2009 Alfa Romeo Brera Italia Independent Special Edition

Porto Cervo (Olbia) provided a stunning backdrop for the unveiling of the Alfa RomeoAlfa Romeo Brera -Italia Independent-, a new Limited Edition version of 900 that is due to go on sale first in Europe and then in Japan and Australia. It will be available to order from September in Italy, with a list price starting at – 32,200 euro (on-the-road price) for the 2.2 JTSJTS SelespeedSelespeed version.

The world can catch a first glimpse of the Alfa Romeo Brera -Italia Independent- throughout the summer at -YOU-, a new sushi restaurant and lounge bar overlooking the square in Porto Cervo and the lovely old harbour.

This original Limited Edition of the Brera came about as a joint venture between Alfa Romeo and Italia Independent, a brand that operates within several goods sectors to package Italian style and innovation for a global vision. For Italia Independent, -innovation- also means the use of new materials, such as Kevlar, DuPont’s Cordura, Gore-Tex or carbon, teamed with fine fabrics and materials such as linen, Loro Piana cashmere or cellulose acetate to obtain new slants on classic products.

In the same way, Alfa Rome designs and builds cars with state-of-the-art mechanics and engineering, featuring contemporary lines and shapes, that embody the concept of design in motion and emphasise the qualities of comfort, sportiness, elegance and power intrinsic to the Brand. This industrial philosophy is underpinned by Alfa Romeo’s extraordinary legacy of cars, designers, races, engines, style and innovation; a constant presence throughout the technological progress and sporting events of the twentieth century.

It must be emphasised that the Alfa Romeo Brera -Italia Independent- is the first standard-production car to offer opaque paintwork (Titanium) over its entire body. This exterior feature is further enhanced by new 18″ alloy wheelsalloy wheels with an opaque black turbine pattern and some aluminium features, including the fuel cap, red-painted brake calipers and new “Italia Independent” logo on the car’s rear.

The same attention to detail is evident inside, as is borne out by carbon fibre inserts (on both the dashboard and sporty steering wheel in black leather with red top-stitching) and brushed aluminium plates, personalised with an -Italia Independent- logo on the front seat head restraints. Still in a quest for maximum sportiness, the instrument panelinstrument panel of this original car features round red frames plus an aluminium pedal unit and foot-rest. In the same way, the seat trim and door panels are in the deepest black. Poltrona Frau black leather upholstery with red top-stitching is available as an option.

The Alfa Romeo Brera -Italia Independent- can be selected with 185 HP 2.2 JTS or 260 HP 3.2 V6 engines, both combined with 6-speed gearboxesgearboxes (according to the engine, these may be manual, Selespeed or automatic Q-Tronic). The new version can also come with sophisticated Q4 four-wheel drivefour-wheel drive, which is exclusive to the 3.2 V6 version.

The Alfa Romeo Brera -Italia Independent- also offers a wealth of standard equipment: VDCVDC with 7 airbags, automatic dual zone climate control system, CD/MP3, cruise control and fog lightsfog lights. Customers can naturally personalise their car from the numerous options available, including xenon headlights, parking sensors, Bose Hi-Fi system, Blue&Me, Blue&Me Nav and the new Instant Nav navigation systemnavigation system with a map of Europe on a SD card and compatibility with Blue&Me.

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2011 Alfa Romeo Giulietta First Photos

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2010 Alfa Romeo MiTo Quadrifoglio Verde – Frankfurt Debut

MiTo Quadrifoglio Verde, world premiere

Available following the launch of the 105 and 135 hp MultiAir engines, the world premiere of the Alfa Romeo MiToAlfa Romeo MiTo Quadrifoglio Verde with 170 hp 1.4 MultiAir TBiTBi takes place in Frankfurt. The exclusive trim brings back a legendary symbol that over the years has appeared on some of Alfa Romeo’s sportiest cars. Having always been synonymous with heritage, racing and victory, the “Quadrifoglio Verde” (four-leaf clover) now represents a new kind of sportiness that combines maximum driving pleasuredriving pleasure with improved environmental qualities.

