Fiat is a few months away from awarding 200 Fiat-branded retail outlets to select Chrysler dealers. The first vehicle those new stores will sell will be the Fiat 500, and there won’t be any Chrysler, Dodge or Jeep-branded models in sight. But that doesn’t mean Fiat will have those dealerships to themselves for very long.

According to Automotive News, company CEO Sergio Marchionne announced at an event in Toledo, Ohio that those Fiat stores will also sell Alfa Romeo vehicles by late 2012. Marchionne has already announced that the first Alfa to hit North American shores will be the Giulia sedan and wagon, followed at some point by a midsize SUV, a subcompact, a hatchback and even a roadster. That’s a lot of Alfa, and the Italian automaker will need all of those models to be at least moderately successful if it has any shot at reaching its lofty goal of 500,000 Alfa Romeo sales by 2014.

Before we get to 2012 and the return of Alfa Romeo on our shores, we need to get a clearer picture of what Fiat’s plans are for the U.S. AN reports that the Fiat forecast will clear up soon, as the Turin, Italy-based automaker plans to educate Chrysler dealers during an August 30th briefing.

[Source:Autoblog]

“All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” George Orwell may have thought he was writing about the pitfalls of communism, but though he may not have known it, his words were eerily prophetic in the context of the auto industry. Take, for example, the latest special edition from Alfa Romeo.

Created specifically for the UK market, the MiTo Turismo Sport is another example of a special edition that’s hardly any more special than the model it’s based on. In fact, all it seems to do is limit selection – to three colors (black, white or red) and two engine options (gasoline or diesel, each producing a paltry 95 horsepower). What’s “special” about it is that it bundles several popular options – alloys, cruise control, Blue&Me infotainment system, etc – into one package that sells at a value. So it’s special, as long as you would have ordered yours within those parameters anyway, or don’t mind limiting your choices.

All special editions are special, but some are more special than others. This particular example, then, is more the former than the latter. Details in the press release after the jump.

ALFA MITO TURISMO SPORT JOINS THE RANKS FROM £199 A MONTH OTR

Alfa Romeo UK is welcoming a new special edition version of the sporty compact Alfa MiTo to its showrooms this month. Brimming with additional content and available from just £199 a month with a £1,000 deposit, the Alfa MiTo has never been so enticingly accessible.

The new Alfa MiTo Turismo Sport combines head-turning design, dynamic performance and engineering technology with an additional £1,610 worth of optional equipment – all from just £12,895 OTR.

To add to an already attractive package, customers can also take advantage of Alfa’s latest finance deal that delivers the MiTo Turismo Sport 1.4 16V 95bhp from just £199 a month with only a £1,000 deposit required.

The new sporting edition will be available in a choice of three visually arresting colours –Solid Black (as standard), Biancospino White or the new Alfa Metallic Red.

There is further choice to be had when it comes to engine power for the MiTo Turismo Sport.

The sprightly 1.4 16V 95bhp petrol version available from £12,895 OTR is joined by the acclaimed 1.3 JTDM-2 95bhp MultiJet turbodiesel, which is available from £14,410 (£219 a month with a £1000 deposit).

While the 95bhp 16V petrol engine provides a fun and engaging drive, the advanced second generation MultiJet turbodiesel engine -JTDM-2 -perfectly complements the Alfa MiTo philosophy of low emissions (112g/km of CO2) and fuel consumption (65.7mpg on the combined cycle) without compromising performance and driver satisfaction (0-62mph in 11.6 seconds).

On top of the already impressive standard equipment found in the MiTo Turismo; such as air conditioning and state-of-the-art Alfa D.N.A technology, the Alfa MiTo Turismo Sport special edition includes 16″ alloy wheels, rear spoiler, cruise control, Blue & Me™ technology, fog lights and a leather steering wheel incorporating audio and phone controls.

[Source:Autoblog]

If the Fiat 500 does as well here in the U.S. as it has in the rest of the world, Chrysler is going to have plenty to celebrate. Fiat just announced that it has sold a staggering 500,000 500s in just three years. To mark the occasion, the company is creating a special edition, complete with fan photos incorporated into the paint. Sadly, only UK residents can submit their pictures, though Fiat says it is reserving a total of 70 percent of the car’s surface for actual owners.

Alfa Romeo is rolling out a similar program to mark a special occasion of its own. The company has officially been in business for 100 years, and as such, it plans on plastering a Giulietta hatch with images from the brand’s history books. Expect to see shots from The Graduate to make the cut, as well as a handful of owner-submitted pictures and celebrity photos, too.

