Alfa Romeo will be sold by Fiat dealerships in the U.S where about 200 Fiat franchises are attached to the Chrysler Group. story.venezuelastar.com | 8/26/10 1:53 AM

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Chrysler, Earnings/Financials, Fiat

Sergio Marchionne harbors no illusions about Chrysler being in the black for 2010. The Detroit News reports the Chrysler chairman and Fiat CEO stated flat out that a net profit in 2010 isn't likely during an August 23rd tour of a Toledo Jeep plant. Despite recent reports of operating profits from Chrysler, there's still tremendous cost associated with loan interest payments and a lineup of moribund product to turn over. Add to the mix the reintroduction of Fiat automobiles to the U.S. market, and you've got an outlook that's best described as "challenging."

Still, Marchionne told U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, also in attendance, that Chrysler is "ahead of plan" during the tour. That plan includes paying back its $12 billion in governmental loans and launching the Fiat 500 in North America. A meeting on August 30th will lay out the requirements for dealers interested in Fiat stores, and Marchionne reports strong interest.

Dealers that choose to take on Fiat must create standalone showrooms for the brand, requiring significant investment, though there's little overlap between Fiat and Chrysler product lines to muddy sales efforts. Other rumors that Marchionne dodged were talk of a Jeep Liberty -based SUV to be built in Toledo, and whether or not an Alfa Romeo sedan will be built in Brampton, Ontario.

[Source: Detroit News ]

Marchionne: Chrysler profit not likely for 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Aug 2010 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read  | Permalink  | Email this  | Comments www.autoblog.com | 8/24/10 6:59 PM

After doing the trials and tribulations thing for a couple of years, Concorso Italiano has found the perfect sized home in the middle of the action during Pebble Beach weekend. Several lawns full of vintage Ferrari, Lamborghini, Alfa Romeo, Maserati and Fiat machinery, not to mention some Bizzarinis and DeTomasos, are all the reminder one needs that when it comes to cars - and food and fashion - the Italians have had it going on for decades. We ate up all the organic sportsters, predecessors of today's supercars filled with preservatives, and walked away full of beauty...

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Luxist Captures Some Classics - and an SP1 - at Concorso Italiano originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 24 Aug 2010 08:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ferrari - AlfaRomeo - Maserati - Fiat - Lamborghini www.luxist.com | 8/24/10 1:04 PM

Filed under: Volkswagen, Earnings/Financials, Alfa Romeo, Fiat

According to Automotive News Europe, Volkswagen is keen on continuing its hungry, hungry hippo march through the automotive world. The report says that the German manufacturing giant has its eye on snapping up Alfa Romeo , even though parent-company Fiat has no intention of turning the brand loose.

The news comes courtesy of two unnamed, high-ranking VW officials who claim that the company has developed a serious taste for Italian as of late. Meanwhile, a similarly shadowy figure in the upper echelons of the Fiat kingdom says that Fiat won't sell Alfa Romeo to the Germans.

While the two companies appear to be drawing lines in the sand, Fiat has said that it wants Alfa Romeo to become a world-class luxury manufacturer. That includes selling upwards of 500,000 units per year by 2014 - nearly five times what the company managed to move in 2009.

So why does VW want Alfa Romeo? Nabbing the brand would be an easy way to help the carmaker in its quest to take down Toyota as the world's number one automaker. Dipping into the Alfa Romeo stable would also give VW access to a wealth of new front-engine, front-wheel-drive chassis options as well.

[Source: Automotive News Europe ]

Report: VW wants to buy Alfa Romeo, Fiat unwilling to part originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Aug 2010 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink  | Email this  | Comments www.autoblog.com | 8/23/10 5:59 PM

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Videos

The second worst part of the Formula One season is right now during the summer break when F1 fans have to endure four weeks of no racing.

We've made it this far and have but a week to go until racing resumes at Spa, so to get us over the hump, we have the help of Breakdown Cover. The website has compiled thirty of the best on-track battles dating all the way to Tazio Nuvolari's Alfa Romeo beating a passel of Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrows in Germany in 1935 and put them all into one place.

We've dropped one of our favorites after the jump , Ayrton Senna's first lap antics at Donington Park back in 1993. Click the link for the other 29, and feel good about it - it's not wasting time if racing is involved.

[Source: Breakdown Cover ]

Continue reading Video: Get your F1 fix during the break with 30 of the sport's greatest on-track battles

Video: Get your F1 fix during the break with 30 of the sport's greatest on-track battles originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Aug 2010 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read  | Permalink  | Email this  | Comments www.autoblog.com | 8/20/10 3:28 PM

A rare 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider Competizione (above) with coachwork by Scaglietti fetched a whopping $7.26 million at Gooding & Company 's Pebble Beach sale in California over the weekend, setting a new world record for the model and capping a round of stunning auction results. The stunning roadster, which took 5th place overall at the 1960 12 Hours of Sebring race, was just one of several multimillion-dollar Ferraris to cross the block over the weekend. Gooding & Co. also hammered down a rare 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB SEFAC Hot Rod for $6.1 million, and a 1933 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza for $6.7 million. As we reported previously, Bonhams set another world record over the weekend with the $4 million sale of a 1970 Porsche Gulf-JWA Le Mans 917K coupe, while RM Auctions netted $4.6 million for a 1954 Ferrari 375 MM Berlinetta, among others. Gooding achieved a new record in sales, realizing $64.5 million for 106 cars during the landmark event.

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions

1959 Ferrari Sells for Record $7.26 Million at Pebble Beach originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 20 Aug 2010 07:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RM Auctions - Alfa Romeo 8C - Pebble Beach California - Ferrari 250 - Hot rod www.luxist.com | 8/20/10 12:04 PM

Filed under: Classics, Auctions

We witnessed several million-dollar cars go up for sale at RM's auction on Saturday night , but across town, the Gooding & Company auction had even more impressive metal crossing the block. Gooding's two night auction resulted in more than $64 million in sales, including six world records. "We went into this year's Pebble Beach Auctions with high expectations because of the sheer number of extraordinary cars we had consigned," said David Gooding, President and founder of Gooding & Company. "Our highest-ever Pebble Beach weekend results at $64.59 Million speak for themselves and I couldn't be happier."

The record-setting cars auctioned off by Gooding:

• 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider Competizione at $7,260,000
• 1933 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza at $6,710,000
• 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta SEFAC Hot Rod at $6,105,000
• 1956 Maserati 200SI at $2,640,000
• 1951 Ferrari 340 America Spider at $2,530,000
• 1937 Jaguar SS100 at $1,045,000

In addition, several other cars topped the million dollar mark including a 1995 McLaren F1 at $3,575,000, a 1928 Mercedes-Benz S 26/180 Boattail Speedster at $3,740,000 and a 1966 Ford GT40 Mk I at $1,650,000.



