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| The latest Italian sportscars have impressed onlookers at New York's "Italian Avantgarde in Car Design" exhibition in mid-town Manhattan, New York. Ferrari's new 600 bhp F1-technology based Enzo supercar has made its American debut at the show which runs until the 6th October, while the new Maserati Spider and Carcerano Lancia Grand Turismo are among the 32 historically significant Italian cars on display. | ||
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 With
the 75th Paris International Motor Show due to open its doors tomorrow,
manufacturers have been giving their press briefings. All the latest news
from Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Fiat and Lancia.
Top stories include the news that Fiat is running at 20-30% overcapacity, Lancia now plan an additional new model during 2004, Alfa 156 GTA sales have doubled from their targets, Ferrari are to build an extra 50 Enzo's and engineering company Carcenaro expect to put their Lancia-based GT prototype into production. |
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| An exhibition celebrating "The Italian Avantgarde in Car Design" has opened in New York. Running until the 6th October, thirty two significant Italian cars have been brought together in a specially designed display at the prestigious "69th Regiment Armoury" in Manhattan. The cars ranging from a 1924 Isotta Fraschini 8A to a brand new Ferrari 575M, are displayed along a historical critical itinerary that associates them with the key periods in culture. | ||||
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 An
extensive TV advertising campaign has been rolled out to accompany the
Lancia Thesis' arrival in the showrooms. A high budget, special effects-laden,
advert features the Lancia Thesis in a "Roman" setting.
It follows on from a special
effects TV advert for the Alfa 147 late last year, which featured the 147
driving through a "twister" and emerging unscathed. The advert was generally
regarded as a success and paved the way for the Thesis' theme.
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| "The Economist", during
a ceremony in San Francisco, California, has recognized Mr. Rinaldo Rinolfi,
Executive Vice-president of the Fiat Research Center, with the Innovation
Award, Energy and Environment category, for the work he has done to develop
Common Rail Diesel Engine Technology.
This is the latest recognition that diesel technology developed by the Fiat Research Center has gained. |
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| The 75th Paris International Motor Show, which runs from the 28th September to 13th October, is of major significance to the Italian Automotive Industry, with a number of major new model debuts. For Fiat, after a dreadful year of massive losses, cost-cutting and the sacking of their CEO, the event sees the public launch of the Fiat Stilo SW and the chance to show an upbeat front. Alfa Romeo debut the eagerly anticipated 147 GTA, while over at Ferrari, celebrating another successful F1 season, the Enzo Ferrari supercar, undoubtedly to become one of the stars of the show, makes its European public debut. Ferrari's sister company, Maserati, will bring models of next years Quattroporte and will announce details of the Cambiocorsa Trofeo race series. Click on images for full model-by model preview. | ||||
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 In
2003, Fiat Auto will be adding a revolutionary engine to their range, which
aims to move forward common rail turbodiesel technology, by offering better
performance, lower fuel consumption and will be more "environment friendly."
Developed jointly with General Motors, it is one of the first fruits of
Powertrain, the joint GM-Fiat parts development programme.
The new engine, to be known as the 1.3 JTD 16v, offers two new features: extremely compact dimensions that enable it to be fitted on small cars; and the sophisticated Multijet technology of second generation JTDs. Through developing the Multijet and multivalve technology, the outcome is a very compact 1251cc 4-cyl 16v engine, 460 mm long, 500 mm wide and 650 mm high. Petrol consumption has been reduced by a claimed 10% while emissions are lowered by an estimated 30-40%. |
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| The Paris Motor Show next
week will see the public debut of the Station Wagon ( Estate ) version
of the year old Fiat Stilo. With the saloon proving unpopluar with car
buyers and sales sluggish, Fiat are hoping that the station wagon, along
with a soon to be introduced "no-frills" entry-level version, will kick
start the model's sales.
The Stilo SW is a neat and tidy design, which has undergone a long development programme. Fiat have gone to great lengths to make the SW as ground breaking as possible. They have drawn heavily on MPV principles, in particular using ideas from their innovative Mulipla, and the SW boasts class leading load space. |
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| Alfa
Romeo have finally released official images and technical detail of the
147 GTA which will make its public debut at the 75th Paris Motor Show in
ten days time.
The Alfa Romeo 147 GTA is fitted with the 3.2-litre 24v V6 engine from the 156 GTA, this configuration settled upon after earlier rejection of a 2.0 4-cyl turbo route. Along with this powerplant the 147 GTA has a revised suspension set-up, upgraded braking and improved safety systems. Larger 17in alloy wheels with 225/45 profile tyres are fitted. |
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 Alfa
Romeo use next weekend's Paris Motor Show as the venue for displaying a
unique direct injection petrol unit and also for the world premiere of
its brand new 140 bhp 1.9 JTD 16 valve power unit coupled with a sporty
6-speed manual gearbox.
The new 140 bhp unit is an evolution of the 1.9 JTD 8 valve Common Rail unit but with 20% more power and 7% more torque than the original. The new turbodiesel will be available on the 147, 156 and Sportwagon and has undergone several technical improvements to increase performance, engine torque at low speeds and noise levels while also reducing vibrations. The Common Rail system used on the 1.9 JTD 16v unit includes two new strategies for automatically calibrating and balancing the diesel injected to lower noise and reduce vibration. The unit has a new hydraulic tappet cylinder head, crankshaft, pistons with oil channels and con-rods. |
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