externalinternalinternalinternalinternalinternalexternalexternal1externalexternalinternal1internal2internal3internal1internal2internal1internal2internal3internal4internal5internal6internal7internal8internal9internal10internal11internal5internalinternalinternal6internalinternalinternalinternalinternal5internal3internal1internal2internal3internal4internal4internal3internal4internal5internal7internal7internal2external1internal3external1internal2internal1external5internal3internal1external6internal1internal0internal4internal1internal5internal1internal7internal2internal3internal1external10external4external1external2external5external11external9external10internal1internal2external3 Year]]> Model]]> percent]]>- FIAT GROUP AUTOMOBILES S.P.A P.IVA n. 07973780013]]>A winding dynamic road, for experiencing the emotion that only Alfa Romeo cars can offer, thanks to their agility, power and safety. This is the stand that the Brand is presenting at the 82nd Geneva Motor Show.


Two examples of the Giulietta Exclusive, a 2.0 JTDM and a 1.4 TB MultiAir, both 170 HP, are first in line to steal this evocative scene. Both feature the exclusive Alfa TCT, a transmission which operates either in completely automatic or sequential mode. The Giulietta MultiAir with Alfa TCT, in particular, is the most eco-friendly petrol compact in its category. It can boast extremely limited consumption and emissions (5.2 l/100km in the combined cycle and 121 g/km CO2 emission) while refusing to compromise on performance, worthy of the best Alfa Romeos: top speed of 218 km/h and acceleration from 0 to 100 in 7.7 seconds. 
Recorded values also head up the category in combination with the diesel 2.0 JTDM 170 HP engine: compared to the same version with manual gearbox, acceleration from 0 to 100 takes 7.9 rather than 8.0 seconds, consumption (combined cycle) drops from 4.7 l/100km to 4.5, and CO2 emissions from 124 g/km to 119, impressive results for an engine in this category.


The spotlights are also trained on the model’s flagship: the 235 HP 1750 TBi in combination with the exclusive Quadrifoglio Verde trim level. A car which ensures a specific torque of 195 Nm/litre (the highest of the petrol cars in the category) and, as a crowning achievement, a maximum torque of 340 Nm delivered at just 1,900 rpm. A 120 HP Giulietta Distinctive 1.4 Turbo completes the exhibition.


Together with the four examples of the Giulietta, the public can admire three Alfa Romeo MiTos: in addition to the new 85 HP 0.9 Turbo TwinAir in the Distinctive trim level and the 135 HP 1.4 MultiAir with Alfa TCT twin clutch automatic transmission, the powerful 170 HP "Quadrifoglio Verde" 1.4 MultiAir Turbo, revamped with original and distinctive style elements, in addition to content which is particularly attractive in terms of comfort. It offers the innovative “Alfa Active Suspension”, a system that actively and continuously controls the electronic shock absorbers, the fruit of work by Alfa Romeo designers in conjunction with road testing, allowing the car to excel even further in terms of agility and handling, lending it exceptional driveability and unparalleled safety.


Finally, visitors will be introduced to the products of FGA Capital, a finance company specialising in the automotive sector, through illustrative materials and dedicated media at the stand.

]]>2012-03-05 00:00:002.8% in Europe and 14.5% in Italy: these are the record-breaking shares of the Giulietta. In absolute terms this means that in 2011 alone approximately 80,000 cars were registered in Europe, of which 45% were in Italy (35,000). The foreign markets in which the Giulietta achieved the best results are France (more than 9,200 cars), the UK (more than 7,100 cars) and Germany (more than 6,300 cars), and since the launch, midway through 2010, Giuliettas ordered worldwide total almost 140,000.


The best-selling trim levels were the top-of-the-range, the "Distinctive" and "Exclusive", which depict roughly 90% of the total. Also as far as engine versions are concerned, the lion’s share is taken by the most powerful: for example, the 1.4 MultiAir 170 HP represents 15% of the sales mix, about seven times the average for the segment in this power bracket. The best-selling engine version overall, however, is the 1.6 MultiJet 105 HP, achieving 35% of total sales.


As for the colours, the top-seller is ghiaccio white (that of the advertising campaign) on 35% of the cars, whilst the reds - an indispensable part of the Alfa range - represent about 16% of the total.  Speaking of red, the sport packs in the range have had a warm reception; of the customers who choose the Distinctive/Exclusive trim levels, almost half personalise their Giulietta with their own sporting touch.


The public that the Giulietta has won over is extensive and varied. The majority are customers aged 40 on the average with a medium/high-level education. Women make up 20% of the customer base (in line with the market), while families represent no less than half of purchasers, against the trend compared to the segment average which is one-fifth.


Its considerable success hinges on simple considerations. The Giulietta kept the promises she made at launch: handling and driving pleasure, quality and limited running costs, comfort and passenger room, and active and passive safety. The Giulietta has assumed a place in the tradition of the best Alfa Romeos, drawing on its heritage of dynamic performance, without compromising on efficiency and convenience in everyday use.


The secret behind this performance is drawn from continuous technological research, which finds its utmost expression in the Giulietta. One of many examples is the Alfa TCT automatic transmission, thanks to which the car achieves an excellent performance to fuel consumption ratio for the segment.


New proof of the build quality of the Giulietta is also found in the service coupons. Compared to the competition, the Giulietta is the car that has to be serviced the fewest number of times during the first three years of life or at 90,000 km. All this demonstrates the efficiency and low running costs which led to the success of the car not only among individuals but also in fleets, where the Giulietta is Italy’s best-selling car and is making it’s way into the corporate policies of Europe’s biggest companies.


Certainly one indication of the Giulietta’s superior quality is the maintenance of its value over time Nevertheless, the crucial test above all lies in customer satisfaction: 98% say that they are satisfied and almost all (90%) recommend the car, 15 points above the overall market average for models at launch.

]]>2012-03-05 00:00:00The Giulietta broke records throughout 2011, gaining the highest share ever achieved by an Alfa Romeo in the compact segment. And 2012 begins with important developments: this model range expands with two new engines, the 120 HP 1.4 LPG Turbo with dual fuel (LPG and petrol) and the 105 HP Turbo Petrol with Start&Stop as standard.

Available with three trim levels (Giulietta, Progression and Distinctive) for all European markets, the new LPG power unit is a thrilling mix of power and technology in line with the Brand’s values, since it is able to unite high-level performance with respect for the environment and low running costs.

Designed, produced and guaranteed by Alfa Romeo, the Giulietta LPG - with a maximum power of 120 HP (88 kW) at 5,000 rpm and a maximum torque of 206 Nm (21 kgm) at 1,750 rpm - reaches a top speed of 195 km/h and accelerates from 0-100 in 10.3 seconds. 
On this version too, the ALFA DNA driving selector comes as standard, allowing the car’s personality to be adapted to the needs of the driver and different road conditions: Dynamic for those seeking a sporty drive, Natural for driving with maximum efficiency and All Weather to improve grip in adverse weather conditions.

