The first Alfa Romeo 8C Spider production car is on the move in Britain will take part in the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The Spider will be joined by several famous racing cars from Alfa’s historic museum collection in Arese, Italy, including the 6C 3000 CM that was driven to second place by Juan Manuel Fangio in the 1953 Mille Miglia as well as a 1924 P2 Gran Premio which won the first World Championship in 1925.

The Italian firm, which is just shy of its 100th anniversary, said that it will also exhibit two special concept cars- the 1978 Najavo study and the wedge-shaped 1968 Alfa Carabo with hydropneumatic-powered gull-wing doors and multi-coloured one way glass windows.

Tags: 8C Spider, Alfa Romeo, Goodwood Festival of Speed, Italian, museum

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It looks like some employees based in Spain working for Fiat’s Iveco may soon find themselves unemployed as Fiat’s Iveco unit plans to cut about 1,000 jobs at a plant in Spain to reduce costs in the face of a severe sales slump.

Plant chief Piero Bordesan was quoted in Italian business daily Il Sole 24 Ore on Sunday as saying that the number of jobs to be cut was less than half of the roughly 2,800 workers at the plant, which makes trucks for transport and construction.

Bordesan said the other workers would be off work for extended periods of time throughout the rest of the year to keep operating costs down.

The global economic crisis has hurt sales so much that the plant is making 28 units a day rather than the usual 110, he said. Like other industrial groups, Fiat has been cutting costs in all of its divisions.

To cope with falling output, Fiat Auto, which produces Fiat, Lancia and Alfa Romeo cars, closes its plants in Italy for weeks at a time and sends workers home with reduced pay.

(Source) Reuters

Tags: Alfa Romeo, alfa romeo cars, Fiat, fiat auto, fiat lancia, italian business, iveco, trucks

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News about the opening of the James Bond Museum may be something many people would want to check out, particularly the ones who have watched most, if not all of his films. And one thing you should note is that aside from gadgets and sultry scenes, it is the cars that James Bond uses for every film that draws attention.

Leading the pack are a Lotus car and a Mustang from the early films that Bond used. Other cars expected to be revealed at the James Bond Museum include:

• Alfa Romeo GTV6 and 159
• AMC Concord, Hornet and Matador
• Jeep Cherokee, CJ-7 and Wagoneer
• Aston Martin DB5
• Audi Bentley Mark II
• BMW Z3 and Z8
• Ford Fairlane, Scorpio and Thunderbird

The list goes on. If you have time (and the money) to visit, you are sure to spend a large chunk of your time enumerating the cars driven by the all-time great British spy.

(Source) BBC News

Tags: Alfa Romeo, alfa romeo gtv6, Aston Martin, aston martin db5, bentley mark, bmw z3, classic cars, ford fairlane, hornet, James Bond, jeep cherokee, lotus car, matador, scorpio, that draws attention, wagoneer, z8

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BorgWarner has announced that it will supply its award-winning DualTronic transmission control system for Fiat Powertrain Technologies’ (FPT) first dry dual-clutch transmission. The transmission is one of three variants of the C635 family of six-speed gearboxes with a range of engine torque capacities.

Launching in late 2009, the dry dual-clutch C635 transmission will first be available on the Alfa Romeo MiTo and is expected to expand to a wide range of Fiat, Lancia and Alfa mid-sized C and D segment models beginning in 2010.

The BorgWarner DualTronic control system developed for the dry dual-clutch C635 transmission employs high pressure electro-hydraulic solenoids working in combination with an on-demand electrically driven hydraulic pump to reduce fuel consumption. This control module is based on proven solenoid designs engineered and produced by BorgWarner’s facility in Monaco, which has supplied solenoids for Selespeed and Freechoice automated manual transmissions (AMT) for over 10 years and will also produce high pressure solenoids for the automated manual version of the C635 transmission, available in late 2010.

A trusted supplier to virtually every automatic transmission manufacturer in the world, BorgWarner Transmission Systems produces “shift quality” components and systems including one-way clutches, transmission bands, friction plates and clutch module assemblies as well as transmission solenoids, control modules and integrated mechatronic control systems.

(Source) Press

Tags: Alfa Romeo, borgwarner, control modules, dual clutch transmission, engine torque, fiat lancia, fiat powertrain, friction plates, fuel consumption, gearboxes, hydraulic pump, manual transmissions, mechatronic, selespeed, solenoids, torque capacities, transmission bands, transmission manufacturer

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The Alfa Romeo 8C reveals an intense charisma from its carbon-fiber bodywork and aluminum-trim to its six-speed paddle-shift transmission, borrowed from Maserati. It isn’t one of the faster-acting units but the shifts are crisp and accurate and with downchanges accompanied by a splendid bark and crackle from the tailpipes. The steel chassis which is based on the Maserati GrandSport coupe rides well but despite its on-paper weight balance, the 8C reveals a decided lack of front-end bite.

Unfortunately the 8C has none of the handling dexterity of its rival the Lamborghini Gallardo. The Alfa is plainly a far less edgy automobile that seems to prefer a more civilized approach to twisty-road hustling. The 8C you is one of just 85 or so scheduled to arrive in the US. shores (the first Alfa’s to be offered in America in 14 years).

Tags: 8C, Alfa Romeo

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The funny thing is that this Italian car will not be available in the U.S. but it would never hurt to give car onlookers at the Geneva Auto Show a tempting glimpse of what they are missing.

