which has worked hard to leave such issues behind, says the Mi.To is looking to compete with smaller vehicles. The Sud was built to compete with Volkswagen's Golf, ground now covered by the Alfa 147.Alfa says the Mi.To is just over 4m long and 1.72m wide. This puts it up against the Peugeot 207, VW's Polo and the new Fiat 500.The hatch will be offered in petrol and diesel guises. Pricing and specifications will be announced when it goes on sale next year. 

Europeans tore themselves away from exotic supercars to catch a close-up glimpse of the Nano, a tiny, basic and extremely cheap runabout which promises to turn the motoring world on its head.

The 8C Competizione supercar went on sale in Europe last week for a staggering $270,000 and is limited to a production run of 500 cars.All are left-hand-drive and are unable to be driven on our roads, leaving their owners with the prospect of taking them out on private track days. Alfa has spread the 8C Competizione thin on the ground across the globe. The US was allocated 90, Italy 80, Germany 80, Japan 70, France 40, UK 40 and Switzerland 35.At a presentation to financial investors in New York last week, Fiat group CEO Sergio Marchionne also announced a limited production run of 500 convertible versions of the 8C Competizione, to be called the 8C Spider. The convertible 8C Spider will make its worldwide debut early in 2009 at a price of about $300,000. Based on the success of the hardtop, Alfa is confident the car will be a sell-out.The 8C Competizione is powered by a Ferrari/Maserati-derived 4.7-litre V8 with 331kW at 7000 revs and 470Nm at 4750 revs, with 80 per cent of peak torque available from 2500 revs.The engine is mated to a six-speed auto-manual that has five-mode computerised gear selection using steering wheel paddle shifts.Marchionne also announced the return of Alfa Romeo to the US market in 2009. The last time Alfas were sold there was in 1993, but a poor dealership structure and quality issues damaged the brand. Since then, Alfa quality has improved to become the equal of its European competition.It will use its 159 sedan, Brera, and the Spider as a springboard back into one of the biggest markets in the world. Alfa aims to move upwards of 20,000 cars a year in the US; selling through Maserati's existing US dealership network. 

Audi was 123% more likely to be stolen than the average vehicle, followed by BMW (117%).However, the other German luxury brand, Mercedes-Benz was up only 19% on the average.The 2006 Suncorp statistics do not provide actual numbers, type or age of vehicle, only proportions stolen.Vehicles below the average were Volkswagen, Ford, Mitsubishi, Mazda, Kia, Peugeot, Daewoo, Nissan and the least likely to be stolen was Daihatsu.The research showed that the more expensive the vehicle, the more likely it was to be stolen.The most stolen vehicles were those in the $60,000 to $100,000 bracket, despite the fact that these have better theft protection.Suncorp also released claims information on crash frequency which shatters the theory that the better the car, the better the driver.Claims where the driver was at fault for the accident were 10 per cent more likely for cars that were worth $60,000- $100,000. Alfa drivers were 58% more likely to make an at-fault claim than the average driver.Suncorp motor insurance general manager Daniel Fogarty said the results could suggest that drivers of prestige motor vehicles may feel safer in their cars, which could lead to over-confident attitudes, resulting in more accidents occurring.“On the other hand, drivers of new prestige vehicles may feel slightly more nervous on the roads than if they were driving a mid-range car, which might potentially cause more accidents, as the financial implications of accidents are higher,” he said.One of the most common types of claims that Queensland drivers made was for a single-vehicle accident.Holden Special Vehicles drivers were 50% more likely to make a single-car accident claim, followed by Audi (49%) and Chrysler (44%).Least likely to make such a claim were Daihatsu drivers at 30% less than the average.The statistics also show that if you lend your new car to a friend or relative there is a 12% chance that they will scratch or damage it, but a 93% chance they will also own up to it. Frequency of thefts1. Audi 123%2. BMW 117%3. Jaguar 100%4. Alfa Romeo 89%5. Saab 74%Frequency of at-fault accidents1. Alfa Romeo 58%2. Proton 19%3. Mazda 13%Frequency of not at-fault accidents1. Audi 102%2. Alfa Romeo 94%3. Proton 75%Frequency of single-vehicle accidents1. HSV 50%2. Audi 49%3. Chrysler 44% Source: Suncorp claims statistics for 2006 

