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After its introduction at last year’s Paris Motor Show, Alfa Romeo is finally launching its 2011 model year 159 saloon and Sportwagon range onto the UK market. The updated 159 lineup is enhanced with a new 136 bhp 2.0 JTDM diesel engine, as well as with new interior trim and equipment.

The 2.0-liter JTDM is a Euro-5 diesel unit equipped with a variable geometry turbocharger delivering 136 bhp at 4,000 rpm and 350 Nm (258 lb-ft) of peak torque at 1,750 rpm. Linked to a 6-speed manual gearbox, it allows the sedan to complete the 0-62mph (100km/h) sprint in 9.9 seconds (SW: 10.1 sec) and to reach a top speed of 126 mph (202km/h).

The Alfa Romeo GT was a fairly successful small coupe built between 2003 and 2010. Its clean styling courtesy of the Bertone design house and its sweet handling led to sales of 80,832 units worldwide. But did you know that Bertone also conceived a convertible version of the car? In 2003, the Italian design house and coachbuilder built a one-off, four-seat soft-top version of the GT for Alfa Romeo, in order to convince them it was worth making.

As time goes by, Fiat SpA’s integration with the Chrysler Group LLC deepens and the results become more evident with the two carmakers making several plans for the future. Speaking at Fiat's annual shareholders meeting on March 30, Fiat and Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne revealed plans to launch two new Dodge-based sedans in China and Russia.

The first sedan will be a compact model built on the next generation Dodge Caliber, which is expected in the USA next January. According to an Autonews report, this model will enter production in China in the second half of 2011, while timing for the Russian launch has not yet been disclosed. The other four-door saloon will be a mid-size model based on the replacement for the Dodge Avenger, which is scheduled for launch in the USA in 2013. It will go on sale in China and Russia the same year.

Now here’s some news we weren’t expecting. The Chrysler Group announced today the premiere of a new variant of the 2011 Dodge Charger bearing the TBi moniker, which stands for Turbocharged Boosted Induction. The Charger TBi is powered by a four-cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine sourced from sister company Alfa Romeo. The Italian flavored 1.75-liter powerplant is the same one found on a variety of Alfa models including the Giulietta and 159, as well as the upcoming 4C sports coupe previewed in Geneva last month.

On the 2011MY Charger, the force-fed four-pot delivers a maximum output of 225HP and a peak torque of 250 lb-ft / 340Nm at just 1,900 rpm.

The Detroit automaker said that the gasoline engine “ensures performance that matches or exceeds that of a 3.0-litre V6 whilst still delivering the moderate fuel consumption which is typical of a compact, 4 cylinder unit”. The new powerplant will be matched exclusively to a new automatic "TCT" twin dry clutch transmission with eight gears.

A little less than a year ago, famed Italian coachbuilder Zagato celebrated Alfa Romeo’s centenary with the reveal of the TZ3 Corsa at the Villa D'Este Concours. Based on the hardware of the Alfa Romeo 8c Competizione, the TZ3 Corsa paid homage to its TZ predecessors. It was built as a one-off for a wealthy German collector named Martin Kapp.

In December of the same year, Zagato sent out a holiday card featuring the older TZ1 and TZ2 alongside the latest TZ3 and one more unnamed fourth model wrapped in a bow, hinting at a new TZ4. Fast forward to today, and German car magazine Autobild is reporting that the Italian coachbuilder is indeed planning a fourth TZ model, which could carry the TZ4 Stradale nameplate.

This week marks the commercial debut of the 2011 model year Alfa Romeo MiTo in Italy and on other major European markets. First shown at the 2011 Geneva Salon, the modestly updated MiTo comes with a fresh batch of exterior colors, different seat upholsteries, new optional equipment and Euro 5 compliant engines all fitted as standard with a Start&Stop system. Read more »

2011 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Review, what car reviews, As a sedan, the third generation of Alfa Romeo Giulietta for the 2011 model year was a great ride for a sedan that meets the Alfa Romeo name.

The new Alfa Romeo Giulietta offers a surprisingly comfortable ride, which used to the harder but more precise handling of an Alfa Romeo may come as something of a surprise.

