New Alfa Romeo-Derived / U.S. Made Dodge Compact Sedan to Debut at 2012 Detroit Show

A new U.S. market compact sedan to be developed by Fiat and built by Chrysler is set to make its debut appearance at the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit in the beginning of next year, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal.

The as-of-yet unnamed model will be badged as Dodge and powered by a Fiat-derived 1.4-liter turbocharged gasoline engine. It’ll also do 40 mpg combined, or at least it will if Fiat wants to net itself a further 5% of Chrysler from Mr. MonopolyUncle Sam.

The Italian automaker wants to expand its 46% share in Chrysler & Friends by an additional 7.5% courtesy of the U.S. Treasury and Canadian government on top of the 5% it’s expected to get by pushing the 40 mpg envelope.

The new model will be built in Chrysler’s Belvidere plant in Illinois, which the brand is currently spending US$600 million retooling for the job. Production is expected to start later this year. Dealers, such as David Kelleher of David Dodge Chrysler Jeep of Glen Mills, PA are naturally very excited:

“We have never had a viable compact car. This will allow us to reach the entry level customer and it's a perfect fit for Dodge which has been faced with challenges.” [Like having to share a lot with the Chrysler Sebring, for one…]

The Caliber, the closest thing Dodge currently has to a Honda Civic / Ford Focus / Chevy Cruze competitor at present, does a paltry 24 mpg in automatic guise.

The new model will share the same basic floorplan as the Alfa Romeo Giulietta hatchback, which will also be used to underpin five new models over the next three years.

There’s no word yet on a name, but I’m willing to discount Aires, Neon and Stratus as possible contenders.

PHOTO GALLERY

Read more In Cars

Monstrous Paramount Marauder Armored Vehicle

In just a few hours from now, Top Gear will air the first episode of season 17 on BBC. During the past two weeks, we got a taste of what Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond have in store for us this year through two teaser clips.
In one of those trailers, we saw a large off-road-like vehicle playing the role of a monster truck on a white Alfa Romeo 156 and an older generation Renault Megane sedan.
It turns out that the vehicle is a mine protected armored truck called Marauder from South African company Paramount Group and the driver behind the steering wheel is Richard Hammond. We were contacted by Paramount Group who told us that the Marauder will be featured in tonight's first episode of Top Gear Season 17.
We’ll have more on this tomorrow with bonus pictures and videos after the program airs on TV, but for the time being, check out the Marauder’s specifications and a gallery of the vehicle below.

PHOTO GALLERY

Read more In Cars

Alfa Romeo 4C: Spawn Maserati, Abarth Variants

If Alfa Romeo wanted tο get peοple talking with the debut οf its 4C concept in Geneva, they succeeded. The Internet is abuzz with rumοrs οf its production pοtential. There have already been repοrts that the Alfa will spearhead the marque's full-fledged return tο North America, tο be followed by bοth Spider and Abarth versions. Nοw, wοrd is that Maserati cοuld get a derivative, either.

If the reports prοve accurate and the spinoffs cοme tο fruition, that wοuld mean three brands within the Fiat group will get their οwn versions οf the lightweight, mid-engined, fοur-cylinder sports car.

And that's befοre any οf the Chrysler brands get a crack at it, because a Dodge version tο pick up where the Circuit concept left οff could be mοst tempting. The Maserati version wοuld naturally be positioned and appοinted differently frοm the Alfa οr Abarth models. The questiοn is whether the market can bear mοre than οne Elise rival from Fiat/Chrysler, let alοne multiples.

Advertisements

PHOTO GALLERY

Read more In Cars

Alfa Romeo 8C Spider to 600-HP

It may not be the best sports car Italy has to offer us right now, but Alfa Romeo’s 8C Spider is certainly a prime candidate for being one of the most beautiful out there. That said, even Novitec Rosso is smart enough to know that you don’t mess with a good thing with the German tuner focusing its attention on improving the Alfa’s mechanical hardware.

The highlight of Novitec Rosso’s performance package is hidden under the 8C Spider’s hood with the adoption of a modified version of the supercharger system used on the firm’s Maserati GT tune. A new water-to-air intercooler with a dedicated radiator, custom injectors, a stainless-steel high-performance exhaust system and an ECU optimization round off the changes to the 4.7-liter V8 engine.

As a result of these upgrades, the V8 gains an additional 150HP for a total output of 600HP at 7,300 rpm, while peak torque is also lifted to 588Nm (433.7 lb-ft) at 5,400 rpm. Novitec Rosso says the sprint from 0 to 100km/h (62mph) is reduced from 4.2 seconds to 3.9 seconds, while top speed increases from 290km/h to 305km/h (180mph to 190mph).

The only exterior modification concerns the availability of new alloy wheel designs measuring 21-inches up front and 22-inches on the rear, shod in Pirelli tires size 255/30 ZR 21 and 315/25 ZR 22 respectively.

Novitec also offers a height-adjustable threaded coil-over suspension and upon customer request, it can customize the Alfa 8C Spider’s interior with leather and Alcantara appointments.

GALLERY

Read more In Cars

2011 and 2011 Alfa Romeo MiTo Car wallpapers and prices, specification

2011 and 2011 Alfa Romeo MiTo Car wallpapers and prices, specification
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. 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.

2011 Zagato Alfa Romeo Car wallpapers and prices, specification

2011 Zagato Alfa Romeo Car wallpapers and prices, specification
The Zagato Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa is a race car, honouring 100 years of races and victories across the whole 20th century. The TZ3 Corsa is based on a mono shell carbon fibre tubular chassis, coupled with a tubular frame and a lightweight aluminium body. It boasts Technical Partners such as OMP and Pirelli. Following Zagato’s gentlemen-driver heritage.

2011 Alfa Romeo Car wallpapers and prices, specification

2011 Alfa Romeo Car wallpapers and prices, specification
Alfa Romeo 2uettottanta Concept, a concept car that evokes the legendary Duetto of the Sixties, is proposes by Pininfarina to mark its 80th anniversary.

2011 Alfa Romeo Brera Car Prices and specification with wallpapers

2011 Alfa Romeo Brera Car Prices and specification with wallpapers
Alfa Romeo in collaboration with stylish goods brand Italy Independent has release a special Alfa Romeo Brera model, the Alfa Romeo Brera Italia Independent Special Edition. But the new Alfa Romeo Limited Edition car does not only brings its unmistakable style to real roads.