The state's allocation of three $659,000 Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 supercars have all been spoken for.Audi Centre Brisbane dealer principal Greg Willims, who deals with brands such as Audi, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Alfa Romeo and Maserati, said premium car sales were continuing to rocket this year after a successful 2006.Standing in front of a $399,500 pale blue convertible Bentley Continental GTC at the show yesterday, he said Queenslanders last year bought 28 of the stately English marque."This year it will be 36," he said.Mr Willims also expected to sell three Bentley Azures at $650,000 each."Two people have already put in an order from the Gold Coast," he said."In premium cars, interest is evenly divided between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, but in the convertibles there is more interest from the Gold Coast."Audi also yesterday unveiled its first mid-engined supercar, the R8, which will arrive in September, costing between $250,000 and $300,000.Mr Willims said there were already eight orders in Brisbane for the 309kW V8 supercar capable of going from standstill to 100km/h in 4.6 seconds.Audi confirmed there were 34 orders across the nation and 13 from Queensland.The show continues until February 11 in the Brisbane Convention Centre, featuring 311 new cars from 40 manufacturers.

Michael Schumacher retired with seven world championships, but 007 is up to 21 movies — with six different macho men in the role — and still going hard.During the past quarter-century and in 21 official films, Bond has been the target of more bad guys on wheels than anyone else in cinema history, yet he has always managed to escape without a scratch.And he has often pulled a nifty U-turn on the opposition with some sort of car trickery, from concealed machine guns on a 1960s Aston Martin to an '80s Lotus Esprit that morphed into a submarine — and even a remote-controlled BMW 7 Series in the '90s.Now he's back for the noughties, and doing it again in the remake of Casino Royale, which opened in cinemas just before Christmas. And he's back in an Aston Martin, just like the early days.The hype for the new 007 movie got me thinking not only about Bond's wheelwork in the latest British supercar, but also the dream car of my childhood: a scale model of the Aston Martin DB5 Bond drove in the 1960s.It came with all the Bond gear — revolving number plates, concealed machine guns, tyre-slashers, a bulletproof rear shield and even an ejector seat.In 1965, Corgi released its scale model of the gadget-laden DB5, and by 1968 nearly four million copies had been sold.It remains Corgi's best-known model, and I couldn't afford it.The release of the 21st-century Casino Royale has triggered a lot of talk about 007 and cars and movies.The model-making machine is already rolling again, with scaled-down copies of the DBS and even re-done — but de-gadgeted — replicas of the original DB5. And this time, there was a tiny Aston in my Christmas stocking.It's worth looking at what Bond cameos have done for car companies.BMW experienced plenty of benefit when it signed a multi-movie deal that began with its baby Z3 convertible. The world saw the car first when it was driven on the big screen by Bond. That deal continued with the Z8 convertible and the controversially styled 7, and even a BMW motorcycle.But then Britain bounced back for the last of Pierce Brosnan's appearances as Bond, when he slid back into an Aston and the baddies strapped into a rocket-equipped Jaguar.This time around, Agent 007 is driving a gorgeous new DBS, and there's even a special appearance by an original DB5.A poll has been conducted for the television series Top Gear on the most popular car chase in Bond movie history. And the winner is ... no, not the Aston. Not a Jaguar, nor the Lotus, nor even one of the BMWs.First choice was a crazy little Citroen 2CV that suffered all sorts of punishment — including being cut in half — when it was driven by Roger Moore in the 1981 film For Your Eyes Only. The four-wheeled co-stars:Dr No (1962): Sunbeam Alpine, Chevrolet Bel AirconvertibleFrom Russia With Love (1963): Bentley Mark IVGoldfinger (1964): Aston Martin