[Source: Gooding & Company]

Monterey 2010: Gooding smashes records at Pebble Beach auction originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Aug 2010 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink  | Email this  | Comments www.autoblog.com | 8/17/10 11:39 PM

EA's new marketing strategy, "Project Buy The Game Immediately ," will be applied to certain launch copies of Criterion's upcoming Need for Speed game. When Hot Pursuit is released on November 16, the so-called "Limited Edition" of the game will be offered for the same $60 price as the standard version through participating retailers -- and "while supplies last." The Limited Edition will include two exclusive cars (see below) and immediate access to four additional rides, which are otherwise unlocked through the painstaking process of actually playing the game.

Exclusive access to:

• Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione
• Ford Shelby GT500

Early access to:

• Audi TT RS Coupé
• Chevrolet Camaro SS
• Porsche Cayman S
• Dodge Challenger SRT8

Continue reading Need for Speed Hot Pursuit Limited Edition is same price as standard version, adds bonus cars

Need for Speed Hot Pursuit Limited Edition is same price as standard version, adds bonus cars originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 17 Aug 2010 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink  | Email this  | Comments www.joystiq.com | 8/17/10 6:45 PM

Filed under: Car Buying, Concept Cars, Motorsports, Classics, Misc. Auto Shows, Alfa Romeo

It might be hard to believe, but Alfa Romeo is a century old. Check that - A.L.F.A. (Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili, or Lombardy Car Manufacturing Company) is 100, having been established in 1910. That was the year that a group of Milanese enthusiasts decided they could build cars better than the stuff they were getting from foreign automakers. ALFA wasn't very successful at first - at least not financially - but during World War I, the company was taken over by a young engineer, Nicola Romeo, and the rest, as they say, is history. 100 years later, we have some of the most incredible and memorable sports and racing cars of all time wearing the cross-and-serpent or the Quadrifoglio.

At the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance on Sunday, the automaker received a warm welcome, with two dozen or so of their most significant models on hand for the festivities - many from the factory museum. Those 24 cars represented just a small sample of the sports and racing cars that made the company famous - everything from one of their first 1910 A.L.F.A. 24-hp Torpedo model, to the bio-mechanical 2010 Alfa Romeo Pandion Bertone Coupé .

It was a great gathering of incredible cars to honor this legendary automaker as it enters its second century, a century that will thankfully see its return to the United States market. It's hard to say if today's models will stand the test of time like the classics gathered at Pebble, but we think that the 8C Competizione will look sensational out there on the 18th fairway in 40 years, just like it does today.



Photos Copyright (C)2010 Drew Phillips, Frank Filipponio / AOL

Monterey 2010: Pebble Beach honors Alfa Romeo on its 100th birthday originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Aug 2010 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink  | Email this  | Comments www.autoblog.com | 8/16/10 7:29 PM

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Alfa Romeo

The year 2010 marks the 100th birthday of Alfa Romeo , the great Italian automaker that has given us some of the most lust-worthy road and race cars of, well, the last century. It was fitting, therefore, that Concorso Italiano celebrated the occasion with gusto. They even let the Alfas spell out the annual message to the heavens: a simple "100." It would have been interesting to see them try to use 100 cars to do so; goodness knows there were at least that many Alfas on hand.

Check out the gallery and you'll see a small sampling of the great variety of Alfas on display. As much as we like the new 8C Competizione , we have to say our favorite Alfa Romeo at Concorso was probably John Shirley's 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B . Just take a look at that rear !


Photos copyright (C)2010 Frank Filipponio / AOL

Monterey 2010: Alfa Romeo centenary celebrated con brio originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 14 Aug 2010 17:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink  | Email this  | Comments www.autoblog.com | 8/14/10 10:10 PM

Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupe, Performance, Ferrari, Lancia

The Lancia Stratos revival project that we've been hearing about for the past week or so is much farther along than we thought, as engineers did some running at northern Italy's Balocco test track in late June. For the first time, we've seen the new car alongside an original Stratos and the designers have done a remarkable job in recreating the classic's unique shape, size and proportions.

This new Stratos arrives during the 40th anniversary year of the Marcello Gandini-designed Stratos Zero concept, whose name was later resurrected for the rally car and homologation special. Like the 1970s-era Stratos, power reportedly comes from a Ferrari engine, this time a V8 probably donated from the F430 . (The original used the 2.4-liter Dino V6.) Italiaspeed reports that the new car is so true to the concept of the original that it even has door-mounted helmet storage. The bodywork has apparently been crafted in carbon fiber and as many as five prototypes may already be running. If so, this is not likely the one-off that was originally speculated, but a car that could see a limited production run like the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione .

Check out Top Gear's take on the original Stratos after the jump . For a good history lesson on the Lancia Stratos, pick up the September 2010 issue of Hemmings Sports & Exotic Car at your local bookstore, as one of this month's feature vehicles is a 1976 Stratos, and the article has an informative backgrounder on the car's journey from design concept to rally icon.



[Source: Italiaspeed ]

Continue reading Modern-day Lancia Stratos gets real

Modern-day Lancia Stratos gets real originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 14 Aug 2010 12:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read  | Permalink  | Email this  | Comments www.autoblog.com | 8/14/10 5:35 PM

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Design/Style, Luxury

Monterey has seen its share of debuts and this year stays true to form. We've already seen the unveilings of the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport , the new Boss 302 Mustang , the Infiniti G25 , Jaguar XKR175 , and McLaren MP4-12C . It doesn't end there, either. Tucked among the exotica at Concorso Italiano was the new Zagato-styled, Hi-Tech-built and Superfomance-sold, Perana Z-One sports/GT.

It's beautiful. And the build quality is exquisite. The panel gaps put all the high-priced Italian vehicles surrounding it to shame. The styling is definitely that of a European GT, a shape that holds its own in the company of an Alfa Romeo 8C , Aston Martin or a Ferrari 599 . With that Corvette engine under its long nose, however, it's reminiscent of classic Italian/Amercan collaborative sports car efforts from companies like DeTomaso , Iso and Bizzarrini .

We weren't alone in being smitten by this new $100,000 sports car either. It was mobbed all day, even amidst the dazzling variety from the likes of Lamborghini and Maserati . We're hoping to arrange some seat time on the Perana Z-One, but for moment, feast your eyes on the gallery below and you'll understand why we see big things in this vehicle's future.