At this point, it’s not clear whether Fiat and Alfa are planning on working up some sort of photomosaic or simply slathering the cars with the photos and hoping for the best. Either way, the finished product should be something to behold. Hit the jump for the details.
FIAT 500 PRESS RELEASE

A new project dedicated to the Fiat 500, which has recently reached the goal of 500,000 units made in only 31 months since its launch, will be taking off on 3 May. To celebrate the record, the brand will be creating a special showcar – called “Fiat 500 Thousandth” – with the contribution of the people. The body of the car will be entirely covered by 1500 photos displaying the faces of 500 owners, celebrities and fans who have contributed in different ways to the car’s extraordinary success.

Booking a place is easy. Users can simply log onto www.fiat500.com and use the special application showing a plan view of the Fiat 500. A few minutes later, after registering, they can book one of the free spaces online by sending a photograph. 70% of the places are reserved for Fiat 500 owners. Users can also attach a short text describing their relationship with the car or a link either to a personal video on YouTube or to their personal Facebook page.

The showcar will be ready three weeks after the booking stage is concluded and will feature in forthcoming events and international motor shows. The Fiat 500 Thousandth will be the first “collective car”, a further confirmation of the spirit of the original model with potential customers being involved from the earliest steps of design. Since 3 May 2006 and for the first time in automotive history, scores of 500 enthusiasts worldwide have been directly involved in the “500 wants you” project, an international marketing platform where they have said what they wanted from the future car. These suggestions have been taken up by Fiat Automobiles designers and engineers and turned into practical objectives to be reached with solutions and equipment as close to the expectations of potential customers as possible. The Fiat 500 is truly “a car created by the people, with the people’s ideas”. Today, the fiat500.com is a community of 120,000 active users from 206 different countries who take part in over 30 online activities. The pages have been browsed nearly 240 million times.

ALFA ROMEO PRESS RELEASE

As part of Alfa Romeo’s Centenary celebrations, the marque is asking UK owners and Alfisti alike to help commemorate its 100-year history by getting involved in a unique work of art.

Until July 5, thousands of images submitted to a special online archive will be used to form a mosaic of Alfa’s Centenary model, the new Giulietta, as a visual celebration of the brand’s 100th year.

A number of iconic images will appear in the mosaic, capturing defining moments of Alfa’s rich heritage, from the 158 which took the chequered flag in the inaugural F1 European Championship race 60 years ago at Silverstone, to the Alfa 155 Touring Cars of the mid-1990s, as well as a number of famous on-screen models including the legendary Duetto from The Graduate.

However, most importantly, Alfa Romeo wants its fans, known as Alfisti, and owners to submit photos of their Alfa Romeo cars – both old and new – to tell the real story of one of the most iconic brands in motoring.

Every image successfully uploaded before June 18, will also be included in a prize draw to win an exclusive Alfa Romeo goodie bag and a pair of VIP tickets to the Goodwood Festival of Speed, which takes place this year from 2 - 4 July, when the brand takes centre stage as the featured marque.

Following Goodwood Festival of Speed there will also be an overall prize of a luxury weekend stay at The Goodwood Hotel with a Giulietta to drive for the duration of the stay. The winner will also get the chance to drive the 8C Competizione on the famous Goodwood motor circuit.

Alfa Romeo UK Brand Communications Manager, Damien Dally, says: “2010 is a huge landmark for Alfa Romeo and we feel that this project will perfectly capture the brand’s identity and really allows us to celebrate with the thousands of people who have put us where we are today – our customers.”

[Source:Autoblog]

A couple of weeks ago, we reported that Zagato was planning to unveil a new Alfa Romeo at the upcoming Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. Now the stoic Italian carrozzeria has released the first teaser image (above) and initial details of what it has in store for us.

The TZ3 Corsa follows in the footsteps of the original Alfa TZ and TZ2, drawing on some 90 years of collaboration between the two companies and commemorating Alfa’s centenary. It’s based on a carbon fiber tubular chassis overlaid with a lightweight aluminum body. But instead of a show car like the Pininfarina 2uettottanta and the Bertone Pandion that bowed in Geneva, the TZ3 Corsa is a full-on competition machine, commissioned by an unidentified German gentleman racer.