As mentioned beforehand, the second development in the 2012 Giulietta range is the introduction of the 105 HP 1.4 Turbo Petrol power unit for the Giulietta and Progression trim levels. Balance and temperament are the characteristics of this engine, which assumes a central position in the segment and represents one of the best choices.

Leading its category in terms of power (105 HP at 5,000 rpm) and torque (206 Nm at 1750 rpm), this power unit ensures full involvement at the wheel, making the Giulietta an undisputed star in urban traffic.

]]>2012-03-06 00:00:00From 1st May, 2012 Chrysler Australia group will act as the distributor for Fiat,  Alfa Romeo and Fiat Professional brands in Australia.

Under the new agreement, the current Fiat and Alfa Romeo dealer group, which numbers 17 passenger dealerships with 22 commercial vehicle outlets across the country, will report into the Melbourne-based Chrysler Australia group.

Sales for the Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Fiat Professional brands during 2011 were recorded by Vendor Field Analytical and Characterization Technologies System (VFACTS) at 2,635 vehicles.

Models offered on the Australian market include the Alfa Romeo 159, the 159 Sportwagon and the Giulietta. Fiat models include the Fiat 500, the Fiat 500 Abarth, and Fiat Professional brands Ducato and Scudo.

The Chrysler Australia group of companies, which currently manages the Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge brands in the Australian market, has seen a remarkable surge in sales in the past twelve months. Calendar year 2011 saw the American marque increase combined sales by 27.5%, and 2012 January and February sales are up 78% on the same period last year.

The transfer of distributorship of the Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Fiat Professional brands to the Chrysler Australia group has occurred on the back of the global strategic alliance formed between the Fiat S.p.A. in Italy and the Chrysler Group in the United States in 2009.

]]>2012-04-03 00:00:00Checa outpaced Englishman Tom Sykes of the Kawasaki team in both race one and race two to win with a clean margin. More importantly, he beat his rival for the title, Aprilia rider Max Biaggi, who finished fourth.

"It was another incredible day that I will never forget", commented the Spanish rider. "Sykes was going at a very quick pace at the beginning of the first race, but I stayed close to him and when I noticed that he was starting to have difficulty in a few points of the circuit, I seized the opportunity to pass him. In the end I was able to increase the gap, so much so that I was rather confident during the last stage." Carlos Checa, “El Toro”, now has a four-point lead over Max Biaggi, whereas Marco Melandri (BMW) ranks tenth. 

The next appointment is 22 April in Assen (Netherlands).

]]>2012-04-05 00:00:00This year, Alfa Romeo celebrates the 50th anniversary of the “Giulia”, a car which is particularly significant in the hundred-year history of the Milanese brand; it is a model that has successfully represented the technical and creative talent of Alfa Romeo during a time of exceptional growth for the company.
Style, technical content, performance levels, reliability and innovation are just some of the features which made the “Giulia” a worldwide success: with a million models sold between 1962 and 1977, in all its bodywork variants and engine versions, the “Giulia” achieved global distribution and became part of the collective imagination, taking its place as one of Alfa Romeo’s iconic cars.


The very same team who contributed to the phenomenon of the Giulia came up with the official logo for the 50th anniversary of the “Giulia TI”, which was presented on 27 June 1962 at the Monza racetrack, a venue which saw the official return of Alfa Romeo to competitions three years later, with the “Giulia Sprint GTA”, another extraordinary car from the Giulia range.


The logo originates from a very famous advertisement, the slogan of which, “designed by the wind”, underscores the aerodynamic quality of the Giulia saloon, which had a cX of 0.34 – still an impressive value today – also resulting from its “revolutionary” and highly personal design, which has always differentiated the sporty Milanese saloon amid the competition.


Alfa Romeo clubs, enthusiasts and automotive fans will be paying tribute to the Giulia all over the world, culminating on 24 June in Balocco, on the test track conceived and developed over the same period as the Giulia. 

]]>2012-04-26 00:00:00Revolutionising the traditional precepts of live concerts, vertical stages, suspended entertainers performing on the balconies of historic buildings, city corners that all of a sudden turn into outdoor theatres, streets that become dance floors: all this is Vertical Stage. The Alfa Romeo MiTo is promoting this artistic project for the fourth year in a row, and it will stop off in Florence on 21 June.
 
Performing at the first appointment of the year, to be held on the balconies of Palazzo Gabetti in the centre of Florence, will be the Motel Connection, a strong 100% Italian electronic music project that is a by-product of Subsonica. In addition to Samuel, Subsonica's vocalist and frontman, there is Pierfunk (Subsonica's bass player on the band's first two LPs), and DJ Pisti. The trio will liven up the old town centre of Florence by turning it into a very special location for a totally different night at the beat of electro, rock, indie and dance music.
 
Vertical Stage, first staged at the Paratissima contemporary art event in Turin, then repeated in Milan during International Design Week, and presented last year at Place du Luxembourg in Brussels, was created by twenty-six year old Stefano Pesca from Turin with the support of the creative factory Eggers 2.0. The objective of the project is to breathe new life into city spaces, which become protagonists and not merely settings for cultural events. The usual concept of a horizontal stage is subverted with Vertical Stage – hence the name – by exploiting the architecture of the buildings and their balconies.
 
 
Creativity emerging from the technological evolution. This is what electronic music and the Alfa Rome MiTo have in common. The MiTo is energy, technology and power, exactly what is breathed at the big European festivals where the top DJs demonstrate how excitement can also be experienced through innovation and cutting edge technology, the key concept that inspires the designers of the Energy Machine still today.
 
 
Alfa Romeo has been promoting and sponsoring concerts, music events, DJ sets, bands, exhibits and high-level sessions since 2008. With the Alfa Romeo MiTo, the car that more than any other has an affinity with the world of young people, Alfa Romeo is collaborating with original and innovative music projects on an international scale, just like Vertical Stage.

]]>2012-05-15 00:00:00It’s an Alfa Romeo 6C 1500 of 1933 the winner of Mille Miglia 2012. Winners have battled in a head to head all along the 1600 km of the historic route Brescia-Rome-Brescia. In hte end the crew 68, formed by the Argentineans Claudio Scalise and Daniel Claramnut, already first in the Rome stage, has finally prevailed over rivals after the last test in Fiorano. In an unprecedented struggle, accompanied by the extraordinary reception of the public along the Italian roads, their Alfa Romeo has managed to keep at the top, alternating in the first two positions for all three stages. Behind the Argentinians, the ten times champion Giuliano Cane. The entrepreneur from Bologna and his wife Lucia Galliani - partner in all his races - aboard a BMW 328 Mille Miglia Roadster of 1939 had ended the first stage in the lead. In third place arrived the crew. 61 Moceri - Cavalleri, on an Aston Martin Le Mans of 1933. Outside the podium one of the favorites: the winner of the last edition of the Mille Miglia, the Mantuan Giordano Mozzi in team with his wife Stefania Biacca, on a Lancia Astura of 1938, the only existing car of this model.