Photos by Frank Filipponio / Copyright (C)2010 AOL

Monterey 2010: Perana Z-One makes U.S. debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 14 Aug 2010 11:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink  | Email this  | Comments www.autoblog.com | 8/14/10 4:06 PM

Filed under: Concept Cars, Motorsports, Classics, Lamborghini, Maserati, Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Design/Style, Lancia

Monterey coverage continues with one of Friday's staples. Concorso Italiano has been one of Monterey's largest gatherings of primarily Italian vehicles for years. Laguna Seca Golf Ranch played the hospitable host, giving throngs of Italian-car lovers the opportunity to get up close and personal with hundreds of le belle macchine .

Lamborghini , Maserati , Alfa Romeo , Fiat , Lancia , DeTomaso and Ferrari , were well represented - long lines of each marque appearing almost mirage-like down the fairways of Laguna. You know those shots you've seen of exotic cars lined up outside the factory? Multiply those by ten. It is absolutely crazy. Special gatherings honored the Ferrari F40, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary of U.S. citizenship. The Italians were never really that great at dates, as the F40 was originally intended to be a 40th anniversary treat for Enzo himself to celebrate the company's 1947 birth. Unfortunately, it appeared around 1990 instead. Don't even get us started on the F50.

Concorso has hosted several smaller manufacturers over the years as well. Not just the oddball makes that few people have ever heard of, but also fledgling companies that have sometimes risen to prominence - or fallen infamously. This year, Superformance showed off the new Zagato-penned Perana Z-One. The European GT styling combined with Corvette power reminds us of the classic Italo-Amercan mashups from DeTomaso, Iso , Bizzarrini and the like. The Z-One is gorgeous, and we were blown away by its build quality. We're negotiating some seat time to give you the full rundown, but for now, check out the gallery and you'll see why Concorso Italiano has become one of the world's greatest events for lovers of Italian machinery.



Photos by Frank Filipponio / Copyright (C)2010 AOL

Monterey 2010: Concorso Italiano celebrates all things Italia originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 14 Aug 2010 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink  | Email this  | Comments www.autoblog.com | 8/14/10 2:29 PM

As far as special editions go, the latest from Alfa Romeo isn't really anything special. But it may be a good buy just the same, so long as you would have ordered yours within these parameters anyway, or don't mind limiting your choices.

Called the Touring Sport, the special MiTo packs in a variety of optional equipment from alloy wheels to Blue&Me infotainment system, bundled at an attractive price for British buyers. The trade-off is a limit selection: three colors (black, white or red) and two engine options (gasoline or diesel, each producing 95 horsepower). So is it special? That depends on how you look at it.

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Alfa Romeo MiTo Touring Sport originally appeared on Luxist on Thu, 12 Aug 2010 23:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AlfaRomeo - Alfa Romeo MiTo - Makes and Models - Recreation - Autos www.luxist.com | 8/13/10 4:01 AM

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Chrysler, Dodge, Rumormill

Let's include this one in the highly improbably file. The Mopar specialists at Allpar.com are reporting that the previously reported 2011 Dodge Caravan R/T minivan could come powered by a V8 engine. Along with most of the Chrysler lineup, the Town and Country and Caravan will be getting a substantial mid-cycle refresh in the coming months. While the main focus will be on upgraded interiors, the minivans are also getting new powertrains with the fresh Pentastar V6 replacing the tired old 3.8- and 4.0-liter V6s.

However, putting a V8 into the Grand Caravan seems like a stretch at best. Chrysler's own 4.7- and 5.7-liter V8s almost certainly won't fit in the vans, which are designed around 60-degree V6 engines. That leaves an engine out of the Fiat lineup as the only option. Unfortunately, the only V8s at Fiat reside under the hoods of Maseratis and Ferraris (along with the late Alfa Romeo 8C ). Aside from the fact that these probably wouldn't fit either, none have ever been configured for a transverse application and they would all be enormously expensive.

As intriguing as the idea of a 400+hp Ferrari-powered Grand Caravan might be, it makes about as much sense as a Bentley-powered Volkswagen Golf. Wait a second ...



[Source: Allpar ]

Rumormilll: Ferrari-powered 2011 Dodge Caravan R/T coming? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Aug 2010 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink  | Email this  | Comments www.autoblog.com | 8/12/10 3:58 PM

Filed under: Sedan, Plants/Manufacturing, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat

Following the recent news that Chrysler will re-hire 900 workers and add a second shift back at its Sterling Heights, MI assembly plant comes word that the next-generation replacements for the Sebring and Dodge Avenger will be produced there. Supposedly, Fiat had plans to build the cars in Turin, Italy along with the Alfa Romeo Giulia , but could not reach a suitable agreement with its unions on work rules.

The idea of building the mid-size sedans in Italy for export to North America seemed highly implausible anyhow. The family sedan segment is among the most competitive in this market and pricing pressures are tough enough without factoring in exchange rates. Most of the Toyota , Honda , Nissan , Hyundai and soon even Volkswagen mid-size models are or will be built locally in order to keep costs down. Regardless of the reasoning, according to Automotive News , it now looks like the new sedans will be built in the plant north of Detroit on Fiat platforms beginning in 2013.



[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

Report: Fiat moving planned production of Chrysler Sebring back to U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Aug 2010 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink  | Email this  | Comments www.autoblog.com | 8/6/10 3:28 PM

Recently, Forbes.com unveiled a list of "The World's Most Beautiful Cars." All the choices are the most alluring new vehicles on the market. Here's a look: &$&$1. Alfa Romeo 8C Spider&$ &$ &$&$MSRP:&$ &$301,600 U.S. dollars &$ &$Alfa Romeo 8C Spider (Photo Source: auto.sina.com.cn)&$&$&$ english.people.com.cn | 7/12/10 11:12 PM

Jul 9th 2010 at 12:01PM This year is both the 150th anniversary of Chopard , as well as the 100th anniversary of Alfa Romeo .

www.topix.net | 7/9/10 11:53 PM

This year is both the 150th anniversary of Chopard , as well as the 100th anniversary of Alfa Romeo . As anniversaries are a time for watches (duh), Chopard is making a limited edition Gran Turismo watch in their Mille Miglia collection for Afla that contains the signature red that Alfa Romeo cars seem to look best in. The watches are actually mostly black, but have high contrast hands in a cherry red tone. At 44mm wide, the watch will actually come in three versions. Two chronographs, and a three-hand Gran Turismo XL Chronometer model (actually, all models are technically certified Chronometers). The chronograph versions (like the one pictured) will come in a polished steel case (limited to 500 pieces), and a DLC coated steel case version (limited to 100 pieces). The three-hand model is in polished steel and limited to 500 pieces as well. Strap is your standard Mille Miglia Dunlap tire tread pattern in rubber, and inside the watches are Swiss automatic movements (base ETA). Really an awesome treat for the proud Alfa Romeo car owner.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch reviews site aBlogtoRead.com.