The overhead view looks strikingly similar to the 8C Competizione upon which it’s based, and Zagato has released a handful of images of its historic Alfa racers – which you can view in the gallery below together with the press release after the jump – to mark the occasion. The most prestigious of open-air auto shows takes place this year from April 23-25, so stay tuned for more details.
Milano, April 2010: Zagato Atelier announces the introduction of the Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa at the XII Villa D’Este Concours d’Elegance.

The TZ3 Corsa is not a design exercise. It doesn’t take inspiration only from the 90 year collaboration between the two brands, neither only from the Milanese link between Alfa Romeo and Zagato.

The TZ3 Corsa is a race car, honouring the 100th anniversary of Alfa Romeo’s racing Heritage. It celebrates the men and machines of the Alfa Romeo Zagato common tradition: Scuderia Ferrari of 20’s and 30’s, Alfa Corse of 40’s and 50’s, Autodelta of 60’s and 70’s up to the latest Scuderia Zagato of 80’s and 90’s.

Commissioned by a German Alfa Romeo Zagato’s Gentleman driver, the TZ3 Corsa is based on a mono shell carbon fibre tubular chassis, coupled with a tubular frame and a lightweight aluminium body.

Technical Partners: OMP e PIRELLI

[Source:Autoblog]

The raging torrent of pre-Geneva Motor Show leaks is officially in full effect today as a series of images showing off Bertone’s new Alfa Romeo Pandion Concept have hit the Interwebs (thanks Unica-Strada!) First of all, what the heck is a Pandion? Simple: a type genus of the Pandionidae. Mmm hmm. That’d be an osprey, sometimes known as a fish hawk. Moving on, then.

To our eyes, the Pandion isn’t really what we’ve come to expect from Alfa Romeo, at least not styling-wise. The Italian marque’s classically flowing curves are present and accounted for, but they are bisected by swaths of what appears to be clear plastic. The rear-view is especially busy – kinda like it’s fashioned from hundreds of containers worth of Tinker Toys. Oh, and fans of Battlestar Galactica are sure to appreciate the Pandion’s head-on view.

Stile Bertone – which until recently was led by Jason Castriota, the man responsible for such far-out designs as the Alfa 8C-based B.A.T. 11 and the Corvette ZR1-based Mantide – penned the Pandion, and we do see some influence from the styling house’s past designs. We don’t yet know what’s underhood of the uniquely styled concept, or really anything else about it not revealed by these images. That said, see for yourself below and, as always, let us know what you think in the Comments.

If you’re dropping off a six-figure Italian exotic at the dealership for service, you expect to be loaned something special in return, right? That’s why Fiat supplied Ferrari with a run of special-edition 500s for use in their European service network. (Heck, they even produced some for public consumption.) Now its classy kid sister is following suite with a special loaner car of its own.

Produced in a limited run of 100 units, these specially-prepared Alfa Romeo MiTos will be dispatched to Maserati dealers across Europe. Each is distinguished from the average MiTo by its Maserati Blu Oceano paint, special plaque on the center console and “Alfa Romeo for Maserati” sill plate. The special edition Alfa also comes equipped with top-of-the-range 170-horsepower, 1.4-liter MultiAir turbo engine, 18-inch wheels and rear spoiler, along with an interior decked out in sumptuous Pelle Frau leather and all the electronic bells and whistles on offer.

After Maserati gave Alfa the 8C Competizione, it’s nice that Alfa – now under the same leadership as Maserati – can give a little something back. Details in the press release after the jump.
PRESS RELEASE

Maserati Teams Up With Alfa Romeo MiTo for its European Service Network
26/01/2010 - Modena

Maserati and Alfa Romeo: two icons of Italy’s world-famous automotive industry representing sportiness, technology and elegance.

One hundred Alfa Romeo MiTos produced exclusively for the Maserati service network will soon be seen on roads all over Europe. Maserati has chosen the Alfa Romeo MiTo as the new courtesy car for its customers, connoisseurs of Italian style with a keen eye for originality.

The special-purpose cars will be styled in the exclusive Maserati Blu Oceano (deep Blue), and fitted with a sparky 1.4 MultiAir Turbobenzina engine (170 hp) - the most powerful engine in the MiTo range.

The cars will not only be distinguished by their unique color, but also by two other exclusive features: the “Limited Edition” plaque on the air conditioning unit, and the kick plate made from specially treated aluminum, bearing the words Alfa Romeo for Maserati.

The 100 cars will also have a series of high-end details, supplied as standard: Pelle Frau upholstery, automatic dual-zone climate control, leather steering wheel complete with radio and telephone controls, a radio navigator covering the whole of Europe, and a hands-free Blue&Me system including USB port and bi-xenon headlights.