]]>2012-05-21 00:00:00It was a triumph from all points of view for the Alfa Romeo Giulietta’s first time as sponsor of the Peperoncino Team.


The Alfa Romeo team is making a name for itself in the multidiscipline sports category. Its members are international athletes, and the team has gained a large number of victories in Italy and abroad over its eleven-year history. 


In the Italian stage of Ironman 2012 held in Pescara, our team truly surpassed itself and won an unexpected third place with Paul Amey, a talented Brit in the international duathlon. This Peperoncino Team member left the swimming leg in one of the top positions, played for time in the cycling race and then launched a final attack in the running leg.
He completed the competition placing third with an excellent time in 4H18'28".


But the good news for the Peperoncino Team and Alfa Romeo Giulietta is just at the beginning. The placings of Italians Gabriele Mazzetta and Gabriele Rolla, in addition to Tourny Degham, who also stood out in the shorter races, were fantastic.


After Pescara, Ironman 2012 will transfer to Nice, France. This appointment will be in the international spotlight, closely followed by the media, also due to the presence of U.S. cycling legend Lance Armstrong. 


The Alfa Romeo Giulietta will definitely be out on the front line as both official car of the event and as a team member racing with the Peperoncino Team. Its presence exemplifies a stronger and stronger bond with this sports discipline and its values: performance, endurance and sportsmanship.

]]>2012-06-13 00:00:00Italian triumph with Max Biaggi and his Aprilia at the Marco Simoncelli Misano World Circuit.
The former champion recovered from his uncomfortable starting position (tenth time, third row) in Race 1, overcoming, in a spectacular finale, the surprise of the day Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing) and the reigning champion Carlos Checa (Althea Racing), who got the better of his teammate right at the end. Jonathan Rea (Honda World Superbike Team) commanded the first half of the race but then found himself in a tight spot with grip to finish fifth behind Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing) who made a bolt from pole position.
Race 2 was a double win for the unstoppable forty-year-old from Rome. This time the Aprilia racer produced a perfect start. At the fourth lap he leapt past Tom Sykes, who had burst out from pole position, and once in the lead he flew away without anyone being able keep up with his pace. Behind him the race was being waged for the podium, with Rea finishing second and Haslam (BMW Motorrad) third. Carlos Checa (Ducati) fell from his bike after coming into contact with Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad), who came in fourth.
In this way, with 210.5 points, Max Biaggi increased his advantage in the general standings, which remains wide open with five racers and five different brands occupying a 60.5 point space: just a little more than will be assigned in each of the next seven rounds.  The first of the pursuers is the tenacious Jonathan Rea, who is however stationary at 172 points. In fact, the San Marino race made Melandri and Checa lose ground, and they both returned home with zero points each.

]]>2012-06-11 00:00:00• Fiat, Fiat Professional, Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Lancia and Jeep customers can take advantage of roadside rescue services for their car, the driver and passengers
• The services are offered in seven European countries

Fiat Group Automobiles and Europ Assistance are consolidating their partnership in the roadside rescue area with a new European agreement: Fiat, Fiat Professional, Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Lancia and Jeep owners can now take advantage of roadside rescue services for car, driver and passengers in seven countries.


Sealed in 1995 and renewed for a further four years today, the partnership with Europ Assistance is now available in the Netherlands, Hungary, France, Germany, Switzerland and Portugal, in addition to Italy. It now covers over 80 percent of all Fiat Group Automobiles vehicles on the road.


With this agreement, FGA can now offer a full range of services to customers tailored to all needs with coverage 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. These include: roadside rescue in case of accidents or breakdown (including flat battery, lack of fuel or punctured tyre), replacement car or alternative transportation to reach destination (taxi, train or air), in all the foreseen cases and described in the vehicle's on-board documents.


For Diego Pistone, Head of the Fiat Group Automobiles Parts&Service division for the EMEA region: "The innovative services offered in partnership with Europ Assistance confirm the commitment and care with which Fiat Group Automobiles assists its Customers at every stage of their vehicles' lives. It is a complete range of services, representing the ideal solution for those whose experience with cars is not limited to leisure time, but extends to their work activity, a context where category-leading service is a must."


For Richard Casnighi, Director of Automotive Sales for the Europ Assistance Group's international division, "the renewal of this Pan-European agreement will strengthen our privileged international partnership with Fiat Group Automobiles and is part of a long-term strategy that aims to offer Fiat Group Automobiles customers high-quality and increasingly innovative services to meet their growing mobility needs".


A Fiat Group Automobiles Customer Care mobile app will soon be available for this roadside rescue service. Already available in Apple and Android stores for 15 European markets, a rapid, geolocalised rescue services will also be available by July for Ciao Fiat Mobile, Lancia Everywhere Mobile, Alfa Romeo InfoMobile, I am Jeep Mobile and Abarth 24h Mobile. In Italy, for example, Europ Assistance can already be contacted from nearly all apps. Soon, Fiat Ducato Camper Mobile and Fiat Professional Mobile will be launching rapid, geolocalised rescue services on their platforms too.


In addition to receiving roadside assistance, all apps provide many other services, like help searching for parking, vehicle warranty information and indication of the closest service centre.

]]>2012-06-25 00:00:00The Alfa Romeo Giulietta is getting ready to be more aggressive than ever for the most long-awaited and exclusive date of Ironman 2012. A new appointment dictated by sport and competition, which will see 2,500 athletes coming from all over the world at the start, will take place in the charming setting of the Côte d'Azur, in Nice, on 24 June.


The event will start from the magnificent Plage du Centenaire, where the triathlon athletes will tackle two circuits of 2.4 km and 1.4 km to then climb onto the saddle and strike into the Nice hinterland. The stretch covered by bicycle will cross through 17 Alpes-Maritimes municipalities with a 1800-metre difference in height and a lengthy descent that will take the competitors back to Nice, where a marathon will decide the fate of the race.


Despite the absences of Domenico Passuello and Marcel Zamora, the Peperoncino Team is getting ready to seize new successes after its achievement at the Italian stage in Pescara. It will be able to count on top-rated athletes like the transalpine Francois Chaboud, who has already won a place on the France Ironman podium, and Trevor Desault, an athlete who has proven to be a true revelation during the last two seasons.


Following the stage on the Côte d'Azur, the Alfa Romeo Giulietta's trip on the Ironman circuit  will continue with the appointment in Frankfurt. Starting this year the Giulietta is sponsor of the Peperoncino Team as well as official car of the event. It is one more important opportunity for the Giulietta to promote its values and sports soul through this thrilling competition.

]]>2012-06-19 00:00:00Starting today on the website dedicated to Blue&Me, the Alfa Romeo system that offers in-car communication and entertainment in complete safety, it is possible to download free the new 5.6 and 6.0 software to update the Blue&Me system by directly linking to the special website section.
The update will improve compatibility with mobile phones, phone call quality and will make a direct integration with the Apple world (iPod, iPhone) possible.
These updates are available for all the vehicles on the first and second generation Blue&Me™ models.
It is possible to choose the software configuration appropriate for the vehicle and Blue&Me, Blue&Me Nav, Blue&Me Map, Blue&Me TomTom and Blue&Me TomTom2 models using a suitable filter configuration.
 
