| 05.02.2003 |
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The Alfa Romeo 156 Selespeed
has received a cosmetic makeover specifically for the Thailand market.
Locally built, the 156 Selespeed Special Edition sports a bodykit supplied
by German accessory manufacturer Zender, who have a long tradition of involvement
with the marque. Along with revised coloured rear light lenses, Thailand's
Alfa Romeo network believe this will give the model a more agressive look
and feel. |
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| 04.02.2003 |
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The relaunch the Lancia
brand will include a modern interpretation of the classic 1970s mid-engined
sportscar, the Stratos. Ambitious plans being drawn up by Fabrizio Longo,
the Lancia chief, include a new Integrale, the "Fulvietta" 2+2 Sports Coupe,
a luxury mid-size MPV, already at an advanced stage, and proposals to return
the marque to the RHD markets that were abandoned over ten years ago. |
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| 04.02.2003 |
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Ferrari-Maserati President
Luca di Montezemolo has stated that the Maserati Kubang GT Wagon SUV concept
unveiled at last month's Detroit Motor Show will need cash raised from
the planned Ferrari IPO if it is to enter production. As he raises the
stakes and pushes to gain more independence for Ferrari and Maserati from
majority shareholders Fiat, he explained that the recent talks with German
carmaker Audi are designed to help the sportscar maker reduce costs through
the pooling of technology. |
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| 03.02.2003 |
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Heavily disguised "New Small"
pre-production prototypes are seen undertaking hot weather trials. The
replacement for the ageing Seicento and 22-year veteran Panda, is strongly
tipped to be known as the Fiat Small. Pre-production at the Polish Tichy
factory will commence in January, with final production versions rolling
from May. |
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| 01.02.2003 |
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Lamborghini officially opened
its 40th Anniversary last month by presenting a Murcielago Roadster Concept
at the Detroit Motor Show. The Concept Car was designed by Luc Donckerwolke,
Head of Lamborghini Design. It continues the Barchetta concept, an open
car of Italian tradition. Lamborghini claim it has a more exclusive, aggressive
and extreme design than the Murciélago. View high resolution images. |
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| 31.01.2003 |
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'Beauty is not Enough' is
the name of Alfa Romeo's new advertising campaign, which started in Italy
on the 27th December and will roll out through Europe and as far as Japan
through the year. Devised by Red Cell, a division of advertising agency
WPP, the campaign majors on the fact that although customers are attracted
by Alfa Romeos for their looks and styling, the cars offer much more in
terms of performance, versatility and practicality. |
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| 30.01.2003 |
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Artist's computer-generated
images give impression of how forthcoming Alfa Romeos may look based on
current styling cues. Including the current, long serving GTV and Spider
which are due for a final cosmetic facelift in March, the next generation
156 saloon, which will according to designer Guigaro, receive the Brera
concept's front and rear styling, and lastly the flagship 166 saloon, which
will receive a mid-life facelift this summer, that will incorporate the
"family" styling, including a more prominent grille. |
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| 30.01.2003 |
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Lamborghini are to follow
Maserati's lead by joining the 4x4 sector with a "sports offroader". Aiming
to compete with the Maserati Kubang GT Wagon, Porsche's Cayenne and BMW's
Z5, the Lambo SUV is being developed in partnership with owner's Audi. |
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| 29.01.2003 |
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Pagani are to unveil a Spyder
version of their 7.0-litre V12 Zonda C12S at the Geneva Motor Show in March.
