Alfa Romeo hot hatchback in the works
First Audi, now Alfa Romeo - it seems everyone wants a hot hatchback to compete with BMW's popular MINI Cooper S. This one doesn't sound like blue-sky speculation though, with Automotive News Europe reporting that an Alfa Romeo "Junior" three-door hatchback has been green-lighted by parent company Fiat for a 2008 launch. The news marks a revival of the Alfa Junior nameplate, last used in the late '60s and early '70s.The Junior will become Alfa's entry-level model, as the automaker tries to expand beyond its niche-market status. The Junior will be based on Fiat's successful Grande Punto platform, and will be built on a Fiat assembly line. At the top of the range, the Junior will be gifted with a 230 hp turbocharged direct-injection gasoline powerplant, married to Alfa's part-time four-wheel drive system. Milder models will feature both gas and diesel powerplants in a FWD configuration.
[Source: Automotive News Europe]
- Sportage still needs work, but fun James R. Healey delivers a surprisingly positively spun review for a vehicle he finds so many faults with. The headline reads very positive, but much of what we read had no "fun" involved. The $23,000 ...
- Baby Mazda2 gets a changing The little Mazda is sold around the world as the Mazda2 (Demio in Japan) has just gotten a little makeover. If anything, you have to love the model names in Japan; Casual, Casual Aeroactive, Cozy and ...
- Bentley SUV – say it isn't so First the Cayenne, then the Touareg, then the Q7. Bentley may be the next make on the same chassis. AutoWeek obtained details of a secret four-wheel drive Bentley SUV, though Bentley execs swear it do ...
- Did anyone notice no Saab "Tribeca"? It totally skipped our radar screens. Saab was supposed to debut a concept based on the Subaru B9 Tribeca at the New York Auto Show, but never did. An article from AutoCar magazine reports that the tr ...
- 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Toyota continues the hybrid assault with the new Highlander Hybrid. The Highlander uses the same setup as the Lexus RX 400h; a 3.3-liter V-6 mated to an electric engine with a combined horsepower rati ...
- Chery lays out U.S. models We won't see any of these vehicles until the Shanghai Auto Show, but here is the plan from Malcolm Bricklin himself, and they aren't "cheap" cars. The cars span between a "sporty" sedan powered by V-6 ...
- Ridgeline prices announced The Honda Ridgeline will roll in with three trim levels – RT, RTS and RTL (Huh? What happened to EX and LX?). All models will be powered by the 3.5-liter V-6 with 255 hp and have four wheel driv ...
- 2005 Saturn Relay: In the Autoblog Garage Day 1 As you can see we've gotten a bit of snow the last few days. This is a snow covered 2005 Saturn Realy minivan. Don't let the GM PR machine fool you these vehicles (including the Chevrolet Uplander and ...
- 4x4 Mini on the way? Folks over at Mini2.com report that a four wheel drive Mini Cooper S outfitted by Gertrag is 10% faster than a standard Cooper S. The story goes on to explain the system is actually more of a rear-whe ...
- 2005 Nissan Frontier inspired by big bro Titan Inspired in the sense of "I'm going to steal all of your good parts." But even though you may have heard that stealing is bad (mmmkay?), the Frontier benefits greatly from it. It's now a contender in ...
0 Responses to » Alfa Romeo hot hatchback in the works
Leave your response!