It is possible to access the procedure and tool that guides the user in automatically filling in the filters by following the assisted mode that can be selected with the "Fill in the filters in assisted mode" button.
You can alternatively proceed on your own by selecting your vehicle and filling in the filters to choose the Blue&Me model to update; all you have to do is follow the examples and instructions by selecting the "How to download updates" button.
Various software updates are present according to their generation, and this is why it is important to identify the Blue&Me generation.
• First generation Blue&Me: 5.5. and 5.6 software update
• Second generation Blue&Me: 6.0 software update
The updates are specific and dedicated, therefore the first generation Blue&Me updates cannot be installed on a vehicle equipped with second generation Blue&Me and vice versa.
 
To answer the most frequently asked questions, a vast section with our answers is available on the website.

]]>2012-06-19 00:00:00Vertical stages, suspended entertainers performing on the balconies of historic buildings, city corners that all of a sudden turn into outdoor theatres, streets that become dance floors: all this is Vertical Stage. The Alfa Romeo MiTo is promoting this artistic project for the fourth year in a row, and it will stop off in Florence on 21 June.
 
Performing at the first appointment of the year, to be held on the balconies of Palazzo Gabetti in the centre of Florence, will be the Motel Connection, an established electronic music group formed by Samuel, Subsonica's vocalist and frontman, Pierfunk (Subsonica's bass player on the band's first two LPs), and DJ Pisti. The trio will liven up the unconventional night at the beat of electro, rock, indie and dance music.
 
Vertical Stage was born in 2010 with the objective of breathing new life into city spaces, which become protagonists and not merely settings for cultural events. It was then repeated in Milan during International Design Week, and was presented last year at Place du Luxembourg in Brussels. This year it will take place in Florence coinciding with one of the highlight events of world fashion: Pitti Immagine Uomo.
 
The Alfa Romeo MiTo, which from the very beginning embraced the format, has renewed its involvement and confirms its role of main partner. Besides, the brand has been promoting and sponsoring concerts, DJ sets, bands, exhibits and high-level sessions since 2008. With the Alfa Romeo MiTo Energy Machine, the car that more than any other has an affinity with the world of young people, Alfa Romeo is collaborating with original and innovative music projects on an international scale. A social-art experience 2.0 appointment like Vertical Stage would therefore not have been complete without it.

]]>2012-06-19 00:00:00Everyone who loves cars dreams of breathing in the atmosphere at the Goodwood Festival Of Speed: the international car festival held every year in the estate of the Earl of March, in England.

For the 2012 edition, Alfa Romeo brought 5 historic cars, 2 cars from the current range, a supercar and the passion of countless fans who accompanied it on its special journey.

The journey which began at the test track in Balocco, where the Alfa Romeo team took to the road in a Giulietta Quadrifoglio Verde, in an international journey headed straight for the legendary English Festival.

An opportunity to celebrate 50 years of the Alfa Giulia in an extraordinary way became an amazing event, with a great turnout and passion, through 7 European states (Italy, Switzerland, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium and the United Kingdom).

Many miles and just as many fans from the Alfa Clubs and Alfisti from all over Europe who accompanied it to Goodwood.

You can follow the Giulietta’s journey through tweets, photos, videos and interviews from the Alfa Giulietta’s Twitter account @alfa_giulietta and on the interactive map at goodwood.alfaromeo.com

]]>2012-06-26 00:00:00There is an event that every motor enthusiast waits for all year long: the Goodwood Festival of Speed, an event that has been held in England since 1993 in the estate of the Earl of March. Legendary cars of yesteryear and today parade here for four days, attracting thousands of visitors from all over the world.
In honour of the Giulia model, which celebrates its 50-year anniversary this year, the Alfa Romeo display area this year features two coupé racing versions: the powerful 1750 GT Am (1970), the development based on the 1750 GT Veloce, American version – hence the “Am” in the name – and the GTA 1300 Junior, the “enfant terrible”, in wide track configuration, which earned Alfa no less than two European Touring Car Championships in 1971 and 1972. Next to them are the Gran Premio Tipo B ‘P3’ of 1932, the Alfa 6C 3000CM of 1953, the Alfa GTA 1300 Junior of 1972 and the more recent Alfa 155 V6 TI DTM of 1993.
The six historic cars will face up to the Goodwood Hillclimb, a track of almost two kilometres that, starting from the south corner of the Goodwood Estate, turns sharply in front of Goodwood House before climbing up a rough, narrow road enclosed between stone walls and thick woodland up to the Goodwood racing track that dominates the top of the majestic South Downs. This track is so technical and difficult that it sorely tries the concentration and speed of the best drivers in the world.
Two examples of the MiTo will parade along with the historic cars: the 85 HP 1.3 JTDm and the 85 HP Turbo TwinAir, the latter in its UK début. The new Giulietta Quadrifoglio Verde will also be in attendance. It set off on 24 June from the test track at Balocco (Vercelli) and reached Goodwood after passing through seven nations. There is also space for the 170 HP 1.4 TB MultiAir with the innovative Alfa TCT twin clutch automatic transmission, and naturally for the captivating Alfa 8C Spider which will bolt from the crowd to climb the roads of Goodwood Hill before being displayed in the “Supercar Paddock”.

 


Alfa Romeo MiTo Turbo TwinAir and three days of concerts for its UK début

The star of the event is the new Alfa Romeo MiTo Turbo TwinAir equipped with the innovative two-cylinder 0.9 Turbo TwinAir – voted “International Engine of the Year 2011” – which guarantees response and agility owing not only to an output of 85 HP at 5,500 rpm, but above all to a torque of no less than 145 Nm, constant between 2,000 and 3,500 rpm. All with a significant reduction in fuel consumption and emissions (only 98 g/km of CO2).


To launch this new model, Alfa Romeo is hosting a series of live acoustic performances by three big names at the stand prepared for the “Goodwood Festival of Speed 2012”.  In detail, they are the duo Tim Burgess and Mark Collins of The Charlatans, indie icons, supported by British rock legend Steve Cradock of Ocean Colour Scene, and then by alternative indie rocker Marner Brown during the three days of the festival. Also in its new version with Turbo TwinAir, the Alfa Romeo MiTo confirms its status as Energy Machine – the automotive expression of energy, technology and power – which stands out through its affinity with the world of youth and music. It is not by chance that Alfa Romeo has been promoting and sponsoring concerts, music events, DJ sets, bands, exhibits and high-level sessions since 2008. With the Alfa Romeo MiTo, Alfa Romeo is collaborating with original and innovative music projects on an international scale.