It will offer the 7.0-litre AMG-tuned Mercedes-Benz engine, that was used
in the hard top version until a revised 7.3-litre version was introduced
last summer, and will be coupled to a 6-speed gearbox fed through rear
wheel drive. |
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| 29.01.2003 |
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The Alfa Romeo 156GTAm prototype,
first shown at last December's Bologna Motor Show, is believed to be on
the verge of getting the green light for a limited 500 unit run. Built
by N-Technology, Fiat's competition department, the 156GTAm transfers racing
technology from last year's 156GTA SuperTouring race cars into a car designed
for the road and is fitted with an increased capacity version of the 147GTA
and 156GTA's 3.2-litre V6 engine. |
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| 28.01.2003 |
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Giancarlo Boschetti and
Jean-Martin Folz, Chief Executive Officer of Fiat Auto and Chairman of
PSA Peugeot Citroën respectively, have signed an agreement which extends
their joint development and manufacturing of new LCV's until 2017. Fiat
and PSA began LCV cooperation in 1978 and this agreement details future
product concepts and industrialization plan for two complete LCV's range,
due in 2006, and also establishes economic and industrial objectives. |
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| 27.01.2003 |
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Thousands of mourners attended
the funeral of Fiat Patriach, Gianni Agnelli, in Turin yesterday. The service
which was officiated by the Catholic Archbishop of Turin, Severino Poletto,
included Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and President of the Italian
Republic, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi among the mourners. |
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| 25.01.2003 |
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Ferrari President Luca di
Montezemolo, Sporting Director Jean Todt and reigning Formula 1 World Champion
Michael Schumacher have all paid tribute to Fiat's Honorary Chairman Gianni
Agnelli, who died yesterday aged 81, after a long fight against illness. |
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| 25.01.2003 |
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The Fiat Multipla, praised
continually by motoring journalists but never accepted by car buyers, will
have its outrageous looks toned down when a revised version goes on sale
in late 2004. Out goes the controversial stepped scuttle panel which houses
the foglamps on the current version, while the round headlamps are ditched
in favour of conventional units. |
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| 24.01.2003 |
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Gianni Agnelli, Fiat's honorary
Chairman and one of Italy's most successful post-war businessmen, has died
at his Turin home, aged 81. Agnelli has suffered months of ill health after
an operation last year in the US to treat prostrate cancer. His death comes
as more than 75 members of the Agnelli family are meeting up to discuss
their role in the crisis at Fiat. |
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| 23.01.2003 |
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Google, the internet's biggest
search engine, which handles over 150 million searches each day, has detailed
that Ferrari was the most searched for brand name last year, in their traditional
end of year report. The Italian sportscar manufacturer, came out ahead
of worldwide corporate giants Sony, Nokia and Disney with Porsche, the
next most highly searched for car maker in ninth place |
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| 21.01.2003 |
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Fiat Auto have released
their fourth quarter financial results, which see the auto division end
the year with a €200 million operating loss, well below the company's
break even target. However net debt fell to €3 billion, down from
€5.8
billion at the end of the previous quarter, and in line with targets set
by the creditor banks. |
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| 20.01.2003 |
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The Alfa Romeo Brera has
been elected 'Automotive News' Concept Car of the Year' in the categories
for 'Best Exterior' and 'Best Concept Car of the Year'. The event took
place on January 8 at Detroit, during the 'Autoweek Design Forum' held
at the COBO Center (site of the 2003 North America Auto Show) in front
of 700 international representatives from the best known automotive manufacturers
and specialised press publications. |
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| 17.01.2003 |
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Lancia have given the forthcoming
"Fulvietta" concept car, the go-ahead, for a late 2004/early 2005 introduction.
The concept, will have heavyweight powerplants and sportscar performance.
Topping the range will be a GM-developed 2.0-litre turbo engine, while
the small and light 2+2 will also come with the option of Fiat's direct
injection 2.4JTD diesel engine. |
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| 16.01.2003 |
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Ferrari will present at
the Geneva Motor Show in March the 'Challenge Stradale', a road car based
on their International Ferrari Challenge and FIA GT racing versions, in
which the 360 Challenge and 360GT have raced with great success. It aims
to head off competition from the Lamborghini Gallardo which will debut
at the same show and is expected to put air between itself and the 360
Modena. |
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| 15.01.2003 |
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These are the first images
of Alfa's new 156-based Coupe, commonly referred to as the "Sprint", in
the flesh. Based around the floorpan and mechanicals of the 156 saloon
with the same wheelbase, it is influenced by the smaller 147's styling,
but with more pronounced effects. Initially the Sprint will be offered
with the 2.0-litre direct-injection JTS engine, but 1.6 and 1.8-litre entry-level
versions will follow, along with a range topping 300 bhp 3.2-litre V6 JTS
GTA model which will offer 4x4. |
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| 13.01.2003 |
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The Prodrive developed Ferrari
550 Maranello and Maserati's Trofeo GT lead the Italian cars on display
at the "Autosport" Motor Sport Show at the Birmingham NEC, England, which
ends today. Joined on the high profile Prodrive stand by the current BAR-Honda
F1 car and a rally Subaru Impreza, the Banbury-based company are in upbeat
mood as the car, developed without factory assistance, enters its third
year of development. More reports & images from the Show. |
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| 10.01.2003 |
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The Roadster version of
the 6.2-litre V12 Murcielago which was unveiled in Detroit at the weekend
has been designed by Belgian Audi stylist Luc Donkerwolke who was responsible
for the original Murcielago. Although a concept car, Lamborghini's website
give a poignant messeage, "the bad news is that its not available....yet".
Fourteen images of the Concept in Detroit and Lamborghini's official press
release. |
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| 09.01.2003 |
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The Maserati Kubang GT Wagon
has drawn the crowds all week in Detroit, and Maserati are reported to
be pleased with the favourable initial impressions the SUV concept has
created. We take a further look at the marque's first SUV. |
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