autos sport

Unless Alfa Romeo has a very big surprise up its sleeves (which we certainly hope so given that the brand is celebrating its 100th birthday this year...), the only new models capable of capturing our attention at the Milanese firm's Paris Motor Show booth will be the usual 'female fatales' standing alongside their automobiles.

According to the company's press release, "the stars" of the Alfa Romeo stand will be the brand-new 140 HP 2.0 JTDM and the 170 HP 1.4 MultiAir turbo petrol with "Alfa TCT" automatic transmission versions of the Giulietta.

When equipped with the new 140-horsepower 2.0-liter turbo diesel, the Giulietta hatchback returns an average fuel consumption of just 4.5lt/10km (equal to 52.3mpg US) with corresponding CO2 emissions of 119g/km.

The second new product for the Giulietta range is the introduction of a dry twin clutch automatic transmission (TCT) combined with the 170 HP 1.4-liter turbocharged gasoline engine. The same transmission will also be offered with Alfa's 170HP 2.0-liter turbo diesel.

The brand-new Alfa TCT, which was first shown on the Mito supermini, is combined with start/stop tech that helps reduce CO2 emissions to 121g/km on the gasoline model.

On an even far less interesting note, Alfa Romeo will also show a couple of MiTo sport hatches and the 2011MY versions of the 159 sedan and Sportwagon (unveiled back in May), including one dressed in "Rosso Competizione" livery and equipped with the new 136-horsepower variant of the 2.0-liter JTDM diesel engine (Euro 5).

A new trim level has been added to the UK range of the Alfa Romeo MiTo hatch. Named the Turismo Sport, this edition is all/just about colors and extra content. On top of the standard equipment found in the MiTo Turismo, the Sport edition adds new 16-icnh alloy wheels, a roof spoiler, cruise control, Blue & Me technology, fog lights and a leather steering wheel with audio and phone controls.

The MiTo Turismo Sport is available in a choice of three colors, Solid Black (as standard), Biancospino White or the new Alfa Metallic Red, and two engines, a 1.4-liter gasoline unit with 95-horsepower and a frugal 1.3-liter JTDM diesel with 95HP that accelerates the Italian hatch from 0-62mph (100km/h) in 11.6 seconds while returning 65.7mpg UK on the combined cycle.

The MiTo Turismo Sport 1.4 16V 95bhp petrol is available in the UK from £12,895 OTR, while the diesel model is priced at £14,410.

While we’re waiting for the Geneva Show in March to see Alfa Romeo’s MINI rival in the flesh, a reader from our Italian buddies at Autoblog.it snapped a couple of pictures of the production car during some sort of presentation in Italy. Despite their miniscule size, the images reveal that the Junior (or whatever Alfa decides to call it), gets 8C Competizione inspired headlights and tail-lamps. Not much, but that’s all we have for now.

Via: Autoblog.it

Alfa Romeo announced today that the first phase of the "Name the Junior" contest ended and the final 12 names for the Alfa’s forthcoming 2009 sport mini hatch have been selected. We remind you that the naming contest was open up for residents in Italy, France, Spain, Germany, England and Japan, with Alfa Romeo’s committee choosing two names from each country (see here). In the next phase (from Nov. 1 to 15), the residents of the participating countries will have to vote for the winning name.

From the 12 names that Alfa’s committee chose, we sort of like the "Nevo" and "Velvetta" but to be honest, we would’ve preferred “Junior” for the car that will compete against BMW's MINI. As for the "Enos", that’s definitely a no-no since we’re not so sure that in some languages it won’t be pronounced as "anus"...

Finalists: Agea, Enos, Everso, Fira, Furiosa, Milo, Mod, Nevo, Solea, Sparvo, Velvetta, Ventura

While everyone was fooled into believing that Alfa Romeo’s MINI adversary would be named “Junior” when it goes on sale next year, the Italian sports carmaker surprised us by announcing an online contest were the public will help choose the name of the hot hatch! The competition is open up for residents in Italy, France, Spain, Germany, England and Japan. Alfa Romeo will also hand out several prizes including a brand new Spider for the “godfather” of the so-called Junior.

If you happen to live in any of the countries liable for the competition, check out the links after the jump and give it a shot. Just don’t go for any weird names like Sabretooth or Poutaneska and please check out an Italian dictionary before you submit a name; Cazzo might sound cool in English but the Italians won’t find it amusing, trust us…-Continued after the jump

www.alfanaming.it (for residents in Italy)

www.alfanaming.fr (for residents in France)

www.alfanaming.es (for residents in Spain)

www.alfanaming.de (for residents in Germany)

www.alfanaming.co.uk (for residents in England)

www.alfanaming.jp (for residents in Japan)

It’s been a while since we last reported on Alfa Romeo’s MINI adversary so when we saw this rendering on Autobild’s front cover we thought it would be a good idea to share it with you. To be honest, compared not only with previous renderings from other magazines like Quattroruote but also with Alfa Romeo’s official sketch, Autobild’s artist impression on the Junior is relatively conservative. No need to worry though, it’s just an impression; nothing more, nothing less. Besides, from what we’ve heard, we’ll most probably see a prototype of the Fiat Grande Punto based, Junior, at the September Frankfurt Show. Pic via: Autobild

Technorati: Alfa+Romeo+Junior, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, Carscoop, blogs, 2007

According to an article posted on Italian magazine Quattroruote, Fiat confirmed that its 2008 Junior (based on the Fiat Grande Punto platform and mechanics), will go in production in the first months of 2008 at the Group’s factory in Mirafiori. As interesting as it sound's, that wasn't what drew our attention here -we already knew that.

