Nuova Giulietta tops NCAP safety tests

Alfa Romeo Giulietta safest compact car in Euro NCAP history | Car Advice | News | Reviews

The latest round of Euro NCAP results has determined the all-new Alfa Romeo Giulietta hatch is the safest compact car ever tested.

The Giulietta achieved an overall score of 87/100 and a five-star rating with solid performances across the four areas of testing.

Alfa to release an 8C GTA? Nice car, but can anyone afford it?

2010 Alfa Romeo 8C GTA - Top Speed

The new Competizione will be called the Alfa Romeo 8C GTA (Gran Turismo Allegerito) and is said to be a more exotic version of the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione. . It is also said to be modeled after the classic 1965 Giulia Sprint GTA. Pictures of the new Alfa Romeo 8C GTA have already been floating around the web, but here are some nice renderings of the new beast that will surely tickle some fancies.

Mark 3 Giulietta brochure

New Alfa Romeo Giulietta Brochure 2010 | cars modified

New Alfa Romeo Giulietta Brochure 2010, We’ve already brought you heaps of images of Alfa Romeo’s new Giulietta hatch , but we thought you might also be interested in the car’s official brochure. Unfortunately, the English version of the brochure was only 6-pages long, so we opted to upload photos of the Italian edition which is more comprehensive. Follow the jump to check it out.

A selection of classic Alfas driven at Goodwood - well worth a read (by Alfisti, obviously)

Ancient Alfas at Goodwood - Classic Driver - MAGAZINE - features

a 1931 8C 2300 tipo Le Mans, similar to the blue one that was modelled by Scalextric in the 1960s and which regularly beat the too-tall 4½ Litre Bentley on my own particular Plexitrack. But it's not just any 8C 2300. It is the 8C that Sir Henry (aka Tim) Birkin bought in 1931 and in which he won that year's Le Mans 24 Hours.

This extremely special Alfa later went to live in Nigeria, where its doctor owner eventually converted it into a pick-up. You couldn't do that with a modern Le Mans car. Rediscovered in the 1970s and restored to how it had been, it now lives in Alfa Romeo's Centro Storico.

Bolt-on wheel arches a la Torana for MiTo - by Magnetti Marelli. Everyone wants to build a hotter hatch

Alfa MiTo Kit-One from Magneti Marelli Elaborazione isn't the GTA — Autoblog

The modification package is comprised of stiffer springs than lower the car by 30 millimeters, the "Parco Chiuso" dual-exit exhaust system with bypass valve, 305mm Brembo disc brakes, a competition ECU good for an extra 31 horsepower, 18-inch matte black wheels and a rather divisive body kit made by Carrozzeria Castagna Milano

Motortrend speculates on a 3.3l Chrysler V6 option for Alfa Giulia. After the Holden V6-block cars anything is possible

Another Alfa: Alfa Romeo Hard At Work on New Giulia Sedan - Wide Open Throttle - Motor Trend Magazine

Powertrain options for the Giulia will be rather varied. 118- and 168-horsepower versions of the Multiair turbocharged 1.4-liter I-4 are in the running, along with both a 104-horsepower, 1.6-liter turbo-diesel I-4 and a 168-horsepower 2.0-liter turbo-diesel I-4. Those who desire more power will possibly be able to opt for a GTA model using a 273-horsepower, 3.3-liter V-6 based on Chrysler's new Pentastar engine design. Transmission options will include six-speed manual and automatic transmissions, while higher-end models will likely gain the option of dual-clutch gearboxes. Front-wheel-drive will be standard, but all-wheel drive will be an option on high-content and high-performance models.

Alfa ramps up the spin - MiTo joins NSW Police

Alfa Romeo MiTo joins Police force | Car Advice | News | Reviews

Though this isn’t the DNA you might think. What we are talking about is the DNA Technology fitted to the Alfa Romeo MiTo, the latest car to be joining the Sydney Police Force.

OK I'll swap you. It's about a Delage but Alfa gets a mention!

Nazis to Targa, this car has seen a lot of the world - Local News - Sports - General - The Examiner Newspaper

"I had my 1933 Alfa Romeo at the Malaysian GP, but had trouble with the fuel there and later at the 2008 historic events associated with the Australian GP.

"The Delage was parked opposite me - a car I've always admired.

"It's owner came over to me and asked if I'd consider a straight swap of his Delage for one of my other cars, an Italian- made OM sports car that finished sixth in the Italian Targa Florio in 1930.

"I looked him in the eye, and immediately said: `I've considered it, accepted your offer, bring the papers tomorrow night and I'll drive it home.'

Advert for the Alfa Giulia SS - hand built.... and decidedly expensive

It's an old ad but very modern in feel. I'd buy one...
Vintage Scans: Alfa Romeo

Interesting Alfetta GTV review - 35 years after the fact

I think the writer could have found a car in better condition, but at least it's a fairly positive and reasonably factual piece. Aussie GTVs and earlier GTs were saddled with some of the US cars' woes but IMHO were not as enfeebled as suggested. And personally I could barely pick any difference between the 2 litre 4 and the 2.5l V6. Of course I have the 4 in my garage so I'm possibly biased...