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Chopard Mille Miglia Gran Turismo XL Alfa Romeo Watch originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 09 Jul 2010 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AlfaRomeo - Mille Miglia - Chopard - Gran Turismo - Special edition www.luxist.com | 7/9/10 5:01 PM

Filed under: SUV, Crossover, Alfa Romeo

Alfa Romeo , in case you hadn't noticed, is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. And it seems like rumors of an Alfa CUV have been floating around for just as long. But the wait may finally be over as the Italian automaker reportedly plans on making it up to its customers with not one, but two new crossover models.

With its sights set firmly on Audi 's Q5 and upcoming Q3 compact crossovers, the two-pronged approach may help Alfa launch into the CUV market. The smaller of the two is tipped to be based on the new C-Evo platform developed for and recently launched on the Giulietta , while the larger model could borrow Jeep underpinnings, substantiating earlier reports . Expect the first to come along in a couple of years and the second to follow a couple of years after that, with North American sales a distinct possibility.



[Source: Autocar ]

Kamal-Back: Alfa Romeo reportedly cooking up two new crossovers originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Jul 2010 18:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read  | Permalink  | Email this  | Comments www.autoblog.com | 7/7/10 11:21 PM

Filed under: Classics, UK

2010 marks the 100th anniversary of Alfa Romeo, and the Italian car company will be the most celebrated marque at nearly every concours and motorsports events this year. The Goodwood Festival of Speed, however, will likely top them all, at least in terms of artistic expression. Alfa Romeo was the theme of the perennial sculpture outside of the Goodwood house, with a 1925 Alfa Romeo P2 and an 8C Competizione mated to 12 tons of red steel standing more than 60 feet high.

There were plenty of Alfas on the ground as well, with quite a few examples competing in the hill climb, including a beautiful 1968 Tip 33/2 Le Mans that won its class at the 24 hour race and a stunning 1991 SE 048 SP Group C prototype . Perhaps our favorite Alfas, though, were the wacky concept cars at the concours event sponsored by Cartier, like the 1968 Carabo Concept , the 1969 Iguana Concept and the 1976 Navajo Concept . Some of the more famous classic Alfas were in attendance as well including a gorgeous 1937 8C 2900B Touring Berlinetta and perhaps on of the most cars of the 1960s, a 1967 Tipo 33 Stradale . You can view all of the photos of Alfa Romeo at the 2010 Goodwood Festival of Speed in the high-res gallery below.



Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Goodwood 2010: Celebrating 100 years of Alfa Romeo originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Jul 2010 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink  | Email this  | Comments www.autoblog.com | 7/7/10 5:32 PM

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics

It didn't take long for me to sense the irony. As a kid I would go to my small town Fourth of July parade every year, sitting by the side of the road and enjoying the cars, floats, marching bands and various other representations of American pride go by as people waved and cheered. And here I was on the Fourth of July weekend watching a parade of sorts, despite the fact that I was in Southern England, and it all seemed very fitting. It wasn't a celebration of national pride and patriotism, but rather of the history and spectacle of motorsports. And what a spectacle it was.

Since it began in 1993 the Goodwood hill climb has become one of the most famous automotive events in the world. More than 100,000 spectators come from around the world each year to witness various cars and bikes make the trek up past the Goodwood House. This year's theme was 'viva veloce' (translated as the passion for speed), highlighted by the 100th anniversary of Alfa Romeo and 60 years of Formula 1. The selection of vehicles is truly diverse, with everything from a 1938 Auto Union to modern day F1 cars completing the 1.16 mile course. Although each of the runs are timed and some drivers of the drivers actually compete for the lowest E.T., the majority simply just enjoy the experience. Burnouts, donuts, wheelies, and all other forms of foolishness are encouraged. In fact, the crowds seemed most entertained when Michael Waltrip attempted to do a burnout for the entire length of the course in his NASCAR Toyota. Sound like your idea of a good day? Check out the gallery below for our photos from this year's Goodwood hill climb.



Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Goodwood 2010: The hill climb celebrates viva veloce, the passion for speed originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Jul 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink  | Email this  | Comments www.autoblog.com | 7/6/10 1:00 AM

Filed under: Alfa Romeo, UK

Audi celebrated itself at the Goodwood Festival of Speed last year, and the sign it hung out front as advertisement was a 135-foot statue with a 1937 Auto Union at one end and R8 V10 at the other. This year Alfa Romeo will be doing the major celebrations, blowing out 100 candles for its centennial soiree, and it has unveiled its statue on the Goodwood lawn. If tradition holds, the statue was designed by Gerry Judah and according to Motor Trend , called "the most stylish and memorable sculpture ever crafted for the event." Hmmm...

On the left is one of the only two P2 racers left, and this particular example won the 1925 Gran Prix World Championship. On the right, an 8C Competizione. In the middle is... well, something red and swoopy, which we'll suppose is a fitting enough representation of 100 years of Alfas.

[Source: Autocar ]

Alfa Romeo unveils its statue at the Goodwood Festival of Speed originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Jul 2010 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read  | Permalink  | Email this  | Comments www.autoblog.com | 7/1/10 10:40 PM

Alfa Romeo uses COMAU industrial robots, dual core PCs, tightly integrated drives and high-speed Ethernet POWERLINK for automotive painting, welding and assembly operations Al Presher, Contributing Editor -- Design News, June 29, 2010 Fully automated assembly lines and integrated robotics are an essential part of modern automobile production.

www.topix.net | 6/30/10 11:38 PM

Due to having the a oeright conditions, the right products and the right synergies,a Alfa Romeo is expected to meet and even surpass its target of increasing global sales fivefold in the next four years, Alfa CEO Harald J. Wester said in an interview with Automotive News Europe Congress.

www.topix.net | 6/30/10 1:30 AM

Filed under: Performance, Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Rumormill

Anyone who's spent time in a desert climate knows all to well how fast a scorpion can move, and the same can be said of the reborn marque that bears the scorpion as its badge. Not just in terms of the vehicles it produces, but the busy pace which Fiat 's tuning division keeps.

With only two core models in its line-up, Abarth always seems to have something new in the works. The latest debuts were hot versions of the Fiat Punto Evo and 500C . A new purpose-built roadster is reportedly in the works again. And now reports have it that the recently revived tuning studio is preparing to branch out beyond Fiat's own catalog and take on some offerings from Alfa Romeo .

