Italian new car sales figures for July were released this morning by the Ministry of Transport. Fiat captured a 28.2% share of their strategically important domestic market, a figure pretty much even year-on-year, but pleasingly up from last month's slightly disappointing 26.6%. The rise was helped by improved performances from the Fiat and Lancia brands, up 1.5% and 2.9% respectively. Fiat expressed satisfaction with this data, regarding it as a "good performance".

Fiat India is preparing to launch their first diesel version of the Siena locally next month. To be badged in India as the 'Petra', the 'World Car' saloon will receive Fiat's tried and tested 1.9-litre diesel, as they seek to cash in on a huge recent popularity surge for diesel engines. It will be Fiat India's first C-segment diesel offering and will aim to take on local market leaders from Tatu and Maruti. Fiat are making considerable efforts at present to kick-starting their penetration of the Indian market, with launching the new Panda locally, one of the options currently being evaluated.

Today was the first day of testing this week for the Reparto Corse Maserati at the Paul Ricard HTTT circuit in the south of France. Iradj Alexander took to the track at the wheel of the Maserati MC12. The Swiss driver covered a total of 69 laps, with a best time of 1:51.213. The Reparto Corse Maserati continues testing tomorrow with the development work on the car aimed at the GT racing. Iradj Alexander and Andrea Bertolini will share the test driving. Circuit: Paul Ricard HTTT – 5,759 km (version 1A - SC), Driver: Iradj Alexander, Car: MC12, Weather: air temperature 27/31 °C, track temperature 33/44 °C; clear skies.

Paul Tod and Iestyn ap Dafydd took another big step in their rallying careers on the weekend when they made and used his own ‘pace notes’ for the first time. In an extremely brave move, they opted to use the notorious Manx International Rally as their testing ground, and left the island happy, despite retiring with a failed CV joint on the last day.

Fiat has announced that it has sold its aftermarket car servicing network Midas to French firm Norauto for €47 million. The sale, the latest in Fiat's asset disposal programme, includes all 620 outlets spread across Europe, North Africa and South America. Fiat's Magnetti Marelli division purchased the chain from Midas Inc. in the USA during 1998, with the parent company continuing to licence activities. Fiat will record a net gain of €24 million from the transaction.

Dawie Brough will drive the Fiat Palio Special Series Rosso in this weekend's Vodacom Tour event at Kyalami. Brough will be taking over from Brad Annasis who recently left the team to pursue other interests. Brough joins Mike O'Sullivan and Theunis Eloff who drive the Gala and Blu Palio's respectively.

Fiat have revealed a slightly revised engine line-up for the new Fiat Punto which is due out later next year. The range will kick off with an entry level 1.2-litre petrol engine that pumps out 65cv, before moving on to a 1.4 with 80cv, a 1.4 16v with 100cv, a 1.6 16v with 120cv, and finally a 1.6 Abarth-branded Turbo version offering 200cv. The diesel range will be well represented with the 1.3 Multijet engine with 70cv on tap starting proceeding off. A higher specification version of the same engine will boast 90cv, before a 1.6 MJet with 120cv and a 1.9 MJet Abarth model with 160cv round matters out. Arriving a year later, the new Fiat 500 will have a 1.4 100cv and 1.6 Turbo 180cv (Abarth) petrol line-up, while the 1.3 16 v Multijet will come with 90cv, as well as a range topping Abarth version with 120cv.

Luis Tedesco retained his leadership of the Brazilian Rally Championship at the weekend after he steered his Fiat Palio Abarth Rally home in fifth place on the Rally Porto Real, the fourth round of the series. The next outing for Tedesco, along with regular co-driver Sidineri Broering, will be the Rally Paulista Jundiai which takes place on 15th August.

More details have emerged about the replacement model for the Ferrari 360 Modena. A World Premiere at the Paris Motor Show in October is being targeted for the new model which is expected to be called the 430 Modena Evoluzione. Its 4.3-litre V8 will put out 490bhp and 465Nm. It will be heavier than the 360 Modena, at around 1,400kg, but should be able to sprint from 0 to 100km/h in four seconds flat. The interior, which includes a push-button engine activator, will come with optional aluminium or carbon fibre finishes. The rear will feature an automatically adjustable spoiler.

The unions which represent Fiat's Italian workforce will meet with senior management the day after tomorrow to discuss the future of the Italian conglomerate. The Fismic-Confsal union has announced that in light of the improving financial position, they will be pressing for production to be restarted at the threatened plants, and that in particular the Mirafiori factory will have the uncertain future hanging over it removed. "The improvement of the Fiat economic accounts is an encouraging sign for the financial markets, investors, and for those who have the industrial and employment future of the main Italian manufacturing group at heart." commented the union's General-Secretary Roberto Di Maulo.