Curbside Classic: 1975 Alfa Romeo Alfetta GT Coupe/GTV | The Truth About Cars

The Alfetta and the GT were sold in the US starting in 1975, under a variety of names. The sedan petered out by 1979, but the coupe had much longer run, thanks to the implant of Alfa’s first modern V6 engine, which turned it into the GTV-6, from 1981 through 1986. That delicious confection of chrome induction tubes and soul-stirring mechanical music gave the Alfetta a new lease on life, especially in the performance-hungry US. The 1.8 and 2.0 fours of the early version put out some 124hp, which was not sufficient in the face of competition from new small hot hatches like the VW GTI, the Corolla GT-S, and others, especially considering its higher price tag.

A confused MiTo or a reviewer without a clue?

Maybe the car had a problem, not unusual in a press-test car. (That possibility was not explored by the writer.) Or perhaps the driver was misreading the car's feedback (definitely possible, car reviewers rarely exhibit any idea how to drive). Or the MiTo has a split personality just as the writer describes. I guess we'll never know unless we drive this spooky car ourselves!

Alfa Romeo Mito 1.4 Multiair Review – La Bella Figura

So what I’ve found out so far was that the Mito may oversteer without your knowledge but it also may understeer without your knowledge too. While it is nimble and agile, it does get confused sometimes. Hence the Mito has a multiple personality disorder or in other words; there is some lunacy involved every time you drive the car.

Zagato TZ3 Corsa celebrates 100 years of Alfa

Zagato Alfa Romeo Centenary TZ3 Corsa

Zagato is celebrating its long term links with Alfa Romeo during the marque’s centenary year by crafting a modern interpretation of the classic Alfa TZ and TZ2 racing cars of the 1960s. Like the originals, the cutting edge TZ3 is designed to minimize weight yet use the most powerful drive-train possible, so the 1960s aluminum tubular frame has been replaced by a carbon fiber monocoque with hand-crafted aluminum panels and in place of the original four cylinder engine is an 8C Competizone 4.2 liter V8. The final equation is 420 bhp pushing a curb weight of 850 kg for a 0-100 kmh in 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 300 kmh… and good looks and wicked roadholding.

Not an Alfa but mad enough to be interesting

Renaultsport Clio 255 V6 | evo Fast Fleet

The Renaultsport Clio V6 255. A motoring oddity if there ever was one. Take a big, heavy 3-litre V6 engine and drop it in the middle of a short, light Clio chassis. Hook up a rear-wheel-drive, six-speed manual transmission, inject some plumping chemicals into the bodywork et voilà! - you have a car that is rarer than a Ferrari F430, as visually arresting as a Lamborghini and as challenging to drive as a 911 Turbo. The one you see here is mine, and it cost me just £17,500.

Of course, there are those who think that spending £17,500 on a bizarre-looking Clio with the engine in the wrong place is madness. One of them is my wife.

Pininfarina's Alfa Spider concept

Not sure I want one myself but I do like the look of the thing. Lots of words here, the pics at the end are worth it though.

Pininfarina | 2uettottanta

What is the 2uettottanta effect? Desire. Whoever sees it “must” possess it, drive it, enjoy it. Because the 2uettottanta is not an unattainable dream. Nor does the 2uettottanta only want to impress at first glance, but to achieve a beauty that does not strive solely for immediate confirmation, but gradually reveals all its values and transfers them to the future, making the style eternal. As it did in the case of the Duetto, which continues to be celebrated as an icon of design after more than 40 years.

Nice Giulietta review, shame the reviewer has lost the plot

Here's a nice review of the new Giulietta. That's great.

But the problem here (that wrecks it for me, sadly, as I'm particular about tiny details) is that the first few paragraphs are little more than ill-formed opinion on what ails Alfa, rather than a review of a car. It was starting to sound like a rehash of the usual 'Alfa hasn't made a decent car in 30 years' line but it became increasingly obvious that the sort of apparently obvious flaws Alfa may have as a car maker are also to be found in the skills this motor noter let loose with a keyboard. I was wary (but forgiving - it's apparently a US-based blog after all) when it seemed that the writer was unaware that there was another Giulietta beyween the first and the latest one, but then this clanger (see quote in para below) dropped.

Oh dear, an almost 30-year-old chassis, eh? Exactly which chassis is imagined here - perhaps ARNA or 33? Now my recollection is that the 147 is a cut-back 156 chassis. And the 156 was introduced with a fresh chassis - again, trusting my memory only - in about 1997.  That's not quite 30 years, is it? (OK, it's getting closer, but why exaggerate like this?) Neither the ARNA nor 33 look remotely like a 156 or 147 in terms of body construction (not truly being a chassis per se in any case) and had more to do with the Nissan Pulsar and Alfasud respectively. Can this writer be referring to the only other FWD "chassis" I can even remotely imagine is relevant here, the 164? As that was a shared development with FIAT and SAAB and again quite unlike a 156 I guess not. So - unless there's secret knowledge here - we have yet another Alfa reviewer with a warped sense of history and the opportunity to share it with us.

But the actual review was fair enough. So why not just review the car? 