The public at the “Goodwood Festival of Speed 2012” can also admire a MiTo equipped with the outstanding turbodiesel 1.3 JTDm, which delivers a maximum output of 85 HP at 3500 rpm and a torque of 200 Nm at just 1500 rpm. This permits a top speed of 174 km/h and acceleration from 0–100 km/h in 12.9 seconds. Equipped with a variable geometry turbocharger, a new variable displacement oil pump and alternator with “smart charge”, the 1.3 JTDm belongs to the second generation of MultiJet engines and produces just 90 g/km of CO2 emissions in the mixed cycle. MultiJet II engines also guarantee category-leading levels of economy, emissions and performance. This means record fuel consumption: just 3.5 litres every 100 km in the combined cycle. What’s more, it must be remembered that as on all other Alfa Romeo diesel engines, the first service is required at 35,000 km, lowering maintenance costs even further.

 


Alfa Romeo celebrates 50 years of the “Giulia” model with 6 outstanding historic cars

June 1962, Monza - June 2012, Goodwood. Half a century separates these two dates and these two legendary locations for motorsport fans; one car unites them: the “Giulia”, presented to the international press on 27 June 1962 at the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, a track where Alfa Romeo built up a great part of its legend. The sports saloon from Portello is 50 years old: this model is a fundamental part of the brand’s history, the first car – in all its variations – to be produced in one million models, the Alfa Romeo with the greatest international presence, in the 15 glorious years of its career, with the timeless Spider “Duetto” which carried on as far as 1994, considered “the last Giulia” by enthusiasts.


The Giulias starring at the 2012 edition of the Goodwood “Festival of Speed” could be none other than the coupé racing versions from Alfa Romeo Historic Motoring’s collection: the powerful “1750 GT Am” (1970), the development based on the “1750 GT Veloce”, American version – hence the “Am” in the name – and the “GTA 1300 Junior”, the “enfant terrible”, in wide track configuration, which earned Alfa no less than two European Touring Car Championships in 1971 and 1972. These two cars represent the extremes achieved in tuning the celebrated twin-shaft four-cylinder model for racing by Autodelta, Alfa Romeo’s racing department, which came into being precisely with the “105-Giulia” series: from the 1290 cc of the “Junior” to the 1985 cc of the “GT Am”, and from the 165 HP of the “enfant terrible” to the 230 of the ultimate version. Among the countless international victories of the “GTAs”, “GT Ams” and “GTA 1300 Juniors”, one record stands out: the “GTA” was the first touring car to come in at under 10 minutes on the Nürburgring circuit, over the 24 km of the Herculean Nordschleife. Together with the “racing” versions of the Giulia, a static version of one of the most original prototypes of the 105 series will be at Goodwood: the “Giulia SS” of 1965, designed by Bertone and produced in just one model. The style of this gran turismo, sober and refined, anticipates some solutions, modern and innovative, adopted on certain Italian sports cars in the following years of the seventies.


The Giulia won’t be the only Alfa Romeo model to which enthusiasts will pay tribute. A further four valuable cars from the Alfa Romeo Museum will be on display at the Cathedral Paddock, starting with the “Gran Premio Tipo B - P3” which celebrates no less than 80 years this year. Born in 1932, this single-seater is one of Vittorio Jano’s masterpieces. Its powerful 8 cylinders in line with double supercharger, together with the particular configuration of the transmission and exceptional dynamic qualities allowed the P3 to win all the international Grans Prix from 1932 to 1934. The Tipo B was driven by all the most famous drivers of the thirties – Nuvolari, Varzi, Caracciola, Chiron, Moll – who drove this versatile and effective single-seater to victory even in races which were conceptually distant from the “grand prix” formula, such as the Targa Florio and the Mille Miglia.
The “6C 3000 CM”, a race spider equipped with a 275 HP 3.5-litre six cylinder in line engine, driven by Manuel Fangio in 1953, is another of Alfa Romeo’s official cars present in England. In addition to the ill-fated Mille Miglia of 1953, in the same year Fangio carried the “3000 CM” to victory at the “Gran Premio Supercortemaggiore” in Merano. It is precisely the same vehicle which belongs to the Alfa Romeo Museum, modified by Alfa’s advanced experimental department in 1955 with the adoption of disc brakes. By the side of the “CM” is the “155 V6 Ti” of 1993, the most recent car offered by Alfa to the English public. This year it warms up the 450 HP of its V6 2.5-litre engine in anticipation of the next edition of the Festival of Speed, in which the 155 will celebrate twenty years from the victory by Nicola Larini in the “DTM”, the German Touring Car Championship in which, in the 1993 season, the Italian pilot chalked up half of the races on the calendar.

]]>2012-06-28 00:00:00In Race 1, the Roman ace earned his third victory in a row, the fourth of the season and the twentieth in his Superbike career, which began in 2007.
Carlos Checa (Althea Racing Ducati) took third place on the podium, taking advantage of the collision that, a lap and a half from the finish, eliminated Ayrton Badovini (BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet) and Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team), having burst from pole position with the new overall record at Aragon.
Aprilia also propelled Chaz Davies (ParkinGO MTC Racing) among the top of the standings, fourth ahead of Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team).
Race 2 saw the payback of Marco Melandri, who soared to victory on his German bike, the seventh in his Superbike career, which began last season.
The contest was spectacular from the very first bend: the riders who had made the first race so electric (Melandri and Biaggi) were joined by Eugene Laverty, a teammate of Biaggi in Team Aprilia Racing, and Chaz Davies (ParkinGO MTC Racing), the 25-year-old current World Supersport champion in his first experience in the highest category for production-derived bikes.
Laverty held the lead for four laps, before yielding to the more expert Biaggi and Melandri, who nonetheless were unable to shake him off. It was all decided on the last stretch, after ceaseless changes of position which had everyone holding their breath. At the end, Melandri outclassed Laverty and Davies to earn the first podium of his career, forcing Biaggi to fourth place.
The standings now see Max Biaggi first with 248.5 points, Marco Melandri second with a gap of 48 points and Jonathan Rea third with 183.
The next appointment is at Brno on 22/7, for another day powered by excitement!

]]>2012-07-02 00:00:00The place: County Hall, on the south river of The Thames, near the London Eye and the Big Ben.

An event: Vertical Stage Session, a unique, atypical, evocative show turning balconies into a stage, buildings’ fronts into sceneries and the streets into a dancefloor.

Main Partner: Alfa Romeo MiTo, that joined the format from the beginning and supports Vertical Stage Session during all 2012 tour.

After the italian dates (Turin, Milan, Florence) and Brussels’ show on the European Parliament balcony in September 2011 for the “Young Volunteers Stand UP!”, Vertical Stage Session, on Saturday Sept 1st gets to London.

The show starts at 8.00 PM. On the unusual “vertical” stage of Aquarium will play Andrea Bertolini (8.00-9.00 PM), Motel Connection (9.00-10.00 PM) – Samuel, frontman of the Italian band Subsonica, Pierfunk, bassist for their first two records and dj Pisti –and  THE FUTUREHEADS DJ SET (10.00-11.00 PM) in a concentrate of electro, rock, indie and dance music. 

