After the culture clash between the Americans at Chrysler and the Germans at Daimler during the bad old DCX days, there has been concern that the latest European occupation of Auburn Hills could lead to similar friction. Granted, Fiat is not Mercedes-Benz, but Italian sensibilities can be quite dissimilar from those of most Detroiters.
So count us doubly impressed to happen upon this video, featuring an Alfa RomeoGiulietta "playing hockey." Never mind that it was Alfa's U.K. group that put together this amusing video to highlight the Giulietta's All Weather traction mode. We'd like to think that somebody from Hockeytown weighed in with some encouragement for the idea.
In fact, now that we think about it, maybe this whole hockey-playing-car thing could be the next extension of Chrysler's "Imported from Detroit" campaign. The new Dodge Dart is all Giulietta underneath, and the Chrysler 300 SRT8 would make one heck of a goon...
Yup. Someone has apparently taken it upon themselves to slather the slinkiest of Alfa Romeo models with the bright orange paint and stars and bars of the General Lee from The Dukes of Hazzard. Why? Because if you have enough cash to park an 8C Competizione in your expansive garage, you can paint it in whatever livery you damn well please. Details are scarce, but our source says the coupe is real, and it rocks the appropriate "01" numbering on each door. We're hoping there's a horn capable of whistling Dixie under the hood as well, and we'll award bonus points if the doors are welded shut and there's a cage inside.
We'd love to know who ordered up this particular color combination. Our source, John S., says this photo was clicked near Balocco in Northern Italy (presumably adjacent to Alfa's test track facility there), but for now, we'll just content ourselves by wondering how you say "Daisy Duke" in Italian.
Don't cry for the Dodge Avenger just yet. According to USA Today, Chrysler is set to introduce new midsized sedans to replace both the Chrysler 200 and the much-maligned Dodge Avenger. The vehicles will be built on a version of the same platform that underpins the 2013 Dodge Dart. That news runs contrary to word that the Avenger is headed to the great scrap pile in the sky after the current generation runs its course. Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne is looking to shore up the company's small car efforts and spread the cost of platform development across as many models as possible.
Marchionne also made mention of introducing a new hybrid hatchback under the Chrysler 100 nameplate, though details are scarce at the moment.
USA Today reports the same platform may be used for the next-generation Jeep Liberty and Compass, which are slated to debut sometime in 2013. Marchionne says both vehicles will be trail-rated and capable of standing up to the kind of abuse Jeep buyers demand. Even so, the CEO says the vehicles will have their "origins in the architecture of a sports car."
Speaking of sports cars, Marchionne also made it clear Alfa Romeo is still coming to the States, though the Italian brand's strategy has shifted somewhat. The models headed to the U.S. market will be lightweight and powered by a turbocharged 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine offering 300 horsepower. Certainly sounds good to us.
Motor Trend reports that Chrysler may forsake the Dodge Challenger for a resurrected Barracuda. The magazine cites two unnamed sources as saying the nameplate will surface in time to celebrate the vehicle's 50th anniversary in 2014. If true, the Barracuda will ride on a new smaller and lighter platform that's more fit to compete with the likes of the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro. The vehicle's bones will likely be shared with Alfa Romeo, which means a turbo four-cylinder may show up behind the Barracuda headlights as well as a fire-breathing V8. MT suggests the design may pull from the original fastback Barracuda, though a notch-back version would allow Chrysler to more effectively compete against the drop-top hardware from Ford and Chevrolet.
We have no doubt Chrysler and Fiat are currently investigating ways to breathe new life into the Challenger. The vehicle has been content to plod along as a distant third to its muscle-car rivals, but pulling the Barracuda name back into play seems unlikely. For starters, the Barracuda sailed under the long-dead Plymouth banner, and both Dodge and Chrysler have a long list of hallowed names from which to choose. Stay tuned.
Imagine your dream car. What might it include? Lightweight carbon-fiber construction, high-tech engine behind the seats, legendary Italian badge on the nose.... The thing is, that usually means a big fat price tag that runs well into the six figures, if not seven. But while this latest Italian sports car is set to include all those ingredients, its price point is set decidedly lower.