Like the sedan, the third generation of Alfa Romeo Giulietta for 2011 model is a fantastic trip to Berlin, which lives up to the name of Alfa Romeo. Front-wheel drive model, the dynamics of the new Juliet are superb and the interior features and standard equipment available. Pricing: Base price of just under $28,000

2011 Alfa Romeo Giulietta distance is 8.6 meters in a light sporty and elegant, distinctly European style exterior. lights LED tail lights and accents are tastefully decorated and individually designed

New Alfa Romeo Giulietta offers a surprisingly comfortable ride, which used more, but more detailed treatment of the Alfa Romeo to become something amazing.

As a sedan, the 3rd generation Alfa Romeo Giulietta for the 2011 model year is a fantastic ride for a sedan that lives up to the Alfa Romeo name. A front-wheel drive model, the dynamics of the new Giulietta are superb as well as the interior features and standard equipment offered.
The 2011 Alfa Romeo Giulietta’s wheelbase is 8.6 feet sporting light lines and a sleek, distinctly European exterior styling. The well-known Alfa Romeo trident adorns the front above the distinctive triangular grille.

The interior cabin is incredibly quiet, at highway speeds indicating the car’s precise and well-fitted design.

Competition for the 2011 Alfa Romeo Giulietta includes:
Ford Focus
Hyundai Elantra
Honda Accord

“What do you do when the power of an engine is no longer sufficient?” asks Stephan Lenior, the man behind Squadra Tuning, on his company’s website. While the solution for the majority would have been a heavily modified or perhaps a completely different engine altogether, for the owner of the Alfa Romeo tuning company based in Holland, the answer to that question was far more radical and complex.

To make a very long story short, Stephan’s solution to u the performance of his Alfa Romeo GTV V6 involved the fitment of a second six-cylinder engine at the back. Easier said than done of course, with the project turning out to be a rather complicated and time-consuming process.

Stephan documented the entire build on his company’s website and if our Google’s translation is correct (any help from our Dutch speaking readers would be appreciated, especially on the matter of the transmission), Stephan took a 3.2-liter V6 along with the sub frame and suspension bits from an Alfa Romeo 166 and placed them in the rear section of the Italian coupe. Together with the GTV’s front-mounted 3.0-liter V6, the two engines produce a combined output of 487-horsepower.

Chrysler Group CEO Sergio Marchionne and Mexico’s President Felipe Calderon celebrated the start of the 2012 Fiat 500 production today at the Detroit firm’s Toluca plant in Mexico. The company invested $550 million USD, with the assistance of loans from the Mexican government, to build the subcompact model at the Toluca site.

Chrysler said the plant will build more than 120,000 examples of the Fiat 500 for export to the United States, Canada, and South America, as well as to China by the third quarter of 2011. The same factory also produces the Dodge Journey, which is shipped to the U.S. as well as its Fiat twin, the newly revealed Freemont that will be sold in Europe.

A rather sleek carbon fiber body, curvy lines, a short wheelbase (just 2.4m) and a very efficient powerplant under the hood, that’s what makes Alfa Romeo 4C stand out in the mini-supercar market.

The engine outputs 200hp (funny how the same engine does 225hp in the Giulietta 1750 Tbi) and helps the car sprint from naught to 62mph in less than 5 seconds, to a top speed of around 155mph.

Could the 4C be the vehicle that finally brings "Alfa Romeo" back into the United States market? Alfa says, “Yes.”

At the introduction of the Alfa Romeo 4C concept here on Tuesday, Harald J. Wester, the Italian marque’s chief executive, said the eventual production vehicle was being designed to be sold in markets worldwide, “including the United States.”

When Fiat Group, Alfa’s parent, increased its ownership stake in Chrysler, a preliminary plan was sketched out — and then put on hold — to bring the Alfa Romeo MiTo subcompact to Chrysler dealerships.