DB5, Rolls-Royce, Mercedes 190SL, Lincoln Continental, Ford Mustang convertible, Rolls-Royce Phantom IIIThunderball (1965): Aston Martin DB5, Ford Mustang convertible, BSA Lightning motorcycle, gyrocopter1967 You Only Live Twice: Toyota 2000 GT, BMW CSOn Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969): Aston Martin DBS, Mercury Cougar, Bentley S2 Continental, Rolls-Royce CornicheDiamonds Are Forever (1971): Ford Mustang Mach 1, Triumph Stag, moon buggyLive And Let Die (1973): double-decker London bus, Chevrolet Impala convertible, MiniMokeThe Man With The Golden Gun (1974): AMC Hornet and Matador, Rolls-Royce Silver ShadowThe Spy Who Loved Me (1977): Lotus Esprit, Wetbike concept, Ford Cortina Ghia, Mini MokeMoonraker (1979): Bentley Mark IV, Rolls-Royce SilverWraithFor Your Eyes Only (1981): Citroen 2CV, Lotus Esprit Turbo, Rolls-Royce Silver WraithOctopussy (1983): Mercedes-Benz 250 SE, BMW 5 Series, Alfa Romeo GTVA View To A Kill (1985): Renault taxi, Ford LTD, Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II, Chevrolet Corvette C4The Living Daylights (1987): Aston Martin DBS and V8 Vantage, Audi 200 QuattroLicence To Kill (1989): Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow, Kenworth petrol tankerGoldenEye (1995): BMW Z3, Aston Martin DB5, Russian tank, Ferrari 355Tomorrow Never Dies (1997): Aston Martin DB5, BMW 750iL, BMW R1200C motorcycleThe World Is Not Enough (1999): BMW Z8, Rolls-Royce Silver ShadowDie Another Day (2002): Aston Martin Vanquish, Jaguar XKR, Ford Thunderbird convertibleCasino Royale (2006): Aston Martin DBS and DB5, Jaguar E-type roadster, Fiat Panda 4x4, Ford Transit, Ford Mondeo

Even a few decades ago, the sight of a car saleswoman may have sent male buyers spinning on their heels.Now, Belinda Woodward is one of Audi Australia's best sales people.Kim Trevena is the business manager for Audi Centre Brisbane and Sue Young is in charge of public relations and marketing for Bentley, Ferrari and Maserati and also assists with the sales of Bentleys.Saleswomen are not uncommon in most dealerships and this emergence is being mirrored by buyers, with more women taking the dominant role in buying a car, be it for the family or themselves.Women are doing the research, picking the vehicle and negotiating the price.Women are not afraid to buy a car for themselves and they are enjoying it.Audi Centre Brisbane, Alfa Romeo Brisbane, Euromarque; Ferrari, Maserati and Bentley principle Greg Willims said when it comes to buying "things of the heart", buyers prefer dealing with women."If you were going to buy a house today, what is the probability you would deal with a female sales assistant? Very high," he said."People warm to a female salesperson. They feel comfortable and at ease with them."It's a bit unnerving, females are here in what was in historically a male dominated business and they know equally about the motor cars and the features as any male would."At Willim's dealership, two of the four service advisers and 20 per cent of salespeople are female."In finance, the sale of finance and insurance, it's the other way around. All three who sell finance and insurance are female," he said.Willims said women were involved in the decision process of buying cars as much as men."We see a large number of professional women and young women coming through and the decision is theirs," he said."Women make a very good, rational and responsible decision in what they buy."I believe women look for style, they like to see a car that suits their look."They examine carefully the economy of operation and service back-up. They like to know when they come to service time they will be looked after very well."Also they choose the colour. Performance isn't as important, but they do look responsibly to a car that suits; lifestyle, functionality, design, economy, ease of operation, reliability and functionality."Brisbane Denmac Ford's managing director Chris Allen said women are becoming "more the primary buyer" and admits this is "a bit of a change"."The demographic of a husband and wife and the kids coming in to buy the car is not necessarily how we live our lives and that is being reflected in how we buy cars," he said."A lot of surveys say many women are involved in the decision and we are seeing a lot of women there negotiating the transaction."Many women come in without a partner or father figure. It's normal to see women coming in and picking out a car. They