The development follows the unification of the two Fiat Group brands under common management , a move which has already bred the Maserati edition Alfa MiTo . No word yet on exactly which Alfa models could get the Abarth treatment, but while the MiTo might seem a logical starting point, reports suggest that - with the Quadrifoglio Verde (Cloverleaf) model already on the market and a GTA still rumored to be in the works - the stylish little hatch will be immune to the scorpion's sting.

[Source: Autocar ]

Abarth to tune Alfa Romeos? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 17:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read  | Permalink  | Email this  | Comments www.autoblog.com | 6/29/10 10:38 PM

Filed under: Classics, Alfa Romeo

The 28th Annual Dana Point Concours d'Elegance took place this past Sunday, once again adorning the Monarch Beach Golf Links at the St. Regis Resort with some of the most beautiful pieces of rolling sculpture ever created. Celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2010 is Alfa Romeo , so it was only fitting that this maker of some of the most incredible Italian sports and racing cars be one of the featured marques at this year's concours.

It's odd to think that this quintessentially Italian firm actually started out as a French company way back in 1906, but its SAID (Società Anonima Italiana Darracq ) ancestor quickly dropped off the map when the Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili (A.L.F.A.) opened its Milanese factory doors on June 24, 1910. It wasn't until 1915 that Nicola Romeo came on board and the company we know and love finally started to flourish after the war, with its return to car building in 1920 under the Alfa Romeo name. It wasn't long before Enzo Ferrari and other drivers were establishing the racing prowess of the marque, eternally cementing the legacy of the automaker.

The Alfa Romeo turnout at most concours is usually pretty healthy, so with the special centennial this year, it wasn't surprising to see such a spectacular display of Alfas at Dana. Check out our gallery below and you'll see some of our favorites, from the Villa d'Este above, to the pair of Giulia Sprint Speciales , to the audacious '65 TZ2 GT Coupe of General Lyon.



Photos by Frank Filipponio/ Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

2010 Dana Point Concours: 100 Years of Alfa Romeo originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Jun 2010 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink  | Email this  | Comments www.autoblog.com | 6/28/10 11:23 PM

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Performance, Bugatti, Porsche, Ferrari, Specialty, Design/Style, Luxury, Racing

It seems a bit odd calling this the 28th Annual Dana Point Concours d'Elegance when it's only been in this city for three years and has only had that name officially for one, but after spending a good portion of Sunday at the St. Regis and its Monarch Bay golf course, it really felt like this is where this show was always meant to be. With dramatic views of the ocean, the rolling greenery of the links and the surrounding mansions, the venue feels like it was built solely to play host to Southern California's premiere concours.

Second only to Pebble Beach in prominence among the California concours, Dana Point has really come of its own. With nearly 200 judged entries and perhaps an equal number of display vehicles, it's a big show that still manages to feel manageable, and the field of entrants was once again amazing. This year's show honored 100 years of Alfa Romeo , 80 years of Pininfarina and 20 years of the Ferrari F40, as well as drag racing legend Don "The Snake" Prudhomme . Classes included American Pony & Muscle Cars, Corvettes to 1967, Kustoms & Hot Rods, and the second annual exhibit of Supercars, as well as a new category for vintage motorcycles.

With proceeds going to support the Ocean Institute , the Mary & Dick Allen Diabetes Center at Hoag Hospital and other Southern California youth charities, the Dana Point Concours is run as a Classic Car Club of America (CCCA) Concours, but with some of those additional classes thrown in to showcase particularly interesting and relevant automobiles. Just take a look at the photo above and you'll see the wide variety of outstanding vehicles that this show attracts. Click through the rest of the gallery and you'll see everything from a Bugatti 57SC to the nicest Oldsmobile Starfire you're ever likely to encounter.

Some favorites this year included just about everything in the gallery, but especially the low mileage original '57 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham , '32 Ford Phaeton Hot Rod , '58 Ferrari 250 Tour de France , '59 Ferrari 250 GT Series I Pinin Farina Cab , 1980 Kawasaki K2 , "Animal House" Death Mobile , that crazy cute 1957 Fiat "Eden Rock" Yacht Tender , and the fantastic '52 Muntz Jet Convertible . The Muntz, however, wasn't our top pick. That honor had to go to the Bugatti among the classics, Don Prudhomme's funny car collection among the American cars and the Alfa Romeo TZ2 GT Coupe as the car we'd most like to drive. Click below to check out the massive gallery and pick out your favorites.



Photos by Frank Filipponio/ Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

2010 Dana Point Concours d'Elegance at the St. Regis originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Jun 2010 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink  | Email this  | Comments www.autoblog.com | 6/28/10 6:28 PM

Filed under: Concept Cars, Paris Motor Show, Mazda, Design/Style

According to Auto Express , Mazda Europe's British design boss Peter Birtwhistle has confirmed that the Japanese automaker will take on a new styling direction. Perhaps the news shouldn't come as a shocker, considering that former Mazda design head Franz von Holhausen, the man responsible for the previous styling direction of concepts like the Nagare and Furai , left Mazda for Tesla Motors back in 2008.

Further, Laurens van den Acker, who styled the latest Mazda5 , left the Japanese automaker for Renault . As such, Birtwhistle told AE , "Nagare is done. After the 5, it's highly unlikely that there will be another Nagare car. Mazda has moved on." Apparently, Mazda found it rather difficult to apply the swoopy and flowing conceptual styling direction to production cars, specifically boxier shapes like that of the Mazda5.

We tend to agree with Mazda that the Nagare look is awesome on concepts but tough to translate to production. So, what's next? Apparently, Mazda will attempt to turn itself into a "Japanese Alfa Romeo ," with an initial concept based on its new "Thrusting Motion" styling direction. We should see the fruits of this early effort at the upcoming Paris Motor Show .



[Source: Auto Express ]

Nagare no more? Mazda to change styling direction originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Jun 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read  | Permalink  | Email this  | Comments www.autoblog.com | 6/23/10 6:30 PM

Filed under: Hatchback, Alfa Romeo, Police/Emergency, Australia

If your aim in choosing a new car is to get noticed, there's no shortage of attention-grabbing wheels to pick from, but few cars get noticed as quickly as a police cruiser . Sure, the flashing lights and blaring sirens might help, but not as much as the looming threat of being ticketed. Still, Australia's New South Wales police department seems to think it needs some help getting noticed.

That's precisely why Sydney-area law enforcement has taken delivery of an Alfa Romeo MiTo. Noticeably bereft of emergency lighting, the MiTo will be used for community outreach and safety awareness programs. Whether the wee Alfa will prove more effective in its assignment than a Hummer H3 or Holden Commodore remains to be seen, but it might help the authorities catch up with the next F1 champion who tries spinning donuts on city streets.