Bearing the Quadrifoglio Verde is this MiTo with the most powerful 170 hp MultiAir engine and innovative solutions that accentuate the existing qualities of the model: hold, agility, active safety and driveability are heightened by an engine with one of the highest specific power values in the world and a chassis with features hitherto unthinkable for a car in this class.

This engine’s best feature is its outstanding weight/power ratio, which has always been one of the key factors behind Alfa Romeo’s success on the road and the racetrack. The class-leading ratio of 6.7 kg/hp is almost 10 per cent better than the already excellent performance of the current 155 hp 1.4 TBi. At 124 hp/litre, this engine is also one of the world leaders in specific power. In fact, this is the highest value ever recorded for an Alfa car, affirming the excellent engineering heritage of the Alfa MiTo.

This is a particularly important value because it proves the effectiveness of downsizing, aimed at producing high-tech engines to get better performance allied with sharp reductions in fuel consumption and emissions. Indeed, it is this latter area which provides the most surprising evidence of the technical level achieved: 4.8 l/100l/100 km and 139 g/km of CO2 (in the extra-urban cycle) are closer to what you would expect from an economy careconomy car than a compact sports car that goes from 0 to 100 km/h in just over 7 seconds.

On the back of these exceptional power qualities and the unbeatable performance/consumption ratio, Alfa Romeo decided to give a sporty and technological feel to this Quadrifoglio Verde version with high-quality finishes, attention to detail and a raft of features. One example is the 17″ satin titanium-finished wheels (based on the Alfa Romeo 8C CompetizioneAlfa Romeo 8C Competizione supercar). The same colour is used for the headlight frames and the wing mirrorswing mirrors, while the dark finish of the headlight parabolas is achieved by a brand new metal sublimation technology. The interior also has a refined sporty feel thanks to the all-black environment that ensures no reflections or distractions while driving. The technological aspect of this car is further enhanced by the sporty fabric used to upholster the seats, the modern dashboard and the white lighting on the instrument panel.

It should also be stressed that Alfa Romeo has developed an innovative chassis upgrade to further emphasise the dynamic qualities of the MiTo Quadrifoglio Verde.

Dynamic Suspension

Competitive racing has always been a testing ground for new technologies, which have found their way from the world’s most famous racetracks to standard road cars. One example of this passage between two seemingly very different worlds is dynamic suspension. This system, which actively and continuously controls the electronic shock absorbers, was developed by combining Alfa Romeo road testing with the latest engineering techniques from Magneti MarelliMagneti Marelli.

So, using experience gained on the racetrack, the system allows the MiTo Quadrifoglio Verde to excel even further in terms of agility and handling, giving it exceptional driveability and unparalleled safety. The driver gets three benefits from the Dynamic Suspension systemSuspension system: comfort, safety and agility. Above all, the electronic shock absorbers adapt to the road conditions and control all the car’s movements. This guarantees maximum comfort and ensures that the unevenness of road surfacesroad surfaces is fully absorbed. In addition, the Dynamic Suspension system always ensures maximum grip and safety by actively responding to all road conditions. Finally, because roll and pitch are more restricted in all conditions, there is better stability and cornering that adds to the undoubted agility of the Alfa Romeo MiTo.

The suspension interacts perfectly with the three different control strategies of the Alfa DNA system. In “Normal”, agility is combined with a higher level of comfort, whereas in “All Weather”, the safety features are enhanced by continual interaction between the Vehicle Dynamic Control stability system, the steering and the suspension. Finally, in “Dynamic”, the MiTo becomes a true sports car clinging to the ground and fit for any road: it is no coincidence that the system was developed at the historic Balocco test track and round the corners of the Nurburgring. So, thanks to the hard work of Alfa Romeo and Magneti Marelli, the car is responsive and reliable when you turn the steering wheel or put your foot on the accelerator.