seem very well informed, they have done more formal research."A lot of men are more naturally aware of all the different models and the pricing because they seem to be more car oriented. A lot of the women do more formal research through the internet or magazines."Allen said Denmac Ford receives more inquiries from women for SUV vehicles than men."I think in most cases they are the primary driver (of SUVs). They are doing the hard miles."Pickles Auctions manager Paul Cottrell said five years ago one woman would buy a car at most auctions.Today, he sees about three to five."It's probably due to the financial status of women. There are more women in the workforce with more disposable income and taking a greater responsibility in the choice of the family car. Women have more of a say now," he said.The RACQ's Jim Kershaw said any buyer can benefit from having an older person to help with the purchase of a car."If you have done your homework, you will be OK. We are approached equally by both sexes for help with buying cars."Women are earning better pay now and they want wheels. Our society is changing."

Nevertheless, Australian car buyers are set to be spoiled for choice again. ALFA ROMEOFebruary will see the Alfa Brera 3.2 V6 and Spider 3.2 V6 available with six-speed autos for the first time, along with self-shifters for the 159 JTD 2.4 and 159 JTS 3.2 V6.And the cheapest petrol 159 JTS 2.2 goes half way along the auto path with the Selespeed sequential manual gearbox. A new entry-level 159 JTD model with a 1.9-litre diesel is also coming in February. ASTON MARTINThe middle of winter is hardly the ideal time to launch a $270,000 convertible, but the Vantage Roadster arrives as potentially Aston's best seller in Australia. The DBS will be launched in Europe later in the year — but it will be 2008 before the first cars are shipped to Australia. AUDIAnother busy year starts with the new Audi Allroad 3.0 TDI diesel in May and the Q7 4.2 TDI softroader in October. The two extreme ends of its performance range — the mild S3 and the wild Le Mans car-based R8 — are also due in June and September respectively, while the TT Roadster will land some timein the middle of the year. BMWThe lid will be lifted on the 3-Series Convertible in February before the new X5 four-wheel-drive lands in April. Then there's a wait until the fun starts again in November with the M3. CHRYSLERMeat and potatoes is on the menu for Chrysler in June with the Sebring sedan, but many customers will be more excited about dessert — the Sebring Cabriolet, which is scheduled to arrive in September. CITROENAbstract thinking is the go in February, with the C4 Picasso exhibition opening with petrol and diesel interpretations of the same theme. The Picasso is Citroen's new people-mover class car. DODGEThe production version of the Avenger concept car is a possibility for Australia in November following the company's return Down Under last year after a long absence. FERRARIA nice 60th birthday present for Ferrari could land on our doorstep in August, with the FXX test car likely to evolve into a top-of-the-range Enzo replacement. FIATFiat in Australia gets a second model in September following on from last year's Punto. The new model will be called the Bravo and represents the next stage in Fiat's renewed fight for Aussie sales. FORDThe Focus coupe-cabriolet model is due in November. Of course, the car Ford doesn't want to talk about is a Territory diesel, which is a possibility for later in the year. HOLDENCloak and dagger time also at Holden, which is vying with Ford for the title of Australia's most secretive car company. Holden is saying nothing but we expect utility and wagon versions of the VE Commodore to arrive some time around August. Also stamped Top Secret is the file marked Epica, a GM Daewoo-sourced replacement for the Vectra. HUMMERHolden's biggest import will be the South-African built Hummer H3, landing here in the second half of the year. HONDAOnly one newcomer for 2007: the new, larger CR-V. But it's a particularly important one, given the ongoing popularity in Australia of compact offroaders. It should even up the fight with the newest model Toyota RAV4, which was released last year. HYUNDAIHatch and wagon versions of the Elantra join the existing sedan in November. Hyundai is also promising the hatch will be more radical than the conventional four-door. JAGUARXF might sound like an old Falcon station