[Source: Car Advice via eurocarblog ]

Australian police hope to attract stares with Alfa MiTo cruiser originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 05 Jun 2010 15:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read  | Permalink  | Email this  | Comments www.autoblog.com | 6/5/10 8:35 PM

Filed under: Motorsports, Sedan, Europe, Porsche, Racing

The cynical among us learned long ago that life just isn't fair. Those still holding out hope, however, can look to the European touring car championships for cold, hard evidence. While Americans are stuck with NASCAR and their "Car of Tomorrow", Europeans get to watch machines like DTM Audis , Belgian Volvos and Italian Maseratis duke it out on some of the world's finest race tracks. (Don't even get us started on Japanese SuperGT and Australian V8 Supercars.)

The latest to join the fold is this Porsche Panamera touring car being prepared by N.Technology. Those familiar may recognize the racing powerhouse for successfully campaigning Alfa Romeo touring cars in the BTCC and WTCC and Abarth S2000s in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, as well as running the International Formula Masters series and for their eventually unsuccessful bid to join the F1 grid for this season. Now they're turning their attention to the native SuperStar Series, but with German machinery.

The Porsche touring car packs the 4.8-liter V8 from the Panamera S, but tuned to 450 horsepower instead of the stock 394 and driving to the rear wheels through a six-speed sequential gearbox. An aggressive race-spec aerodynamics package - incorporating the series standard rear wing - has been developed for the touring car, and weight has been trimmed to 2,910 pounds. Former multi-national touring car champion Fabrizio Giovanardi will be handling driving duties, ensuring that the Panamera will stand a fighting chance against the reigning triple champion, motorcycle scion and former F1 driver Gianni Morbidelli, and the rest of the field when it debuts at the Hockenheimring on June 12.

[Source: N.Technology via JonSibal ]

Porsche Panamera touring car headed to Italian series originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Jun 2010 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read  | Permalink  | Email this  | Comments www.autoblog.com | 6/3/10 11:28 PM

Filed under: Aftermarket, Performance, Europe, Hatchback, Alfa Romeo

Upon reading his own obituary, Mark Twain once famously quipped, "The report of my death was an exaggeration." Turns out, with apologies to the famous poet, that the same could be said of the Alfa Romeo MiTo GTA. The project may or may not be dead, but what we can tell you for certain is the spy shots that surfaced a couple of weeks ago were not of the GTA.

What we were actually looking at is a tuning kit by Magneti Marelli. Those who recognize the name may know it as Fiat 's electronics division and a major OEM supplier, which produces everything from ECUs to headlights. It worked with Ford and Microsoft on the development of the Sync and Blue&Me in-car computer systems, and developed the Kinetic Energy Recovery System for Ferrari . In fact, the company's scope reaches so far that they claim their parts are in just about every new car on the road today, wherever it's made. Now the company is launching its own tuning division called Magneti Marelli Elaborazioni. The MiTo spied - as astute commenter "adpb" pointed out - was actually their first product, called the Kit-One.

The modification package is comprised of stiffer springs than lower the car by 30 millimeters, the "Parco Chiuso" dual-exit exhaust system with bypass valve, 305mm Brembo disc brakes, a competition ECU good for an extra 31 horsepower, 18-inch matte black wheels and a rather divisive body kit made by Carrozzeria Castagna Milano (who you might remember for their Aznom Corvette and various Fiat 500s ) of which only 200 sets will be made. Each item can be ordered separately, and the division has also got packages in the works for the Fiat 500 and Grande Punto. And with their new facility going up in Auburn Hills, Michigan, we wouldn't be entirely surprised to see them modifying Chryslers , Dodges and Jeeps in the near future. In the meantime you can check out the MiTo with the Kit-One in the gallery below.



[Source: Magnetti Marelli Elaborazioni]

Alfa MiTo Kit-One from Magneti Marelli Elaborazione isn't the GTA originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 May 2010 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink  | Email this  | Comments www.autoblog.com | 5/27/10 11:38 PM

This shot of a 1935 Alfa Romeo 8C-35 Scuderia Ferrari shows us even an "olio" cap can look beautiful... when it's Italian.

www.topix.net | 5/26/10 2:15 PM

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Europe, Alfa Romeo

Say what you will about Alfa Romeo 's latest 8C-derived styling direction, but we're going to miss the angular beauty of the current Brera and its drop-top Spider sibling. But before the achingly gorgeous two-doors sail off into the sunset - never having made it to American shores - Alfa has released an updated version.

The beneficiary of the latest from Fiat Powertrain Technologies, the Brera and Spider have now been made available with the 1750 TBi and 2.0 JTDM engines. The former is a turbocharged, direct-injection gas-burning four with 1742 cubic centimeters of displacement, 197 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque and propelling the Brera and Spider to 62 mph in 7.7 and 7.8 seconds, respectively, and a 146 mph top end. The latter is a 2.0-liter turbo diesel with 168 horses and 265 lb-ft of torque, capable of 8.8- and 9-second sprints to 62 for the coupe and convertible en route to a 135 mph terminal velocity.

In addition to the new engines, which you can read more about in the press release after the jump, Alfa is also making the Italia Indepenent trim level - previously a special edition - available across the range, with matte titanium paint, 18-inch black alloys hiding red brake calipers and special interior trim. Have a closer look in the gallery below to see what we're missing on the Atlantic's Western shores.



[Source: Alfa Romeo]

Continue reading Alfa Romeo updates Brera & Spider with new engines, trim

Alfa Romeo updates Brera & Spider with new engines, trim originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 May 2010 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink  | Email this  | Comments www.autoblog.com | 5/17/10 11:22 PM

Continue reading Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 5.17.10

Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 5.17.10 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 May 2010 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink  | Email this  | Comments www.autoblog.com | 5/17/10 11:22 PM

Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupe, Performance, Hatchback, Alfa Romeo

You didn't think Alfa Romeo was done celebrating its centenary already, did you? The 100-year-old Italian automaker kicked off the festivities by launching the new Giulietta hatchback, then teamed up with three of Italy's hottest coachbuilders - Bertone , Pininfarina and Zagato - for a trio of mouthwatering concepts. But the party's just started, people.

Next up, if these spy shots and emerging reports are anything to go by, is the return of the GTA. Shorthand for Gran Turismo Allegerito (that's lightweight GT to us yanks), the nameplate has adorned some of the fastest Alfas to date, and is about to return on two highly anticipated sports models.