The innovative Dynamic Suspension system is made up of four electronically controlled shock absorbers, five accelerometric sensors, a control unit and an interface with Alfa DNA for the different settings and with the other on-board electronic systems.

Its main feature is to actively and continuously control the response of the shock absorbers, which adapt depending on the movement of the car and the road conditions, as well as the driving style. To sum up, the Dynamic Suspension system better protects passengers from uneven road surfaces thanks to an effective filtering and optimises comfort by recognising an obstacle (such as a bump or a hole) and adapting suspension behaviour accordingly. The system also ensures better cornering by altering damping distribution of the four shock absorbers, enhancing handling and hold thanks to advanced lateral dynamic control. What’s more, the Dynamic Suspension system manages longitudinal dynamic control by adjusting the movement of the chassis during acceleration, braking and gear changes, and by integrating perfectly with the Vehicle Dynamic Control, steering and braking systems.

The new six-speed C635 gearbox

The technological qualities of the Alfa Romeo MiTo Quadrifoglio Verde are further enhanced by the next-generation C635 gearbox. Developed by FPTFPT and manufactured at the Verrone factory in Italy, this groundbreaking mechanical unit is the first result of a design philosophy aimed at improving driveability, consumption levels and production flexibility.

As far as driveability is concerned, the new gearbox ensures clean and swift changes with very short selection movements, uniform activation pressures, no noise and no vibrations. In addition, modern design and construction techniques help to significantly reduce consumption levels thanks to less friction and the best possible gear ratios.

Its appearance in the Alfa MiTo 170 hp 1.4 MultiAir TBi marks the debut of a modern family of gearboxesgearboxes adapted for a broad range of models.

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2010 Alfa Romeo 2uettottanta Roadster Concept by Pininfarina

Press Release:

Pininfarina celebrates its 80th anniversary in Geneva

Tuesday, 2 March 2010

World debut of the 2uettottanta, an innovative vision of an Alfa Romeo open sports car

The company changes its skin: in future, more services and ecomobility

Turin, March 2, 2010 – Pininfarina is 80 years old and it starts the celebrations for this important milestone at the 2010 Geneva Motor ShowGeneva Motor Show by holding the world preview of a concept car, the 2uettottanta, and of two examples of recent highly successful stylistic collaboration agreements, the Ferrari 458 Italia and the Maserati GranCabrio.

So 80 years have gone by since that day, May 22, 1930, when Battista “Pinin” Farina (the surname was changed from Farina to Pininfarina in 1961 by Presidential decree) founded Società Anonima CarrozzeriaCarrozzeria Pinin FarinaPinin Farina in Turin, a small artisan workshop that turned out small production runs and special bodywork to order for wealthy private clients.

Through a long process of growth and transformation, ideas and creative verve, often ahead of its time, adapting to profound social, economic and technical changes in the course of 80 years, Pininfarina has evolved from an artisan workshop to an international conglomerate that operates as a global partner of the motor industry. Today Pininfarina, which was listed on the Stock Exchange in 1986, has branches in Italy, Germany, Sweden, Morocco, China and the United States. Its automotive clients include prestigious brands such as Ferrari, Maserati, Alfa Romeo, Ford, Volvo, Tata MotorsTata Motors, CheryChery, JAC and Brilliance. Important partnerships have also been developed over the years in other sectors, with clients such as AnsaldobredaAnsaldobreda, Eurostar, IvecoIveco and Prinoth. Pininfarina Extra, the Group Company that specialises in product and interior design, architecture, boats and aeronautics, was founded more than 20 years ago, and boasts over 400 projects to its name.

Numerous Pininfarina creations are now part of the prestigious collections of museums in Italy and abroad, such as the MoMA of New York, which acquired a CisitaliaCisitalia 202 BerlinettaBerlinetta in the 1940s. Pininfarina design has received numerous prizes in its 80 years of history, the most recent being: the “Louis Vuitton Classic Concept award” for the Maserati Birdcage 75thMaserati Birdcage 75th; the “red dot award 2008” for the Sintesi; the “Compasso d’Oro 2008” for the Nido; and the Trophée du Design 2009. Sergio and Battista “Pinin” Farina are both members of the famous European Automotive Hall of Fame, an institution created to celebrate the men who have made motoring history.