 Vertical Stage Session is a 2.0 social-art experience. A format in which art, sociality, culture, show and urban redevelopment coexist: a true example of Weconomy, the “We” economy, in which the sum of each individual’s intelligence gives birth to a stronger, more drawing collective intelligence.

Follow the event on:

Social NetWall

Twitter

Alfa Romeo Facebook Official

Alfa Romeo MiTo Facebook Official

Pinterest

]]>2012-08-29 00:00:00The Alfa MiTo shone at the Vertical Stage Session held on London’s South Bank during an evening full of energy and music, set in the impressive surroundings of the London County Hall, overlooked by the London Eye and Big Ben. Balconies became stages and buildings became backdrops, adorned with the Alfa MiTo logo, whilst the streets became the dancefloor.


The Vertical Stage Session brought with it an eclectic mix of electro, rock, indie and dance, delivered by a series of live events full of talent, passion for music, and much more. A lively audience welcomed artists such as Andrea Bartolini, the Motel Connection and The Futureheads DJ set in their breathtaking stage performance on the original "vertical" London Aquarium stage.


The Alfa Mito has been the main sponsor of all of the Vertical Stage Sessions in Italy (Turin, Milan and Florence) and in Brussels last year.


Alfa Romeo has supported the event since its inception, reflecting itself in its values and originality where art, sociability and engagement combine to create a positive and compelling impact.


The Vertical Stage Sessions continue with Alfa Romeo.: The event will reach Paris on October 6 with all its energy for another night full of art, music and participation. Save the Date!

]]>2012-09-03 00:00:00Begins on September the 7th, the ninth edition of the Berlin Festival, two days of non-stop music with a huge line-up: The Killers, Paul Kalkbrenner, Franz Ferdinand, Sigur Ros, Clock Opera and many other musicians, DJs and famous performers from the international music scene.

An uninterrupted festival that will take place between two locations with unique charme: the extraordinary venue of the Flughafen Tempelhof, disused airfield ready to welcome thousands of visitors from all over Europe. And after midnight, the party will continue in the center of Berlin, in the famous district of Kreuzberg, where the Xberg Club will feature artists like Modeselektor, Digitalism, Metronomy and Crookers.

An extraordinary event that Alfa Romeo MiTo could not miss, bringing also its energy to the streets of Berlin.

FRIDAY 7 SEPTEMBER
Flughafen Tempelhof

CLOCK OPERA / DAUGHTER / FRIENDS / FRITTENBUDE / GRIMES / KATE NASH / LITTLE DRAGON / MAJOR LAZER / MICHAEL KIWANUKA / MIIKE SNOW / NICOLAS JAAR (LIVE IN CONCERT) / OF MONSTERS AND MEN / ORBITAL / SIGUR RÓS / THE BRANDT BRAUER FRICK ENSEMBLE / THE KILLERS / TOCOTRONIC / WE HAVE BAND

Club Xberg

BRANDT BRAUER FRICK / CROOKERS / DADA LIFE / DUMME JUNGS / ETNIK / METRONOMY / RETURN OF THE AMAZONS FEAT. CHICKS ON SPEED & MARAL SALMASSI / WHEN SAINTS GO MACHINE

SATURDAY 8 SEPTEMBER
Flughafen Tempelhof

BONAPARTE / CRO / CROCODILES / DJANGO DJANGO / FIRST AID KIT / FRANZ FERDINAND / FRIENDLY FIRES / I HEART SHARKS / IAMAMIWHOAMI / JAMIE N COMMONS / JUNIP / KIMBRA / KRAFTKLUB / PAUL KALKBRENNER / SBTRKT (LIVE) / SIZARR / THE SOUNDTRACK OF OUR LIVES / WHOMADEWHO

Club Xberg
HERCULES & LOVE AFFAIR SOUNDSYSTEM / JUNIOR BOYS / LIGHT ASYLUM / MODESELEKTOR (LIVE) / MOSTLY ROBOT / SIMIAN MOBILE DISCO / SLAGSMÅLSKLUBBEN / THE MAGICIAN /

]]>2012-09-05 00:00:00The race at Silverstone may well have been the wildest in World Superbike history. French rookie rider Loris Baz won, Badovini highsided his way onto the podium and Rea cut the finish line standing up. Welcome to SBK...

Loris Baz (Kawasaki Racing Team) secured his first well-earned win in Race 1 in his eleventh appearance in the top series after having spectacularly passed Michael Fabrizio (BMW) only two corners from the checkers. The race started dry, was stopped for rain after the first lap and then resumed from the beginning once the track has dried again. Carlos Checa led the first half of the race by three seconds but dropped back to fifth place ahead of Leon Haslam when it started raining again. The British rider took the lead for a few laps and it was looking like the podium was going to be all-British with Leon Camier, who slipped before the end, and Tom Sykes. For the first time the podium was made by Ayrton Badovini (BMW) instead who slipped after highsiding on the finish straight. Marco Melandri came in seventh, while Max Biaggi (Aprilia) had to retire after going down on the final lap.

Sylvain Guintoli on Ducati was the deserving winner of Race 2. The second race was wet and the tough conditions claimed many riders before the red flag in lap nine. The Frenchmen came in first ahead of Loris Baz and team-mate Smrz. Marco Melandri was eighth and now stands 263.5 points after current points leader Max Biaggi, who has a total of 274.

]]>2012-08-06 00:00:00Enthusiasm was sky high at the Moscow Raceway for the first Eni FIM World Superbike Championship race in Russia. Spectators crowded the colossal terraces of the raceway from the early hours of the morning. Marco Melandri's amazing performance earned him a double podium (taking Race 2 and coming second in Race 1). He now leads the championship points ahead of Biaggi.
Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) was great in Race 1: the 26 year old British rider was in the lead from the first corner when the track was still wet and celebrated his third ever win, the second this year.
Earning a well-deserved second place after battling his way up, Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) crept four more points closer to championship leader Max Biaggi (Aprilia Racing), who ended the race after his rival. Chaz Davies (ParkinGo MTC Racing Aprilia) was not so lucky, slipping after colliding with Leon Haslam (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) while he was sailing to the podium. Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing) lost ground in the final laps and was eventually tackled by Biaggi.
Race 2 turned the weekend around when Biaggi fell on lap ten bringing down Leon Haslam (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) on his way. The BMW rider from Ravenna took advantage and earned his tenth Superbike victory, the sixth of this incredible season.
 Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing) was second. He was in the lead for fifteen of the twenty-five laps but in the end had to give up to Melandri's relentlessness. Chaz Davies (ParkinGO MTC Racing Aprilia) was third on the podium after surviving the accident that on the last lap involved Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing) and Jonathan Rea (Honda World Supersport Team), who finished seventh. Carlos Checa (Althea Racing) took fourth place and 
Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing) came in sixth.