We're talking about the Alfa Romeo 4C, the nimble-looking little number that debuted in delicious matte red at the Geneva show last year, and in liquid-metal finish in Frankfurt just a few months ago. Rumors have been circulating of its imminent production ever since its debut, but now the blokes over at Top Gear say that have the final details on good authority.
According to the report, Fiat has crunched the numbers and figured out how it can produce the 4C while neither breaking the bank nor spoiling the formula. And so the supercar is set to begin testing in the new year and hit the market in the next. And the price? £45,000, according to TG, which equates to about $70K at today's exchange rates. To put that into perspective, consider that is the same starting price in the British market as the Porsche Cayman S - a model which starts here at $62K. UPDATE:Autocar now reports that the 45,000 figure is actually in Euros, not in British Pounds, which would price the 4C below the base Boxster, not the top Cayman.
The Cayman is an ambitious target, but the 4C promises to be both smaller and lighter. A new direct-injection turbo four will drive 230 horsepower to the rear wheels via a dual-clutch gearbox for a 4.5-second sprint to sixty, but is tipped to yield more powerful versions with as much as 300hp on tap and even a roadster version later on.
That last bit promises to be easier to pull off thanks to the carbon-fiber tub - engineered by Dallara - to which aluminum sub-frames will be attached front and rear. The Italian chassis constructor is best known for its racing cars, but also developed the KTM X-Bow, which could in and of itself give us the best idea of what to expect if and when the 4C assumes the place originally reserved for the 8C Competizione in finally heralding Alfa's return to the North American market.
We've seen Romeo Ferraris tune all manner of vehicles, but oddly none from the automaker with which it shares the first part of its name. That's all changing, but not with a current Alfa Romeo model. For their latest project, RF has turned its attention to the recently discontinued Alfa Romeo Brera.
Long considered one of the most beautiful designs mired by a substandard chassis, the Brera went out of production over a year ago. But to give it one last swan song, Romeo Ferraris has teamed up with venerable Alfa tuning firm Autodelta. Together, they've given the Brera's 3.2-liter V6 a supercharger, intercooler, custom exhaust and remapped ECU to boost power up by 97 horsepower for a more substantial 353 hp. That's tipped to drop the 0-62 time down to five seconds and the top end up to 162 mph.
Naturally a full body kit is also part of the package, as is an adjustable suspension and (we would hope) upgraded brakes as well. A fitting goodbye to one of the best-looking cars ever to grace the roads - and one that will hopefully keep it on them for years to come.
There's strength in numbers, particularly for a producer of high-end exotic automobiles. For a brand like Maserati, being linked to the Fiat Group not only means that it can offset its carbon emissions across a broader range of cars - something like the two-cylinder Fiat 500 TwinAir balancing out the GranTurismo MC Stradale - but also gives the company's dealer network a ready fleet of more affordable loaner cars at their disposal.
A couple years ago, Alfa Romeo and Maserati - which had just recently been realigned under common leadership - announced a special edition MiTo that had been made specially for Maserati dealers in Europe. Now they've followed up with the slightly larger and more powerful Giulietta.
The Maserati edition Giulietta starts out with the 235-horsepower turbo four from the top-of-the-line Quadrifoglio Verde (green cloverleaf) model, and further distinguishes itself with the same brown leather you'd expect to find in a Maserati, plus special 18-inch wheels, red brake calipers and special badges inside and out.
In other words, a suitable loaner to receive upon dropping off your Quattroporte for its regular servicing. And if the Ferrari edition Fiat 500 was anything to go by, Alfa dealers could be find themselves fielding referrals from their Maserati counterparts with eager customers waiting to place orders of their own.
Alfa Romeo test driver Terry Grant has picked up a few records in his day. The hot shoe has picked up a total of 19 world records during his time behind the wheel, and now he can add one more: Grant has taken to the Alfa Romeo Mito to become the man to pop the most water balloons using a vehicle. The Italian automaker crafted a massive version of its iconic logo from a staggering 2,500 balloons and then unleashed Grant on the finished product in a Mito Quadrifoglio Verde. Fortunately Alfa fans, the company trained more than a few lenses on the stunt for some excellent slow-motion action.
