Thursday, December 17, 2009

Alfa Giulietta by name

Alfa Giulietta
You should have been reading this last Friday but, at the last moment, there was an unusual hiccup with the announcement of the Alfa Romeo Giulietta.

It wasn't going to be called the Giulietta. It was going to be the Milano.

Trouble is, Alfa is moving to the nearby city of Torino and Alfa's workers weren't happy about calling the car Milano when it wasn't going to be made there. So Alfa had to make a change.

Fortunately this cock-up isn't likely to happen over here because Vauxhall is hardly likely to call a car the Ellesmere Port.

Anyway Alfa Romeo pulled a name out of the history books and is calling its 147 replacement the Giulietta. It's quite a nice name, if a bit tricky to spell.

It's a rival to the VW Golf but slightly longer -- by 130mm -- and has a 50mm longer wheelbase. Unlike the Golf and the 147 it'll only be available as a five-door model but like the 147 and 156 the rear-door handles are subtly disguised so it looks more like a three-door in any case.

Like the new Mito the Giulietta is a looker. The front has the classic Alfa grille in its sexiest form yet with two lateral air intakes above. But you can judge from the pictures whether it has the X factor.

Inside, and this is usually the bit where Alfa is brilliant (even in the 80s when Alfas weren't exactly reliable they were lovely to sit in while help came), the Giulietta is no exception.

There's a classic twin-binnacle for the important dials and novel trim textures together with body-coloured metal inserts.

All engines will be turbos -- they'll start with a 120bhp 1.4-litre petrol engine and carry through to a 170bhp 2.0-litre diesel.

Alfa reveals special-edition Brera

To release a special-edition version of the Brera, the Alfa Romeo has grouped with Italian fashion designer Italia Independent.

special-edition Brera

Further, only 900 numbers of the Alfa Romeo Brera Italy Independent Special Edition will be made. A source said that the model is expected to be released in the UK in the year 2010.

Matte black paint, 18-inch gloss black alloy wheels, red brake calipers and an aluminium fuel filler cap are the alterations that are made over a standard Brera.

Moreover, the new model comes with black leather sports seats with red stitching, a leather sports steering wheel and aluminium pedals. And the inside section has materials including linen, Kevlar, carbonfibre, Alcantara and cashmere. The power comes from either the 2.2-litre JTS unit or the 3.2-litre V6 that gives out 256bhp.

special-edition Brera

Also the car will be used on a tour of fashion boutiques in Rome, Zurich, Paris and London.

The price details are not unveiled however purchasers can take it for a virtual test drive on the Xbox’s Forza Motorsport 3 game.

Alfa Romeo is not for sale, says Chairman Luca di Montezemolo

Alfa Romeo
Fiat S. p.A. has denied any truth to a recent analyst report that suggested that Alfa Romeo could be bought by Volkswagen AG. Fiat S.p.A. Chairman Luca di Montezemolo puts any doubts to rest when he asserted that Alfa Romeo is not for sale “under any circumstances.”

In an interview with Reuters, Montezemolo said that the company will soon present the new Alfa that will replace the 147. In addition, he said that he sees “important opportunities” for Alfa Romeo in the US.