]]>2012-08-27 00:00:00The Nürburgring round was packed with action and surprises. In Race 1, Max Biaggi (Team Aprilia Racing) took first place and again heads up the World Championship with a 6.5-point lead over his rival Marco Melandri. In Race 2 the Welshman Chaz Davies – in his début season in the competition – gained his first victory in the Eni FIM World Superbike Championship and laid firm foundations for his future in one fell stroke, finalising the agreement that will tie him to BMW Motorrad and BMW’s official team for the 2013 season.
This is Biaggi’s fifth victory this year, the 21st in 150 Superbike races. Behind him in Race 1 were Eugene Laverty (Team Aprilia Racing) and Chaz Davies (ParkinGo MTC Racing Aprilia). Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) led the race for the first eight laps with Biaggi hot on his heels then got into trouble with grip, slipping to fourth place at the end of the race. The world title is still all to play for as far as he’s concerned: the 26-year-old Brit remains third in the standings, 34.5 points from the new leader Biaggi.
In Race 2, Chaz Davies (ParkinGo MTC Racing Aprilia) powered his way to victory, exploiting mistakes by Max Biaggi (Team Aprilia Racing) and Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad Motorsport), who both slipped.
Max Biaggi managed to restart however, and secure a thirteenth place which allows him to consolidate his top spot in the standings, reconquered at Melandri’s expense at the end of his victory in Race 1. Aprilia also gained a place on the podium for Irishman Eugene Laverty, reclaiming the lead in the World Manufacturers Championship as well, again at the expense of BMW, who also lost Leon Haslam through a fall on their own turf. Third place for the British Leon Camier, who took Crescent FIXI Suzuki back to the world championship podium after a long absence. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team), who led in the opening exchanges, finished fifth. Ahead of him, among others, was Jonathan Rea (Honda World Superbike Team).


With two rounds to go (100 points available) the World Championship is more riveting than ever: Biaggi is in the lead again with 318 points and Melandri second once more with a total of 308.5, while Sykes and his 291.5 points have no intention of giving them any breathing space.

]]>2012-09-10 00:00:00Alfa Romeo appears at the Paris International Motor Show with a stand inspired by the world of Superbike. The spotlights are on two brand-new versions and a host of other developments.

The exhibition area unfolds like a winding, dynamic road. The ideal scenario for experiencing the emotion that only Alfa Romeo cars can offer. But it’s more than the outfitting of the stand that evokes the consolidated partnership between the brand and the SBK - Eni FIM Superbike World Championship, a partnership that dates to 2007. Two versions inspired by the MiTo Quadrifoglio Verde 1.4 MultiAir 170 HP, engaged as Official Safety Car in the prestigious motorcycling championship, are making their début at Paris: the MiTo Limited Edition Superbike 170 HP in a limited edition of 200 vehicles and the Superbike Special Series, which will be launched in the coming months.


The Limited Edition Superbike is distinguished by some elements which emphasise its "racing" character: from the side skirts to the rear dam and from the 18" titanium alloy wheels, behind which emerges the eye-catching red of the Brembo brake calipers, to the aluminium sports pedal unit.  This MiTo can "wear" two body colours (Alfa black and red) in combination with three roof colours: black, Alfa red and the new Cristallo white. The same sporty imprint has been given to the interior, enhanced by the Sabelt seats with a wraparound carbon fibre backrest made with the innovative RTM (Resin Transfer Moulding) technology that teams great mechanical resistance with smaller dimensions and lightness. The beating heart under the bonnet is the most powerful engine in the range: the 170 HP 1.4 MultiAir Turbo, a power unit with one of the highest specific power values in the world. The pièce de résistance of this engine version is its outstanding weight/power ratio: 6.7 kg/HP, the best in its category. And that’s not all. At 124 HP/litre, this 1.4 engine is also one of the world leaders in terms of specific power. This aspect should be emphasised, since it demonstrates the effectiveness of the "downsizing" philosophy, which aims to create extremely high-tech engines to increase performance alongside substantial reductions in consumption and emissions: the Limited Edition can in fact boast 139 gr/l of CO2 and 4.8 l/100km (extra-urban cycle), values closer to what you would expect from an economy car than a compact sports car that goes from 0 to 100 km/h in just over 7 seconds.


The SBK Special Series possesses the same sports character. Available with all the engines in the range – except for the 70 HP 1.4 and 170 HP 1.4 – this MiTo offers several of the aesthetic features of the Limited Edition version. Four body colours are available – black, Alfa red, Tornado blue and Cristallo white – in combination with three roof colours: black, Alfa red and the new Cristallo white. Standard equipment includes manual climate control, radio with CD/MP3 player and leather steering wheel. The Special Series can be customised further with the original SBK kit, which includes some of the features of the Limited Edition version: "SBK Limited Edition" stickers, side skirts, rear dam, sports pedal unit, red brake calipers and 17'' or 18" titanium-finished alloy wheels.


And there’s more: the Paris spotlights will also be trained on the Giulietta, which the public can admire with the refined Collezione pack and the exclusive "Sportiva" trim level. The first includes polished chrome door mirror covers and door handles, 17" alloy rims with a new spoke pattern and dark grey finish, headlights with dark trim and new two-tone black and tobacco leather seats with contrasting stitching. The Sportiva trim level is dedicated to all customers looking for a car with a decidedly distinctive look. It is distinguished, for example, by a lowered sports ride, 18" alloy wheels, 225/40 tyres, side skirts and oversized Brembo braking system with red calipers. Plus a host of interior details which also mean business.

Alfa Romeo would like to invite you to the Paris Motor Show 2012 to reveal the new Alfa Romeo Vintage & Limited Edition merchandising line. Print this Coupon and present it at the Alfa Romeo stand, to receive an extraordinary 20% discount on the entire range.

]]>2012-09-17 00:00:00The Vertical Stage Session season continues, reaching dizzy heights: a unique, unusual and captivating event which, for one night only, transforms a selection of Italian and international cities into an authentic fusion of music and motion. In part, this is achieved by reinventing the urban landscape of the city, directing it upwards and turning the balconies into the stage, the façades of the buildings into staging and the streets into an enormous dance floor.


Motel Connection will take centre stage at the social-art experience 2.0 in Bologna. On 22 September, at the side of the Alfa Romeo MiTo, they’ll be taking their unmistakable blend of rock, indie, electro and dance to the city. The band from Turin, formed by Samuel, singer and frontman of Subsonica, seem set to repeat the packed-out dates in Turin, Milan, Brussels and London, with no less than 60,000 in attendance.


The Vertical Stage Session’s artistic crew will arrive at Bologna to bring the Emilian city’s ‘notte bianca’ (night-time cultural event) to life. The evening will kick off at 21:00 from the balcony in Via Rizzoli and, as always, the event set to take off and infuse the whole city with music and energy will be completely free and open to all.  
 
As always, next to Motel Connection and their ever-present crowd of fans will be the Alfa Romeo MiTo, with a heart which beats for music, and which from the beginning of the format has supported the Vertical Stage Session for the whole of the 2012 Tour.