Pointless? Probably, but we're never ones to shun a video of an attractive European hatchback sliding around on a skid pad in slow motion. Of course, seeing all those water balloons makes us miss summer in a powerful way. Hit the jump to check out the video for yourself, as well as the full press release.
If you were to design your own engine for today's automotive market, what features would it include? Aluminum construction? Direct injection? Turbocharging? Variable valve timing on both intake and exhaust? Small displacement but a high output? Try all of these features and you're looking at the latest powerplant developed by Alfa Romeo and Fiat Powertrain Technologies.
The 1.8-liter turbo four leverages the latest developments in engine technology for an output as high as 300 horsepower while still meeting the most stringent emissions standards on the horizon (including the upcoming U.S. Tier 2 Bin 5 regulations, which bodes well for its eventual American application).
It's the engine that's expected to power the production 4C sportscar, and given that it's designed to be mounted either behind the cabin or in front, longitudinally or transversely, it will surely find its way into other Alfas as well. (Maybe a couple of future Dodge products, too) And when it does, we hope it won't lose much in output, because 300 galloping stallions and an Alfa Romeo badge on the nose sounds to us like a recipe for success.
Details in the press release after the jump, with fresh high-resolution images of the 4C in its original matte red finish added to the gallery for your viewing pleasure.
The Fiat/Chrysler relationship has yet to spawn any post-marital offspring, but that will soon change. Automotive News reports that one of those vehicles could come in the size and shape of a "baby" Jeep that will be sold in Europe.
The B-segment Jeep, which we told you about back in August, will also be badged as a Fiat model. Two Fiat sources told AN that the vehicles will be built in Fiat's Minafiori plant in Turin, Italy, and there is a chance the vehicle could also be sold in the U.S.
Minafiori was originally pegged as the Euro plant of choice to build the successor to the Jeep Compass and Patriot models, but the Fiat sources say those plans have changed. The new plan reportedly calls for the Patriot/Compass replacement and an Alfa Romeo sibling to be built in the U.S.
A recent Fiat release revealed that the Minafiori plant will be rebuilt starting in 2012, and that a Jeep SUV will begin production in the second half of 2013.
Chevrolet Sonic, Dodge Ram wins shootout, Dodge Caliber replacement, Supercharged Hyundai Genesis Coupe
Episode #249 of the Autoblog Podcast is here. This week Chris, Zach, and Dan are joined by AOL Autos Editor in Chief David Kiley. Topics include the Chevrolet Sonic, the Ram pickup's $30,000 truck shootout victory, the Alfa Romeo-based replacement for the Dodge Caliber and rumors and spy shots suggesting a supercharged Hyundai Genesis Coupe is coming. Your questions and comments power the last third of the podcast, and for those of you who hung with us live on our UStream channel, thanks for taking the time. We've embedded our Q&A module after the jump for you to scroll through and follow along, too. Thanks for listening!
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Like a kid forever awaiting the presence of his deadbeat dad at his birthday party, we've been promised the return of Alfa Romeo to the United States so many times that we've stopped feeling disappointed when it is invariably "postponed" again. But that numbness isn't shared by Fiat dealers across the country. Many of them are reportedly and understandably upset at the latest delay of the brand's reintroduction to America.
Although the lion's share of the 102 Fiat dealers that have sprung up across the country (and 28 more to come by year end) have grown out of existing Chrysler franchises, all have had to invest significantly in bringing Fiats to their showrooms. And while the 500 range has been selling well, it's the only model they have to offer. Though no explicit promises were made, many of these dealers were counting on receiving Alfa Romeo to fill their new showrooms.
Instead, the relaunch of the stoic marque has been delayed again. When it does finally arrive, the MiTo hatchback is set to lead the charge together with the 4C sportscar, followed by the Giulietta five-door hatch. The Giulia is set to replace the 159, not next year as originally planned, but in 2014. And while plans for a Jeep-based SUV have reportedly been scrapped, a new sedan is said to be in the works to succeed the long-gone 166 and share its platform with the next Maserati Quattroporte. For our part, we won't be holding our breath any longer before we just blow out the candles and get on with things.