The MiTo GTA Concept takes the swoopy little MiTo and cranks up the speed and style. Weight reduction was a priority with a carbon fiber rear hatch, roof, and mirrors with aluminum used throughout.

Should this little puppy ever make production we’ll have yet another car to put on the list of necessary gray market imports.

Tags: Alfa Romeo, aluminum, brakes, carbon fiber, geneva auto, gray market, high performance tires, italian car, liter, speed and style, weight reduction

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Will Chrysler and Fiat live happily or is the partnership already doomed? We’re surely hoping it’s going to be a beautiful relationship but you can never say in advanced what will happen. We do know however that two Alfa Romeo will be launched by Chrysler. The Milano, which is a successor to the five-door 147 hatchback and the successor of the 159, or the Giulia were mentioned in Chrysler proposal to the Treasury Department of the U.S. federal government. The Milano should arrive in Europe by spring 2010 while Giulia will debut later next year. Will they hit the USA too simulteneosly? No news from Alfa Romeo or Fiat yet and they haven’t even confirmed the new models, but we have plenty of time to uncover this for you.

via Automotive News Europe

Tags: Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Giulia, Milano, Viability Plan

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The only people who may be interested in getting these antique cars would be the ones who have the dough for them. For one thing, don’t expect them to use these on the road. You don’t even know if they will run. And if they do, no one knows how long they can last.

In the case of classic vehicles such as this 1929 Alpha Romeo, it is more of a hobby thing. They are not meant to be used as the normal means of transportation. The Alpha Romeo 6C 1750 has been restored with respect to its original condition and much of its original finish has been kept intact.

And with the rarity of having an old jalopy completely restored to its original finish, you can imagine how much it would cost.

And at the Artcurial auction where this 1929 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 will be auctioned off, it is expected to go for between $900,000 and $1,000,000, with a mandatory opening bid of $800,000.

(Source) MSNBC

Tags: Alfa Romeo, alfa romeo 6c, alpha romeo, antique cars, auction, classic vehicles, old jalopy

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Fiat is making a timely re-entry into the U.S. car scene as it has technically bought a 35% stake into Chrysler. The deal was not cash-based and is pending government approval.

Chrysler was to get smaller vehicles from the deal while Fiat would gain access to the various retailers, allowing it to strategically place itself in marketing to a promising market looking for small cars.

If all goes as planned, the consumer gets better vehicles from Chrysler and a return to U.S. sales by Fiat’s legendary Alfa Romeo sports car brand. Chrysler is expected to use Fiat platforms as the basis of a new generation of compact, subcompact, and perhaps midsize cars.

In addition to providing North American dealers and assembly capacity, Chrysler could supply Fiat with the large-car platform it needs to build credible luxury sedans when the next generation of Chrysler’s acclaimed 300C and Charger rear- and all-wheel-drive cars go into production

(Source) Freep

Tags: Alfa Romeo, assembly capacity, car brand, Chrysler, Fiat, luxury sedans, midsize cars, Sports Car

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Remember when we told you the Alfa was coming back to town? Well we meant American towns of course. Scratch that from your short-term memory and think ahead. Fiat will postpone the Alfa Romeo 159 or the Brera to 2011 at the earliest. Hopefully that will still happen. The Alfa 8C Competizione which was announced even earlier, was sold out through Maserati dealership so I’d say the need for Alfa Romeo is present in the American market.

Should we say economical problems again? Will Americans choose to buy more Italian cars in 2011 or later? Well I guess that’s how Fiat sees the whole issue here. Would you buy the Brera if it was available in a town near you?

via Italiaspeed

Tags: Alfa Romeo, Brera, Fiat, USA

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Whenever I think about Italian cars, besides the obvious Ferrari, Alfa Romeo always pops up in my mind. And today I found the new 149 which is supposed to replace the 147 model.

Depending on what you want, the 149 can be either a three or a five door car which seems to be designed to impress. Gas and diesel engines will be available too. The low end 149 will get you 120 hp. The more complex version will get you some 250 hp and a trick differential, the Q2 which will get you more power. The car is supposed to arrive in 2009 and it might even hit the U.S. market. Stay tuned for more in the upcoming months!

Tags: 149, 2009, Alfa Romeo

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Alfa Romeo is name almost forgotten in the U.S. car market. The last Alfa available in the USA was some 13 years ago. It looks like the Italian maker is ready to return to the U.S. with the Alfa Romeo 8C Competitione.

84 units will be imported and they will be available through the Maserati dealerships sometime this month. 8C Competizione Spyders and 8C Competizione GTAs are going to arrive soon. Let’s hope this time Alfa is going to stick around more!

via MotorAuthority

Tags: Alfa Romeo, Maserati, USA

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There are lots of Italian cars as there are lots of Italian cars that we hate. Alfa Romeo fits in the first category. And since the Paris show is a week away, you might be interested in Alfa Romeo’s stand. There you can find the Brera. From what it looks like I can already say it looks great.

The Brera Turismo Internazionale or Brera TI is just a little different than the regular coupe. It comes with a choice of engine between the 2.2 JTS engine or the 3.2 liter V6. It also has stiffer springs and dampers, 19 inch wheels and 8C-derived rims and red Brembo one-piece front calipers. There’s more to be discovered about it in Paris

So what do you think about the Brera TI?

Tags: Alfa Romeo, Brera, Motor Show, Paris

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