One of the most talked about cars at the 2011 Geneva auto show, the Alfa Romeo 4C Concept previews a forthcoming production model called the 4C GTA. The beautiful coupe, covered in a hypnotic, deep-red matte paint, is described by Alfa as the “true essence of a sports car,” and the rear-wheel-drive, mid-engine layout suggests just that. Further details: Weight distribution is said to be 40-percent front/60-percent rear, the power runs through a dual-clutch gearbox, and the car is equipped with Alfa’s “DNA” chassis-adjustment system that includes Dynamic, Normal, and All-Weather modes. Yes, “globally” would mean the United States, too, and 2012 coincidentally remains Fiat’s target date for Alfa’s American repatriation (the ultra-limited 8C Competizione and Spider notwithstanding). Can Alfa Romeo really build a lightweight sports car teeming with carbon fiber and sell it at a competitive price? Recent reports have pegged Alfa Romeo as working with Dallara on an affordable carbon-fiber chassis for the production 4C.
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In yet another episode of the ongoing verbal battle between the Fiat and VW Groups over Alfa Romeo, the German automaker's CEO Ferdinand Piech said that Volkswagen could nearly quadruple the annual sales of the Milanese brand if the Italians would agree to sell the company.

Speaking to journalists at the Geneva Motor Show, the CEO went on to say that within five years Volkswagen could increase the sales of the money-losing Italian brand to 400,000 cars every year. Alfa Romeo ended 2010 with 112,000 units sold.

I know some of our readers will disagree, hell, even some of the folks here at Carscoop will beg to differ, nevertheless, I'm going to say it: I'm utterly disappointed with the styling of Alfa Romeo's 4C Concept, which is slated to enter production in 2012. Alfa had a unique chance to redefine its design language with its first mainstream rear-wheel drive model in decades but instead chose to add the Mickey Mouse - bug face treatment to a body that looks awfully similar to the Lotus Elise.

The specific styling cues may work for the 8C Competizione but if you ask me, the 4C looks just as silly as the MiTo does. Granted; the true essence of the 4C Concept lays under the skin and in particular the mid-engine / rear-wheel drive architecture, but would it be much to ask for some of that styling magic Alfa Romeo has served us over the years?

As always, feel free to agree or disagree in our comments section below.

Alfa Romeo has unveiled a concept study for a compact and affordable "supercar” called 4C Concept at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. The car is a two-seater, rear-wheel drive coupe with a mid-mounted engine that could find its way into production as early as 2012. According to the Italian car maker, the 4C represents “the true essence of a sports car, according to the brand values: performance, Italian style and technical excellence aimed at maximum driving pleasure in total safety.”

As the name suggests, the car is supposed to be a smaller version of the 8C Competizione, which is also true in the case of the design, as the 4C looks very similar to Alfa's supercar. The Alfa Romeo 4C Concept has a length of approximately 4 meters and a wheelbase of less than 2.4 meters. These dimensions emphasize the compact size of the car and also accentuate its agility, Alfa says.

A "spy" video showing an Alfa Romeo 4C GTA and Spider has been circulating around the internet lately, with some screen shots even making their way on British car magazine Autoexpress which posted a story on its website the other day.

We had our doubts about its authenticity ever since we first saw the film last week, and today these suspicions were confirmed after we came in contact with Marco Procaccini from MPCARDESIGN who told us that he made the video as part of a new (independent) Alfa Romeo project he is working on. Apparently, someone got hold of Mario's video, and tried to pass it on as a scoop, duping many people in the process.

The Fiat Group will have a particularly strong presence at the Geneva Motor Show this year, as it’s planning to reveal a bevy of new models and concept cars. Alfa Romeo’s offering at the Swiss salon will be centered on the Giulietta compact and 2011MY MiTo subcompact models, with two of each scheduled to go on display. And for those of you wondering, Alfa's press release made no mention of the rumored concept sports coupe based on the underpinnings of the KTM X-Bow.

When the Nissan Versa was launched in Australia as the Tiida, many automotive watchers were excited by the prospect of blending Renault’s European flair with Nissan’s Japanese reliability. “Here,” they said, “Is a car that’ll please everyone.”