wagon, but it's Jaguar's replacement for its mid-level S-Type. It should leap into Australian showrooms by October. JEEPThe new Wrangler arrives in March with four-door Unlimited and diesel models. Also arriving in March is the first of Jeep's compact softroaders, the Compass, to be followed by the Patriot in June. KIAA new entry-level Rio powered by a 1.4-litre engine that could sell for as little as $14,990 drive-away will kick off in February. But it mightn't be the cheapest Kia by the end of the 2007, with the tiny Picanto a chance to come to Australia if it can be sold for $11,990. At the other end of the line-up, Kia's two AWDs get diesel power — the Sorento (a 125kW 2.5-litre turbo-diesel) in April and the Sportage (a 103kW 2.0-litre turbo-diesel) in July. The company is also weighing up whether to bring in a 2WD Sportage or the Carens people mover. LAMBORGHINIAs if it actually needed it, there is a boost in power for the top-of-the-line Lambo, the Murcielago LP640 (640hp, or 477kW) coupe to be launched in February, followed by the convertible Spyder version in October. LAND ROVERThe new Freelander arrives in July. The compact offroader goes up a step in size and price (likely to start from $50,000). The tough-as-old-boots Defender and the posh Range Rover are also upgraded later this year. LEXUSThe sensitive new-age millionaire gets his hybrid petrol-electric car, even if the electric motor is connected to a not-so-politically-correct, 5.0-litre V8 petrol engine, when the long-wheelbase LS600h arrives in June.It follows the LS460 in May. LOTUSLotus goes mainstream, sort of, from February. The Europa is the first Lotus GT in decades, a car primarily for driving on roads, rather than a race car that can be steered to and from the race track. MAZDAGenerational change begins with the new Mazda2 to be revealed in Europe possibly in October. The Mazda6 should follow in 2008. MERCEDES BENZOnly two significant newcomers but one of them is the brand's most important car. The new C-Class arrives in June with new looks, new interior and possibly new engines. Of more interest to the mega-rich the new CL arrives in February. MINIThe new offering arrives here in March and it's even larger than the old one. MITSUBISHIAn exciting new Lancer and the 380 gets a facelift to keep it in the hunt with Toyota's Aurion and Holden's VE Commodore. NISSANThe tiny Micra is likely to return in November. Also arriving then is its AWD, known as Qashqai, in Europe but likely to get a better name before it is launched here. PEUGEOTIn mid-March it launches the 207 hatch range, followed by the 207CC coupe-convertible and 207GTi in June or July. PROTONA pill for Proton next month: the fizz factor rises with its Satria performance hatch. RENAULTGrand Scenic arrives in February, the sporty Megane R26 in March, the Megane diesel in May and Clio III in September. ROLLS ROYCEWhen the Queen visits next she will be able to enjoy the Australian sunshine. The as-yet unnamed convertible is here in October. SAABAlternative energy is the mantra at Saab, starting with the 9-3 diesel this month, followed by a bio-ethanol 9-5 mid-year, depending on the success of a trial program.The bio-ethanol car runs on petrol as well (the engine computer detects the mix and responds accordingly), so the company could bring them out to replace the regular 9-5 in anticipation of the availability of 85 per cent ethanol fuel. SMARTNext generation fortwo comes to a cafe near you in September. SSANGYONGThe Actyon 4WD wagon is launched in March, followed by the dual-cab ute in April. SUBARUThis year sees new Imprezas, including a new WRX. Best of all, they won't have the existing model's "propeller" nose. SUZUKIOnly one newcomer here for rejuvenated Suzuki, with its compact AWD, the SX4. TOYOTAProbably the most important new-car launch this year in terms of sales is the Corolla, in May. Other additions include Tarago V6 (February), RAV4 V6 (October) and Landcruiser LC200 (November). VWAfter the Eos convertible lands this month it will be a quiet year. Touareg gets a facelift in October and a sporty Passat R36, probably here in December. VOLVOThe brand's stalwarts — S40 and V50 — are available with a five-cylinder diesel from February, while the new small car, the C30, appears in April with three five-cylinder engines, petrol, turbo petrol and turbo-diesel. October sees the arrival of the V70 wagon and its AWD counterpart the XC70.