The MiTo for Maserati also has a racing temperament. The 18′ alloy wheels, rear spoiler, rear bumper and aluminum pedals are all fitted as standard. All the cars will come with Dynamic Suspension, the advanced electronic shock absorber control system that actively varies the set-up to reflect the road conditions and driving style, to guarantee rapid cornering and excellent handling.

Through this partnership with Alfa Romeo, Maserati’s European network will be able to offer customers a special car that reflects its own philosophy, where each choice is the product of the utmost attention and care paid to every detail.

[Source:Autoblog]

The Interwebs have discovered some additional snaps of the Geneva Motor Show-bound Alfa Romeo Giulietta. Although there’s a full-on rear shot, these are more about details and lighting elements than taking the entire car in. The new hatch won’t suffer from any lack of LED’s, with an array of four in the headlights and a basket full of them in the rear taillights and third brake light.

Fiat’s aims to sell around 100,000 units per year, and with five engine choices on offer at launch, the company is doing its best not to leave any potential customer out. If we’re lucky, that pool of potential customers will include Americans that aren’t ex-pats… Have a look at what’s coming in the gallery of high-res images below.

[Source:Autoblog]

The Alfa Romeo 147 was voted European Car of the Year. But that was way back in 2001, the year after its launch. And despite a mid-cycle refresh, it’s since grown a little long in the tooth. The Italian automaker introduced the MiTo to replace the three-door 147 last year, and has been hard at work since on the new Milano (previously referred to as “149″) to replace the 147 five-door once and for all. Now, following months of speculation, spy shots and even some out-of-focus snapshots from the factory floor, we’ve got our best look yet at the new Italian hatchback.

If these images from Quattroroute are to be believed, it appears Alfa Romeo’s Centro Stile has done a better job translating the 8C Competizione’s design cues into the longer Milano than it did with the stubby MiTo. The snout does appear to extend a tad too far, giving the Milano (which, in these pictures, is wearing a 149 plate up front) a long front overhang, the trademark shield grille protruding with the headlights swept back. The tail end, as is often the case with Alfas, has some of the best lines in the business, and outfitted with the right engine, that may be all that other motorists see of it, anyway.

The jury’s still out, but the latest reports indicate that the Milano won’t make it to the North American market. Thanks for the tip, Vittorio!

[Source: Quattroroute]

The last new Alfa Romeo to be sold in the U.S. market prior to the recent low-volume 8C Competizione was the 164 sedan. Fittingly, perhaps, it now appears that its descendant could be among the first Alfas to be produced in North America.

Seemingly reconfirmingg earlier rumors, Inside Line is reporting that the successor to the (now discontinued) 166 is expected to shift from a front-wheel drive to a rear-drive platform shared with the next generation Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger. While the current LX platform shares much of its suspension architecture with a previous-generation Mercedes E-Class, the new model is expected to be developed in-house by Chrysler.

The new big Alfa sedan will likely be built exclusively in Brampton, Ontario and exported to Europe. Inside Line is also reporting that the new rear-drive platform could be shortened and used for the next Brera and Spider as well. We expect to find out more some time in November when Chrysler/Fiat plans to further clarify their forthcoming product lineup.

[Source: Inside Line]

We have an old saying: there’s no such thing as too much Alfa Romeo news. With that in mind, why is the world’s hottest Alfa sporting a “Got Milk?” mustache? Because the Photoshop warlocks at Britain’s favorite automotive tabloid have no idea what the new 8C GTA is actually going to look like. Here’s what we think we know. Alfa Romeo is going to release a carbon fiber intensive 8C Competizione variant called the GTA to celebrate the marque’s centenary next year.

Thanks to all the exotic weave, the GTA will be over 300 pounds lighter than the “regular” Competizione, and with a new ECU and stouter internals, the 4.7-liter F430 derived V8 should produce more than 500 horsepower — just in time to not upstage the 458 Italia’s 562 hp. All that power will get neutralized by optional carbon-ceramic stoppers and naturally, expect the GTA’s suspension to be much stiffer than the current car’s GT tuning.

If it sounds like Alfa might be considering a return to the race track we can only give the thumbs up, smile and mutter under our breath, “about time.” And it might help explain the white mouth. Price? Over $300,000. How many? Just 100 examples, total. We’re expecting to catch an actual glimpse of the 8C GTA at the Geneva Motor Show this coming March.

[Source: AutoBlog]