Back in April, we told you about rumblings that Alfa Romeo's triumphant return to the U.S. was pushed from Fall 2012 to sometime in 2013. Back then, the issues were related to styling, but now it looks like the European debt crisis may have more to do with the delays.
Automotive News reports that Alfa Romeo CEO Harald Wester told a group of financial analysts at the Frankfurt Motor Show that Fiat was scaling back its global expansion plans, with several models coming later than expected. The new plan calls for the low volume 4C (above) to come mid-2013, followed by the redesigned MiTo later in 2013. The original plan to re-introduce the Alfa Romeo brand to the U.S. also included plans for a mid-size SUV to be built at Chrysler's Toledo plant, but that vehicle has reportedly been canceled altogether.
Fiat's announcement comes one day after CEO Sergio Marchionne cited a dire outlook of the European debt crisis as a reason for the automaker to rethink some of its product launches. This isn't good news for anyone waiting patiently for the Alfa brand to head back to the U.S., but the bigger news could be that future Chrysler product could be delayed as well. After all, Fiat plans to merge its platforms and technology with future Chrysler models, and that can't happen quickly if launches are being delayed.
There were a lot of things to love about the 4C Concept when Alfa Romeo unveiled it - now half a year ago - at the Geneva Motor Show. And one of them was its finish: Decked out in matte red, it was both flashy and understated at the same time.
A tough act to follow, then, so we were a little apprehensive when Alfa announced that it would bring the pint-sized sportscar to its Frankfurt Motor Show stand, albeit in a different finish. But as we found on the show floor, the Milanese automaker didn't pull out the vinyl or spray it with just any color out of the Pantone swatch book.
Instead Alfa has given it a "fluid metal" finish (similar to the Alubeam finish on the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG) that looks like what ordinary metalwork dreams about when its on vacation - neither polished nor brushed, neither chromed nor varnished. Just bare metal, only nicer. See what we mean in the gallery of live images from the show floor.
The Detroit News is reporting that Fiat may move its planned Jeep and Alfa Romeo SUV production from Turin to the United States. That would leave the Italian plant open and available to produce a new future city car.
According to an unnamed source close to the situation, the decision is based largely on the fact that the Euro has made substantial gains against the dollar in the past few months. A little less than a year ago, Fiat announced that it would invest $1.44 billion in the Turin facility in order to produce Jeep and Alfa Romeo SUVs beginning in late 2012, but since then, the Euro has gained nearly 9 percent against the dollar.
Needless to say, that makes the possibility of manufacturing Jeep vehicles abroad and importing them back into the U.S. considerably less profitable. Building the two vehicles here in America would keep Jeep assembly domestic and give Alfa Romeo a leg up when it comes time for that brand to re-launch in the land of the free.
Say what you will about the Alfa Romeo 159, but it's arguably one of the most attractive sports sedans on the (foreign) market. And when it's gone, it will be missed. But gone is precisely what it will be soon, as the Fiat group begins its gradual discontinuation.
According to reports, production of the 159 has already ceased as the assembly plant in Naples where it's built is re-tooled for production of the new Fiat Panda. The entire model line has reportedly disappeared from the order books in several keys markets, including the UK, while other markets continue offering the 159 from stockpiles built up ahead of the factory's temporary closure, but that means only four colors and one engine are available.
The 159 was a model mired by its shortcomings from the get-go. Although the Giugiaro styling turned heads, its edgy front end made for poor aerodynamics. The GM-sourced platform didn't serve the car well, and neither did its engines. And while it was originally engineered to meet U.S. regulations, the brand's return to the American market was pushed back time and time again, and is still yet to arrive.
The departure of the 159 leaves a gaping hole in not only Alfa Romeo's but the entire Fiat group's line-up. Aside from the Maserati Quattroporte and Lancia-badged Chryslers, the Golf-sized Alfa Giulietta, Lancia Delta and Fiat Bravo hatchbacks now stand as the largest passenger vehicles the company offers. And with the 159's successor - expected to be dubbed Giulia - not expected until later in 2013, it looks to stay that way for another couple of years at least.