A CarsGuide investigation of ACCC and manufacturer recall records revealed significant national recalls

The 2006 Australian International Motor Show heralded the opening of open-top motoring season, and summer could not then have been celebrated in a better way than with a hefty V10-engined super-cabrio, a stylish sultry Italian, some topless European flair and some ‘home-grown’ hotties.Many flocked to the BMW stand to spend what will be a rare moment with the new BMW M6 Convertible.The wild Chris Bangle styling of the 6 Convertible is matched to the German marque’s phenomenal five-litre V10 engine.With 373kW and a sprint time of 4.8 seconds from 0-100km/h (just 0.2 behind the more aerodynamically-friendly Coupe), there is nothing soft about this soft-top.Unfortunately for those interested parties with a spare $295,000 to spend, the global allocation of the M6 Convertible for 2006 was completely sold out.Fifty additional Limited Edition M6 models made for the infamous Nieman Marcus Christmas Catalogue in the USA recently sold out in 1.5 seconds of the magazine’s online release. Another eagerly-anticipated convertible is the new Alfa Romeo Spider.Born of the beautiful new Brera coupe, the Spider misses out on the Coupe’s sublime behind and its two (compromised) rear seats, but strikes an equally imposing, aggressive stance with the roof down.The Spider was launched at the show in two engine and drive layouts - but for the moment transmission choice is manual only.This is a move that has proved disastrous for convertibles in the past (most recently, the Holden Tigra), but automatic transmissions should follow in 2007.The 2.2-litre petrol will set you back $76,950, but the flagship 3.2-litre V6 AWD strikes six figures at $100,950.The Eos is the next big thing from Volkswagen, and while it may be based on an old favourite, the trick folding roof is a completely new concept, it looks hot, and comes with a choice of two-litre turbo petrol or diesel drivetrains. It almost makes up for the Beetle convertible. Almost…Sharing much of the platform and DNA of VWs biggest seller, the Golf, it actually commandeers the suspension of the larger Passat sedan and wagon to carry the weight of the five-piece retractable hardtop.The first cutaway section acts as a sunroof when only a hint of UV is required, but folds a further four times into the boot like a deftly dealt deck of cards in a decent 25 seconds.The innovative roof, called a CSC or ‘convertible sliding coupe’ roof, still leaves room for luggage, while the design is resolved and solid with or without the roof down in coupe or convertible guise.The retractable hard top (RHT) is the emerging trend in the burgeoning convertible market. Even the second-gen Volvo C70 Convertible drops its traditional cloth roof in preference of the retractable hard top; the new version of Holden’s best selling Astra Convertible, the Astra TwinTop, does the same.Both the new TwinTop and opposition Ford’s new cabrio, the Ford Focus RHT (due here mid-2007), are designed and built in Europe where the trend obviously fired up – in a region of vastly fluctuating weather through the seasons, it makes sense to take the top off or completely shut out the cold.But for now, with these exciting new models coming to or on the Aussie market, we can all take the chance to enjoy a little ray of sunshine. And with a RHT, it seems that style does not go out with the seasons…