The most enticing is surely the 8C GTA: Based on the sumptuous 8C Competizione , the GTA version is tipped to gain a 50-horsepower boost from its 4.7-liter V8 to bring output up to 500, unburdened by 150 kilograms (330 pounds) of excess weight trimmed by the use of carbon fiber. Reported improvements to the six-speed sequential transmission and suspension upgrades surely won't hurt, either, with an expected 100-example production run. The 8C GTA was rumored way back in 2008, but was recently spied undergoing testing in its native Italy.

Joining its big brother, the baby MiTo GTA was previewed in concept form at the Geneva Motor Show in 2009, but was subsequently put on the back burner . Which was a real shame, considering its 240-horse turbo four and sport-tuned chassis. But if the latest spy shots are any indication, it looks like the program has been put into high gear. 2010 is quickly shaping up to be one of the most exciting years in Alfa's history, and if its return to North American shores comes to fruition as planned , we just might have reason to celebrate, too.

[Source: Unica-Strada ]

Spy Shots: Alfa Romeo testing GTA versions of 8C, MiTo for centenary launch originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 May 2010 14:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink  | Email this  | Comments www.autoblog.com | 5/17/10 7:32 PM

Alfa Romeo appears to be on a celebration spree this year. Aside from the year-long festivities to commemorate the firm's 100th birthday, the Italian automaker is now celebrating the 60th anniversary of its historic 1-2-3 finish at the first ever F1 European Championship race, which was held at Silverstone motor racing circuit sixty years ago this ...

www.topix.net | 5/11/10 11:35 PM

Hungarian customs officers searching a Greek-registered Alfa Romeo car were surprised to find a man hiding in a 'cramped, airless' cavity under the dashboard, officials said Friday. story.venezuelastar.com | 5/7/10 3:40 PM

Filed under: Motorsports, Jaguar

With Jaguar celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, honoring the automaker's motorsports heritage surely has to play a big part in the party. With that in mind there are 27 Jags of various vintages entered in this year's Mille Miglia revival. The factory and Jaguar Heritage Trust are bringing a team of six XK120s, C-Types and D-Types for the 1,000 round trip tour from Brescia to Rome and back.

The current Mille Miglia is open to cars that competed in the original race between 1927 and 1957 as well as other examples of the same model and vintage. In addition to the Jaguars, this year's field includes the usual suspects like Alfa Romeo , Maserati and Ferrari as well as makes you've likely never heard of. Those more obscure brands include OM, Morettini (based on a Fiat) and Siata. The 2010 Mille Miglia began yesterday and runs through May 8th.

[Source: Jaguar]

Continue reading Jaguar 75th anniversary continues with 27 car entry in Mille Miglia

Jaguar 75th anniversary continues with 27 car entry in Mille Miglia originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 06 May 2010 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink  | Email this  | Comments www.autoblog.com | 5/6/10 10:32 PM

Filed under: Classics, Auctions, Ferrari

Call it a sign that the recession is abating, or count it as an indicator that, for the extremely wealthy, the recession hardly ever crossed their minds. But any way you cut it, classic Ferraris continue to fetch record prices at auction. And exceptional though it was, this past weekend's Sporting Classics of Monaco event, held by Canadian firm RM Auctions , was no exception.

The event marked the first time that the venerable auction house - a growing force to be reckoned with on the classic car scene - held an event during the Grand Prix de Monaco Historique. Yet RM still managed to rake in a mind-blowing €33,235,917 ($45 million), matching the all-time record for single-day auction results, which RM itself set in Maranello in May 2007.

The headline results were boosted by the sale of a rare 1962 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Cabriolet Pininfarina SWB, which went for a high bid of €2,800,000 ($3.8 million), exceeding its estimate and fetching the highest price ever paid for such an example. Several other Ferraris went for seven-figure prices as well, including a 1957 250 GT Tour de France ($3.2M), a 1959 250 GT California Spyder ($2.8M), and a pair of mid-60s-era 275 GTBs that each fetched a million and change.

The rare Prancing Horses were joined by such other notable examples as a 1960 Maserati Birdcage ($3.3M), a 1930 Alfa Romeo 6C Zagato Spider ($1.2M), a Le Mans-spec '63 Shelby Cobra 289 ($1M) and a whole slew of Rolls-Royce classics. Follow the jump to delve further into the auction results, and check out the high-resolution images of the headline Superamerica in the gallery below.



[Source: RM Auctions]

Continue reading $3.8M 1962 Ferrari Superamerica boosts record $45 Million at RM Auctions in Monaco

$3.8M 1962 Ferrari Superamerica boosts record $45 Million at RM Auctions in Monaco originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 05 May 2010 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink  | Email this  | Comments www.autoblog.com | 5/5/10 7:29 PM

The Grand Prix de Monaco Historique just wrapped up this weekend in Monte Carlo, and Canadian firm RM Auctions was there to set new records with a slew of million-dollar classic automobiles.

In its first time at the iconic Monaco weekend, RM managed to rake in a whopping €33,235,917 ($45 million) in sales, matching the all-time record for single-day auction results... incidentally set three years ago at RM's own event at the Ferrari factory in Maranello. And once again it was classic Ferraris that helped RM achieve the record figures.

The highest amount was garnered for a rare 1962 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Cabriolet Pininfarina SWB , which sold for a high bid of €2,800,000 ($3.8 million), exceeding its estimate and fetching the highest price ever paid for this model. The Superamerica wasn't the only automobile - not even the only Ferrari - to break seven figures, however. A 1957 250 GT Tour de France went for $3.2 million, a 1959 250 GT California Spyder for $2.8 million, and a pair of mid-60s-era 275 GTBs fetched over a million each. A 1960 Maserati Birdcage went for $3.3 million, a rare 1930 Zagato-bodied Alfa Romeo went for $1.2 million, and several Rolls-Royce classics brought in bid figures as well.

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions

RM Auctions Off Millions in Classic Ferraris and More at Monaco Historic originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 05 May 2010 06:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ferrari - RM Auction - Monaco - Monte Carlo - Alfa Romeo www.luxist.com | 5/5/10 11:02 AM

The Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa was officially unveiled at the 2010 Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este. Image Gallery Zagato is celebrating its long term links with Alfa Romeo during the marque's centenary year by crafting a modern interpretation of the classic Alfa TZ and TZ2 racing cars of the 1960s.

www.topix.net | 5/2/10 10:12 PM

It doesn't get more glamorous than the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este . The show is held every year on the shores of Lake Como, and draws a mix of some of the most jaw-droppingly, heart-achingly beautiful classics and modern concept cars from the world over.

Our own Jared Paul Stern brought you a summary of the award-winners from this year's Concorso, among them the Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa by Zagato , which won the design award for concept cars. The one-of-a-kind racer was previewed in the days leading up to the show, and suitably impressed the judges, journalists and observers in attendance. A suitable 50th birthday celebration for Andrea Zagato, the head of the design studio responsible for the TZ3, and for Alfa Romeo , which celebrates its centenary this year.