What they got was a narrow-bodied subcompact with so-so styling, a plasticy dashboard, a shocking lack of equipment and an overinflated price tag. Not to mention Kim Cattrall in the TV spots. If this sounds strangely familiar to our older readers, you’re right on the money. Twenty-three years before the crossbred Tiida hit Australian shores, another mongrel was being birthed in Europe.

Speaking at the J.D. Power and Associates International Automotive Round-table in San Francisco, Fiat Group and Chrysler LLC CEO Sergio Marchionne bluntly reiterated that the Italians won’t sell Alfa Romeo to the Volkswagen Group, or anyone else for that matter.

“As long as I am CEO of Chrysler and Fiat, Mr. Piech will never have Alfa Romeo. It's hands-off. I told him. I will call him and I will email him”, Marchionne said.

Alfa Romeo sports car brand will unveil a concept car in Geneva next month to try to raise its profile at the international motor show and beyond.

Alfa Romeo loses money for Fiat, and the concept car would be in line with the Italian car maker's drive to revive the brand by creating some spark at a time when it lacks a new model to show the public.

No one will ever think of "Alfa Romeo" as a value brand, but the floundering Italian marque has always earned admirers with passionate designs aimed straight at the enthusiast core. Alfa has been going through a rough patch, and help is reportedly on the way in the form of a small coupe concept to bow at this year’s Geneva Motor Show.

Expected to wear the 4C GTA name, the two-seater will be rear-drive, mid-engined, and lightweight, all qualities that will leave enthusiasts weak-kneed and brimming with anticipation. GTA stands for Gran Turismo Alleggerita, also the name of a popular classic Alfa coupe. The concept was designed by the brand’s styling center in Turin, Italy, but details remain close to Alfa’s chest. According to British publication Autocar, Alfa insiders have already dubbed the 4C a “baby 8C.” Apparently, there’s a curb weight target of 850 kilograms (1784 pounds) in place--Once built, Alfa expects to sell around 5000 4Cs per year.
Alfa Romeo expects to start production on a rear-engine, rear-drive coupe, the 4C GTA, in 2012 which is priced at a more affordable 40,000 euros.

Flagship car
Compared to the Alfa 8C Competizione, Alfa Romeo’s most popular model sold at 200,000 Euros, the 4C GTA will come with a more affordable price tag at 40,000 Euros.
The 4C GTA is planned to be a two-seat coupe with a casual-stylish, extremely low design and lightweight construction. Last year, the Giulietta compact went on sale but worldwide sales for the Alfa experienced only a slight increase at 10.2%, or 112,000 cars. 4C GTA features

The 4C GTA will be powered by a 1.8 liter 4 cylinder gasoline engine with horsepower output of more than 250 hp.

Alfa Romeo is famous for their sports cars and coupes, which include current models such as the Alfa Romeo MiTo, Alfa Romeo Giulietta, Alfa Romeo 159, Alfa Romeo GT, Alfa Romeo Spider, and Alfa Romeo 8C Spider. Future models include the 4C GTA, Giulia sedan, and Alfa Romeo SUV.

Alfa Romeo is set to finish a concept car on the lightweight rear-drive coupe to be presented next month in a Geneva auto show debut.

Automakers find all kind of excuses to create special edition versions of their cars, and by special edition we actually mean better equipped models. For Alfa Romeo, the raison d'être of the new MiTo Sprint is "the continued support of UK Athletics (UKA)". Wonder what they'll think of next...

Well, in any case, the new UK market MiTo Sprint is available in UKA ‘Union Jack’ inspired colors (red, white or blue), and comes with some £1,500 worth of extras, including cruise control, leather steering wheel and gear stick, remote audio controls on the steering wheel, Blue&Me Bluetooth hands-free system with voice recognition, and media player with a USB port.

A newly developed 2.0-liter JTDM engine has made its way under the hood of the Alfa Romeo Giulietta in the UK. The four-cylinder turbocharged diesel unit, which delivers 140HP at 4,000 rpm and 320Nm of peak torque in 'Normal' mode and 350Nm in 'Dynamic' mode, gets the latest generation JTDM-2 MultiJet Common Rail system that is already present on the 105HP 1.6 JTDM-2 and the 170HP 2.0 JTDM-2 engines.