In addition to its 80 years of experience, success and prestigious agreements, Pininfarina is unique in the world market for its capacity to combine tradition and the skills developed over the years to meet the new demands of its clients and the market. “Eras have passed, men have succeeded other men,” comments Chairman Paolo Pininfarina, “but in its genes, Pininfarina today is the same as it was in the 1930s: the central role of design, aesthetic sensitivity capable of creating timeless beauty, constant striving for innovation, the strength of a tradition that brings together industry, technology and stylistic research, the capacity to interpret the client’s requirements without emptying the brand of its identity, and a propensity for long-term collaborations. These values, together with the commitment of the entire Group, will enable us to build a bridge towards the future.”

Pininfarina today and tomorrow: industrial design, ecomobility and brand enhancement

The rapid changes that have taken place on the global market in the last two years, and in particular the unprecedented crisis that has hit the motor industry, have inevitably also affected the current physiognomy of Pininfarina. On one hand, one of the pillars on which the company has relied since its origins has vanished, the production of cars for other manufacturers: a tangible sign of this transformation was marked at the end of 2009 by the sale of the Grugliasco plant which sanctioned Pininfarina’s transformation from artisan concern to industrial company, when it was inaugurated in the 1950s.

On the other, the scenario has changed and the opportunities linked to zero emissions urban mobility have grown significantly: the world focuses increasingly on protecting the environment and Pininfarina was the first Italian industrial company, and one of the first in Europe, to propose a 100% electric concept car. Today, while all the large carmakers are focusing on the electric car as an opportunity, Pininfarina takes another step forward, promoting a philosophy that includes the choice of electric transport, both individual and collective, as part of a new lifestyle that everyone should adopt in order to increase energy saving, protecting the planet at the same time. This is why eco-sustainable mobility has become one of the three pillars on which the Group’s industrial plan now rests.

“In the future of Pininfarina,” explained CEO Silvio Pietro Angori, “we will offer even more industrial design services, continuing to play a key role as a design house and as an innovative partner with unique skills, capable of supplying solutions that translate into competitive advantages for our clients. Consistent with our industrial plan, we will pursue our commitment to ecomobility, with the development and production of electric vehicles (cars and buses), and as research into alternative components and materials and into aerodynamic shapes that help to make vehicles lighter and to reduce consumption and emissions. And finally, we will concentrate on the creation of value from the brand, whose potential derives from the reputation it has built up in 80 successful years.”

World preview in Geneva: the 2uettottanta

It would be difficult to think of a better place to celebrate Pininfarina’s 80 years of activity. The Palexpo in Geneva will host the eightieth edition of a Motor ShowMotor Show that Pininfarina is particularly fond of: it is also thanks to this event if the company has been able to acquire such fame and build up its international image, laying the foundations for the credibility and iconic power of its brand. And, except for a few rare exceptions, Geneva has hosted the debuts of dozens of show cars and research prototypes developed over the years. The 2uettottanta is no exception.

The decision to link the company’s 80th anniversary with the development of the 2uettottanta, a concept car with Alfa Romeo mechanicals, reflects Pininfarina’s desire to look to the future with optimism. The 2uettottanta interprets and evolves certain strong elements of the Alfa Romeo-Pininfarina alliance and represents an innovative approach, projected into the third millennium, to a theme that is firmly rooted in Pininfarina history, the 2-seater spider. It is an iconic object that links Pininfarina’s past and future with an imaginary thread.

To put out its 80 candles, Pininfarina gave itself another gift. At Geneva it will be exhibiting two gems with the Ferrari and Maserati logos, the 458 Italia and the GranCabrio, which earned Pininfarina the Trophée du Design 2009 from the French periodical L’Automobile Magazine.

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