The one-off was commissioned by a German gentleman racer named Martin Kapp, and lays that unspeakably gorgeous aluminum bodywork over a carbon fiber chassis and the 4.7-liter V8 from the Alfa 8C Competizione . Click on the image above for all the angles.

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Zagato Takes the Wraps off the Alfa TZ3 Corsa at Villa d'Este originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 27 Apr 2010 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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www.luxist.com | 4/27/10 11:45 PM

A rare 1955 Maserati A6GCS Spider bodied by Frua (above), owned by American collector John F. Bookout Jr., won the historic Coppa d'Oro Villa d'Este - Best of Show by Public Referendum at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este which took place April 23-25 at the famed Lake Como resort in Italy . The beautiful roadster also won top honors in the Post-War Open Sports Cars class. The Best of Show awarded by the judges at the event, which was sponsored by the BMW Group, went to a 1938 Talbot-Lago T150 C SS Teardrop Coupé bodied Figoni & Falaschi owned by another American collector, Oscar Davis. The Concorso d'Eleganza Design Award for concept cars and prototypes went to the Zagato Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa Coupé that my colleague Noah Joseph previewed last week . Over 5,000 visitors attended the event.

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Events

1955 Maserati Wins Coppa d'Oro at Villa d'Este originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 27 Apr 2010 06:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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www.luxist.com | 4/27/10 11:01 AM

Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 4.26.10 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink  | Email this  | Comments www.autoblog.com | 4/26/10 11:23 PM

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Performance, Europe, Alfa Romeo, Design/Style

The caviar and concours-loving world was rocked this past Saturday night when Zagato dropped its Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa bomb . Seriously y'all, this sucker's so stunning that we don't even mind the childish graphics. In fact, our only gripe is that we weren't in attendance at the this weekend's 2010 Villa D'Este Concours so we could check out the tube-framed, almost Kamm-tailed TZ3 ourselves. Meaning we have no real gripes to speak of.

Luckily, an Autoblog reader named Graziano Mancini was there, took some shots, and he was good enough to send them on share with you. We like the live pictures even better than the stock studio shots. The TZ3 has that classic, special early 1960s Euro-racer charm and grace that is simply lacking from modern cars. Long story short, the car's fabulous. But don't take our word for it - the Zagato-penned Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa won the Villa D'Este's concept class. Very well done. Also, we'd be remiss if we didn't offer Andrea Zagato (above) a very happy 50th birthday today. Check out Mancini's full slate of shots in the gallery below.

Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa live in the flesh originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink  | Email this  | Comments www.autoblog.com | 4/26/10 5:29 PM

Filed under: Classics, Alfa Romeo, Motorcycle, Event Alert

If it's good enough for Pebble Beach ... For the first time in its history, the 28th Annual Dana Point (née Newport Beach) Concours d'Elegance will host an exhibit of antique and vintage motorcycles alongside the usual assortment of incredible automobiles from every era. The event has been moved up to the summer this year, but will once again be held at the St. Regis Resort in Dana Point, California.

Those who show up on that Sunday (June 27, 2010) will find that Alfa Romeo is the featured marque, celebrating 100 years of great racing and road cars in 2010. The 80-year-old Pininfarina design house will also be feted, but the big news for bike lovers will be the exhibition-only classes featuring 65 significant motorcycles from throughout history. The preliminary groupings divide European, American and Japanese motorcycles, as well as production and competition models.

Entry forms and additional information can be found online at: www.DanaPointConcours.org .


Photos by Frank Filipponio/Copyright (C)2009-2010 Weblogs, Inc.

28th Annual Dana Point Concours d'Elegance adds motorbikes originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 25 Apr 2010 17:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink  | Email this  | Comments www.autoblog.com | 4/25/10 10:04 PM

Filed under: Concept Cars, Motorsports, Classics, Coupe, Performance, Alfa Romeo, Racing

The Zagato-designed Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa has been unveiled at the Villa D'Este concours, and frankly, it's spectacular. Driven by the Alfa 8C Competizione's V8, the TZ3 is very much in keeping with its 60s-era predecessors, the TZ1 and TZ2 , sporting similar detail elements and the same near-breadvan profile. Also like the originals, this is a legit racing car. Unlike its forbears, however, the new machine wears aluminum bodywork stretched over a tube frame and carbon-fiber chassis. Power, as indicated before, is also of thoroughly modern origin.

Zagato says the TZ3 was commissioned by German collector Martin Kapp as a special celebration of 100 years of racing from Scuderia Ferrari, Alfa Corse, Autodelta, and Scuderia Zagato. On that "special" bit, we think it's safe to say, "mission accomplished" - with class and panache to spare. Official PR pics are in the gallery below, and a full live gallery is posted at OmniAuto . Be sure to pay them a visit as well. Thanks for the tip, Claudio!



[Source: Zagato (PDF link) via OmniAuto.it ]

Continue reading Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa unveiled at Villa D'Este

Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa unveiled at Villa D'Este originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 24 Apr 2010 09:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink  | Email this  | Comments www.autoblog.com | 4/24/10 2:13 PM

Filed under: Performance, Plants/Manufacturing, Chrysler, Dodge, Maserati, Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Luxury, Lancia

It would seem that Fiat head Sergio Marchionne is nothing if not ambitious. Following the seven-hour-long marathon presentation of Chrysler's latest business plan back in November of 2009, the giant Italian automaking alliance has just released its own five-year business plan, which includes Fiat, Maserati and Ferrari in addition to announcing the long-awaited return of the Alfa Romeo brand to the United States as a full-range automaker.

We'll start with Ferrari... for obvious reasons. Kicking off a series of six new models will be a replacement for the four-seat 612 Scaglietti , which is destined to add a hybrid powertrain to its impressive V12 engine. Next up is a convertible version of the new 458 Italia sometime next year, and later another 458-based model that will be much more track focused, like the 430 Scuderia .

Staying with the Prancing Horse lineup, we should see a new range-topping Ferrari to take the mantle from the discontinued Enzo hypercar, very likely to see an engine utilizing forced induction along with a lightweight platform. The 599 GTB will get a replacement as well, and the recently released California will see itself updated and granted an M designation.

Like what you're hearing so far? There's plenty more where that came from, make the jump for the rest of the goods.

Continue reading Fiat unveils five-year product plan, we dissect in detail

Fiat unveils five-year product plan, we dissect in detail originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 21 Apr 2010 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink  | Email this  | Comments www.autoblog.com | 4/22/10 1:01 AM