Though you might not know it today, there was a time when Alfa Romeo challenged Ferrari on the race track. In fact Alfa was taking trophies and titles long before the horse ever pranced - that's where Enzo got his start, after all. But these days, now that they're sister companies, Ferrari makes the supercars and races for top honors while Alfa Romeo makes hatchbacks. If that just don't seem right to you, there are some engineers at Novitec who apparently feel the same way. And they've done something about it.
The German tuning house may be best known for tuning Ferraris, but it's also got a wealth of experience with Alfas, and have this time turned their attention to the Giulietta - the five-door hatch that's priced like a Golf but feels more like an A3.
Starting in the engine bay, Novitec has tweaked with the full range of gasoline and diesel engines available in the Giulietta to squeeze out an extra 15-30 horsepower, depending on the model. The top-spec turbo engine, for example, gets an extra 26 hp over stock for a full 261 hp - good enough, Novitec says, for a 6.5-second sprint to 62 miles per hour. Which may not be in the same league as a Ferrari, but then it won't cost you nearly as much to buy and own, either.
The package also encompasses stainless steel mufflers, a range of alloys from 18 to 20 inches, adjustable coil-over suspension and a comprehensive body kit. You can scope out the full details in the press release after the jump, or better yet, take a walk through the high-resolution image gallery.
When Alfa Romeo pulled back the veil on its 4C Concept at the Geneva Motor Show this past March, we were as taken in by its unique matte red finish as we were by the rest of the package. In a few weeks, Alfa will showcase the 4C once again in Frankfurt, and its new paint job - among other things - is sure to impress.
As you can see from the quartet of high-res images released so far, the 4C Concept has been given a "fluid metal" finish that looks similar to the highly sought-after Alubeam paint Mercedes-Benz offers on the SLS AMG. It seems to show the Alfa in a completely different light, one we look forward to scoping out in person at the Messe next month.
Alfa also says it has refined the technical package of the concept. Trimming the fat, as it were, to optimize the power to weight ratio, the aluminum and carbon fiber construction is motivated by over 200 horsepower from the 1.75-liter turbo engine that drives the rear wheels through the company's new dual-clutch transmission that is also making its debut in the Giulietta. Follow the jump for the full press release.
"We have now reached the right moment to step on the accelerator of the Fiat-Chrysler integration," Sergio Marchionne said this week in a statement regarding his appointment of a single management team for both companies. According to Automotive News, four regional chiefs - North America, South America, Europe and Asia - will be in charge of Fiat and Chrysler effective September 1.
Marchionne will retain his position as Chief Operating Officer for North America. Gianni Coda, Fiat's head of purchasing, will now run the operations in Europe, while Cledorvino Belini - formerly the head of Fiat Brazil - will take charge of South America. Michael Manley, head of Jeep, will oversee up Asia.
The newly formed Group Executive Council (GEC) is the highest decision-making executive body within the company, outside of its Board of Directors. In addition to the four regional COOs, each individual brand will have its own head, consisting of Olivier Francois (Fiat), Lorenzo Sistino (commercial vehicles), Harald Wester (Alfa Romeo/Abarth/Maserati), Saad Chehab (Lancia/Chrysler), Michael Manley (Jeep) and Reid Bigland (Dodge).
Make no mistake about it, ladies and gentlemen: the era of the Art Car has returned, and it's returned in a big way. Not only has BMW been showcasing its own extensive collection with a special online gallery, Force India has commissioned the first Formula One art car. Need more proof? Tesla had its roadster worked over, Citroën gave its Survolt concept a new paintjob and numerous other automakers have gotten in on the action just in recent months.
The latest, however, is an Alfa Romeo. The Italian automaker commissioned acclaimed artist Louise Dear to apply her talents to the MiTo to celebrate the launch of its new, more economical 1.3 JDTM-2 engine. The finished product, dubbed "Because I can" was apparently inspired by Dear's 17-year-old daughter, and it incorporates classic Alfa iconography like the company's logo and the Cloverleaf emblem that adorned the marque's racing cars of old. Check out the decidedly flowery result in the high-res image gallery above, along with more details of the partnership in the press release after the jump.