]]>2012-09-19 00:00:00We’ve now arrived at the penultimate round and the Eni FIM Superbike World Championship is getting more and more exciting. The first race on the Portuguese circuit held plenty of action and surprises in store for the spectators. Trials in the sun were followed by rain and the whole pack started off with rain tyres. At the start of the second lap, with Eugene Laverty (Team Aprilia Racing) holding sway, Marco Melandri (BMW Motorsport Motorrad) slipped in an attempt to overtake his rival Max Biaggi (Team Aprilia Racing), also dragging in Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing Ducati) and Chaz Davies (ParkinGo MTC Racing Aprilia). Biaggi overtook Laverty on the seventh lap, but oil on the track meant the race was stopped. Tom Sykes was in eight place at that point, valid only so far as the new starting line-up was concerned. The race was restarted from scratch to complete the 16 remaining laps with Biaggi off to a good start, but with the furious Brit hot on his heels. Having gained the lead, he aimed only to ward off the return of Carlos Checa (Althea Racing Ducati) and Sylvain Guintoli (Team PATA Racing Ducati) with him on the podium. Biaggi came in fourth, conceding 12 invaluable points to Tom Sykes.
Eugene Laverty, on the other hand, dominated Race 2. It was the Irishman’s first victory with the company headquartered at Noale. Tom Sykes lost ground in the standings, leaving the fray due to a mechanical problem in the second of the twenty-two laps. This paved the way for Max Biaggi (Team Aprilia Racing), whose third place has increased his lead so that at Magny-Cours he will arrive with 30.5 points separating him from the 26-year-old Brit. Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) didn't even start: he fell in Race 1 and slightly bruised his right kidney. Jonathan Rea (Honda World Superbike Team) was another one to watch on the day. Having seen off Biaggi, he set about pursuing Laverty, who nevertheless managed to hold on to the top spot by a tenth of a second. Frenchman Sylvain Guintoli put in a great performance, fifth ahead of ex-world champion Carlos Checa (Althea Racing Ducati).
The standings are now extremely close: Max Biaggi still in the lead with 347 points, Tom Sykes second with 316.5, Marco Melandri third with 308.5 and Carlo Checa fourth with 278.5 points.  The grand final is set for Magny Cours on 7 October.

]]>2012-09-24 00:00:00Max Biaggi (Aprilia Racing Team) is the new eni FIM Superbike world champion. The most thrilling championship ever was decided at the very last bend, with a margin of 0.5 points only and in front of 86100 spectators.
Sylvain Guintoli (PATA Racing Team Ducati) came in first in Race 1. Max Biaggi fell during the third lap and thus could not celebrate his win in advance, letting his chasers Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) and Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing) score after the French rider. The first match of the latter round also saw the Manufacturers - FIM Superbike World Championship still open: Aprilia had only 17.5 points (out of 25) more than BMW. Wet asphalt but no rain, and all bikes with rain tyres to start with. Jonathan Rea (Honda World Superbike Team) was betrayed by the weather conditions slipping halfway through the race with about a 9-sec margin over the other riders. Crash also for Carlos Checa (Althea Racing Ducati), who was third at the beginning. Excellent sixth place for Ayrton Badovini (BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet) and surprise for the ninth place of Claudio Corti (Team Pedercini Kawasaki) making his SBK debut.
Sykes, with -14.5 points, did all he could in Race 2 to take advantage of Biaggi's crash in Race 1. The 26-year old British rider was ahead from the first bend, but Biaggi did just enough by finishing fifth and winning the championship with a margin of 0.5 points only. Marco Melandri, with -18.5 points from the first rider, fell during the sixth lap and gave up all hope. Jonathan Rea and Sylvain Guintoli completed the podium of the last race.
Aprilia also won the Manufacturers - FIM Superbike World Championship.

]]>2012-10-08 00:00:00Here is an appointment that motoring fans of today and yesteryear can't miss. "Auto e Moto d'epoca 2012" is being held in Padua until 28 October. The formula is nothing new: a multitude of cars of the past - of all periods and origins - plus spare parts, memorabilia and collector's items. What makes it special this time though is that it will be surrounded by fringe events, shows and activities.
It is an opportunity for Alfa Romeo to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Giulia, a model that has successfully represented the technical and creative talent of Alfa Romeo during a time of exceptional growth for the company. The style, the technical content, the performance, the reliability and the innovation are just some of the elements which led to this car's success: from 1962 to 1977 the Giulia's range of bodywork variants and engine options combined sold one million units, and the vehicle made its mark on an international level. It was a significant commercial success that contributed to making it one of the brand's icons.
Alfa Romeo Historic Motoring is showing a few of the most significant versions of the "Giulia family" at the Padua Show, including the experimental prototype created at the end of the fifties and driven by Alfa testers to set up the mechanics and dynamics of the standard production car. Then there is the "Giulia TI" with its grey-green livery of the Carabinieri (belonging to a private collection), the 1963 "Giulia TZ", which pays tribute to the incredible competitive career of this model, and the "SS prototype" of 1965. This was the concept car with which Bertone anticipated a number of design solutions that were to be found on Italian Gran Turismos in the seventies. The line-up is completed with the 1969 "Giulia 1300 TI" that participated in the "London-Sydney Marathon" in 2000. It is provided by "Scuderia del Portello", the official Alfa Romeo club together with the Italian Alfa Romeo Register (RIAR).

To emphasise the common thread tying the cars of the past to those of current production, an example of the brand-new MiTo SBK Limited Edition is displayed on the stand. Together with the MiTo Superbike Special Series, it pays tribute to the exciting world championship that Alfa Romeo has been involved in since 2007 as Top Sponsor and Official Safety Car. Produced in 200 units and created on the base of the sportiest version of the model - the "Quadrifoglio Verde", the new Mito limited edition is equipped with the most powerful engine in the range: the 170 HP 1.4 MultiAir Turbo, which has one of the world’s highest specific power values (124 HP/litre), a chassis worthy of a higher category and an outstanding weight to power ratio (6.7 kg/HP). All this with a significant reduction in fuel consumption and emissions: 139 g/l of CO2 and 4.8 l/100 km (extra-urban cycle). These values are closer to what you would expect from an economy car than from a compact sports car that goes from 0 to 100 km/h in just over 7 seconds.

]]>2012-10-22 00:00:00The number of Vertical Stages held in the most important Italian and European cities over the past two years reaches seven with the Rome date. The first edition was held in Turin, in the historic neighbourhood called San Salvario, and ever since then choice of location has been one of the Vertical Stage Session strong points.

In Rome, Motel Connection and Ensi will turn the streets of San Lorenzo into a dancehall, once again stepping inside the throbbing heart of the city to make it dance while looking up.

The Alfa Romeo Mito has supported this format from the very beginning as it is reflected in the values and originality of the social art experience 2.0 project in which art, social relations, spectacularity and upgrading coexist in a positive manner and display a form of strong, positive and high impact collective intelligence.

WARNING: the event has been postponed due to bad weather. The new date is Friday, 2 November, 21:30 @Rome. Balcony: Via Cesare de Lollis 23/C

]]>2012-10-30 00:00:00