What intrigued us is couple of photoshoped images with which, Quattroruote "dressed" the article. The pics show a car combing elements from the official sketch that leaked from an investor meeting a few weeks ago and the super-sexy 8C Competizione. While one can’t say for sure how close Quattrouote’s designers have come to the real thing, I’m more than certain that Alfa will find a way to make our "tail wag".

The only thing that makes me skeptical is that the Junior will use Grande Punto’s mediocre -in terms of driving dynamics, platform. If the Italians want to compete head-straight with the MINI, they’ll definitely have to spend plenty of time fine-tuning it… Via: Autoblog.it & Quattroruote

Technorati: Alfa+Romeo+Junior, Fiat, autos, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, autos, Carscoop, images, pictures, scoop

During Fiat Group's two day investor and analyst event Alfa Romeo not only gave us the names of the 2008-2009 models with their images, but also kindly included their forcasted prices! Moreover, for all those watching the ticking clock until the next Alfa makes its trans-Atlantic journey, know that its U.S. launch was announced for the 3rd quarter in 2009 (models include the 169, 159, Brera and Spider). Let just hope that this time they're coming for certain. Teasers!

Junior: Set to compete with BMW's highly successful mini and Audi's future A2 successor, the Junior goes into production in 2008 with its price set to start at 16.000 EUR / 20.500 USD. Sources tell us that the Junior will be equipped with, among other engines, Fiat's new 1.4 turbo in 120 and 150 HP versions.

CXover: We might not have seen the beautiful Kamal SUV concept put into production however, its memory will live on through the CXover. According to Alfa this 5door crossover is something between an SUV and a Coupe with a length of 4.6 meters. Most possibly based on the 159 platform, the CXover will compete with BMW's X3 and Mercedes future MLK SUV's.

169: Blink a few times because this could be a poor man's Maserati Quattroporte. Hopefully they won't tweak the design too much because I think it's perfect. Judging from the prices the most logical expectation of the 169 is that it will be based on the 159/Brera platform. This means that no rear wheel drive thrills here. Instead there will be front and four wheel drive powertrains. Expect 4cylinder and V6 engines. And if we're really lucky, Alfa might through in some V8 power creating a postmodern Lancia Thema 8.32V (front wheel drive - Ferrari V8 powered!)

Technorati: Alfa+Romeo, Alfa+Romeo+169, Alfa+Romeo+CXover, Alfa+Romeo+Junior, Crossover, SUV, Fiat+Group, future+plans, scoop, 2007, autos, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, images, pictures,Carscoop

Ciao Italia! Fiat Group hosted a two-day event for the men with the purses (financial analysts and institutional investors) on November 8 & 9. Who cares right? Well, somewhere between the espresso and the Stromboli, Fiat Group announced the trios (Alfa Romeo, Fiat and Lancia) future product plan.

In fact, this product plan is so detailed that we are even told when the, yet to be unveiled, Fiat 500 (Trepiuno) will receive a facelift! Check it out for yourselves on the chart above -includes Fiat 500 Abarth, Grande Punto Abarth, Lancia 2009 Speciality model & Alfa Romeo 169, SUV & Junior debut dates.

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Lancia Delta HPE Concept

Technorati: Fiat+Group, Alfa+Romeo, Lancia, Fiat, futre+plans, scoop, 2007, autos, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, images, pictures, Carscoop

Since we not only know that it's official, but also when it's going on sale (mid 2008, check out all the official presentations of the Fiat Group here: Fiat, Alfa & Lancia 2008-2009), it's only logical that we're going to start seeing a bunch of photoshops promising to give us an accurate view of Alfa's Junior hatch.

This time, Italian magazine Infomotori has created a series of photos previewing Alfa's MINI competitor. While I'm not so sure that they've even come close to the real thing in terms of design, they're absolutely right about the engine range: the Junior will be fitted with Fiat Group's new 1.4 Turbo that will be offered in two versions, with 120 & 150 Hp. Via: Autoblog & Infomotori

Technorati : Alfa+Romeo+Junior, Fiat+Group, 2008, images, pictures, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, autos, Carscoop

I've just got my hands on anupdated list (official) of the Fiat Group's product plan for the 2007-2009 period. The dates shown bellow don't concern the official unveiling but the actual date that they'll go on sale in Europe. Among others, we see that the first models in the group to get Fiat's new 1.4 Turbo engine (available in two versions with 120 & 150 Hp) will be the Alfa 147 & the Fiat Grande Punto next summer.

As for brand new models, we see that although Alfa's 147 successor, the 149 will be delayed till 2009 (!), the Italian brand will make up for it with the Junior, a niche model aimed to compete against BMW Group's Mini.

Fiat on its part, will hit the market with two new models, the Bravo & the Linea (I'll get back on the last one, cause I'm not sure which model it is) in 2007, while its long awaited mini, the 500 will go on sale early 2008 along with Lancia's most important model, the production version of the Delta HPE Concept

UPDATE : Official Fiat Linea sedan Pictures

UPDATE: FIAT Bravo official pics

MODEL - ON SALE

Alfa Romeo 147 1.4 Turbo (120 & 150Hp) - July / August 2007
Alfa Romeo 149 - Mid 2009
Alfa Romeo 159 Ti - Feburary / March 2007
Alfa Romeo GT VELOCE (special version) - January 2007
Alfa Romeo Junior - Mid 2008

Fiat 500 - January 2008
Fiat Bravo - August / September 2007
Fiat Grande Punto 1.4 Turbo (120-150 ps) - June / July 2007
Fiat Linea - October-September 2007

Lancia Delta - Early 2008
Lancia MUSA Facelift - September / October 2007
Lancia Ypsilon Sport - May / June 2007

Technorati: Fiat, Alfa+Romeo, Lancia, Fiat+Group, 2007, 2008, 2009, Carscoop, autos, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, Geneva+Motor+Show