Paul Tod is determined to build on his Jim Clark Rally junior category win when he contests the 5th Fiat Stilo Cup round, the Manx International Rally, this weekend. “This event will be unlike anything we’ve ever experienced,” says Tod. “We learnt some important lessons on the Jim Clark, and have been working since to put them into practice."

Minardi are considering replacing Gianmaria Bruni with the team's leading sponsors believed to be unhappy with his performances at the wheel of the Cosworth-powered F1 car. While 22-year-old Bruni, in his first season of Grand Prix racing, has generally outperformed team-mate Zolt Baumgartner, the Faenza based team's sponsors have been annoyed by what they perceive as several unwarranted retirements, considering that he quits races too easily. The unrest of the team's sponsors comes on top of criticisms of Bruni by Minardi boss Paul Stoddart recently.

Pole position went to Francesco Ravasio and Diego Alessi with a lap of 1:54.963 during qualifying for the Trofeo Vodafone Maserati Europa 2004 race at Hockenheim which takes place tomorrow, Sunday, as a curtain raiser to the German Grand Prix. This is the second of two rounds of the one make series that takes place on the same race card as a Formula 1 race.

The 29th Bursa Rally took place last weekend, the 4th round of Turkish Rally Championship. A very tough gravel format forced many of the competitors into retirement. The Tofas Motorsport Department entered three Fiats. Two of these finished strongly: the Punto Abarth Rally Super 1600 driven by Volkan Isik, went on to win the Super 1600 Classification and finish 3rd overall, while the Palio Abarth Rally Super 1600 of Suleyman Atay, made it onto the Super 1600 podium in third place, as well as finishing 5th overall. Hamdı Ünal on the second Palio Abarth Rally Super 1600 however, was forced to retire, although he still retains the lead of the Super 1600 Championship classification with Volkan İşik now holding onto second place. In the meantime Tofas Motorsport have moved from Istanbul to Bursa, and are now based at a purpose-built new facility inside Tofas, which should greatly improve the programme's synergies. The next round of Turkish Rally Championship will be the Hitit Rally on 21st-22nd August 2004.

Fabrizio Longo has been appointed new European Vice-President of Sales for Fiat. He replaces Marco Crola who moves onto other duties within Fiat. Longo, 41, was born in Rimini, graduating in Political Sciences, before joining Fiat in 1987. His career within the company has spanned all areas of sales and marketing.

Italian President Ciampi was today presented with a specially armoured Maserati Quattroporte by Fiat Chaiman Luca di Montezemolo. Ciampi is believed to have been quite surprised by the colour of the super-luxury 4.2-litre V8 saloon, which Montezemolo described as "a mixture of grey, blue and green". He was also reportedly amused by being able to control the front passenger seat remotely.

“The heat was an important factor today and as usual, the team worked on the comparison between the two types of tyre at our disposal. From what we can see, yet again, Bridgestone has done an excellent job, as has Shell, who have supplied us with a new fuel for this race, which ensures we can get more power out of the engine. Germany is Ferrari’s second biggest market after the United States and this morning, I had the opportunity to visit Ferrari Deutschland’s headquarters in Wiesbaden.” Ferrari Friday Free Practice report from Hockenheim

The Maserati Light notched a win and a second place in the seventh round of the Csai Gran Turismo Trofeo Nazionale on Sunday at Misano Adriatico. It was a great result but with a little bit of luck the trip to the Adriatic could have turned into a one-two.

Fiat today completely dismissed reports in several Italian national newspapers that it would be forced into raising further capital in order to carry out the ambitious investment programme taking place in the car division. A spokesman added that "all the information on the current progress of the group and forecasts for the future will be illustrated next Monday by the the Fiat CEO, Sergio Marchionne".

For Michael Schumacher this weekend's German Grand Prix is his home race and so the current champion is even more motivated. 'I am sure that Hockenheim will be particuarly interesting, above all because Ferrari could win the Constructors' title if the results go our way. Still, we don't feel any more pressure because of this; this year we are so strong as a team that a lot would have to happen for us to lose the title. If it won't happen this week, it'll happen sometime soon. In any case, I am pleased to be taking on this track, as I usually am. The final two curves are very tricky and it is important to have enough speed coming out of them in order to go into the straight that follows. I think we have a good chance, though it will be tough. I will be doing my best anyway. It will be a thrilling weekend.'

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