2011 Alfa Romeo Giulietta First Drive

The Giulietta replaces the Alfa Romeo 147, a technical dinosaur that we nonetheless actually like a bunch. There were various bits and pieces introduced to the front-wheel-drive 147 over its nine-year life cycle that helped compensate for the shortcomings of its almost 30-year-old chassis.

Not flawed but impressive and competent - which apparently is a flaw. Huh?

evo continues to write schizoid rubbish... the new Giulietta is impressive and competent, apparently, but lacks the flaws and "characterful" driving experience of the past Alfa generation. I think they mean the 147GTA as they haven't - in my memory - mentioned this characterful driving experience with regard to other recent Alfas. Damned with faint praise is the usual tone of evo reviews. Oh well, can't please everyone I guess.  

Alfa Romeo Giulietta Multiair review | evo

But - and it’s a big but for an Alfa Romeo - the sparkle’s missing. Previous generation Alfas have been flawed but undeniably characterful to drive. The Giulietta turns the brand’s personality on its head, dishing up a very impressive and competent driving experience that doesn’t really have you gagging to go back.

evo reviews series 3 Giulietta Quadrofoglio Verde

I think it's a fair review overall but I'm not sure what "too tied down and inert" really mean. It's tied down, ie not loose I guess, and has lots of inertia? I gather that means it's not taily and more GT than hot hatch? And that's "a shame for an Alfa Romeo"? As a long-time Alfetta GTV driver that non-taily, understeery inertia is actually what I think of as "well balanced". I know the 105s were more taily, especially in the wet, but that was waaaay back in the 70s... just what do evo mag expect a 2010 Alfa to be? (Taily, obviously.)

Alfa Romeo Giulietta Cloverleaf review | evo

Switch to Dynamic and it's a much better Giulietta. The throttle sharpens so you can enjoy the hefty low-end torque better and hear that deep, crisp engine note. The steering weight rises but in a natural way, not by artificially increasing resistance. And the brakes change from spongy to quite sharp, thanks to 'pre-fill'. Dynamic also loosens the tail a little before VDC intervenes, but this is still not a car to be pointed keenly into a bend on a trailing throttle and caught with a dab of power. It's too tied-down and inert for that, which is a shame for an Alfa Romeo.

Alfa can't win when motor-noters contradict themselves

I don't fully understand why I "love" Alfas, I just do. OK, just some Alfas. Mostly the ones I like or have owned (not always the same thing). I do enjoy the sense of history, the style and the racing cred, and the (sometimes flawed) high-end engineering at mid-range pricing. So I understand where the sort of opinion quoted below is coming from, but really... how can Alfa win at this game? To be charismatic they must make flawed cars, yet to sell cars they have to make better ones. Eh? Or so the motor-noters repeat, ad nauseum. They all seem to say the same thing, as though they can't really think for themselves... hmmm.


The new Alfa: not for petrolheads blog on Evo Community by Stephen Dobie

The 147 GTA is a case in point. Its gorgeous looks and sonorous V6 engine gloss over a host of inherent flaws. I want one, even though I know I shouldn’t.

It’s a car I thought a lot about on the launch of the Alfa Giulietta a fortnight ago (first drive here). The two cars feel like polar opposites; the new Golf-fighter looks and feels conventional, has a clever and efficient engine, and drives as well as most things in its class. It’s very good. And yet I can't love it. There are no glaring flaws or problems you’d have to learn your way around. You could buy one without false justifications, without the knowledge you were taking leave of your senses or risking a world of expense and despair.

For the centenary, a nuova TZ?

Why not? In a market filled with shapely, high-priced performance car options it's unlikely that it would reach production, but a TZ concept keeps Alfa on the radar in its 100th year.

Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa Zagato Concept Announced for Villa d'Este Concours - Wide Open Throttle - Motor Trend Magazine

According to a recent release highlighting several cars set to be displayed at the 2010 Villa D'Este Concorso d'Eleganza, a new Alfa Romeo concept - penned by famed Italian design firm Zagato - will make its world debut April 24. The car will follow Alfa Romeo concepts by both Bertone and Pininfarina that debuted in Geneva earlier this year.
Dubbed the Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa, the concept will undoubtedly pay homage to special Alfa TZ models of the past while at the same time celebrating Alfa Romeo's centenary anniversary. The TZ3 Corsa is said to celebrate the shared philosophy of "utilitarian beauty" that both Alfa Romeo and Zagato embrace.

I just like the look of the thing - 1.4litres with attitude

Markuzzi Alfa Romeo MiTo

Markuzzi Exclusive could probably modify any cars and after presenting you some refined supercars they released a tuning package for the new Alfa Romeo MiTo 1.4TB. At the exterior level, Markuzzi’s Alfa Romeo MiTo received slight design upgrades, an adjustable suspension and a new set of 19″ aluminum wheels from SPort wrapped in high performance tires.

Alfa in US in 2012? Giulia first?

Of most interest would be the name, I reckon. If Giulia. MiTo and Giulietta remain intact as nameplates in the US I'd be amazed.  Anyway, the car's the thing (at least here) and the Giulia would be produced in one of the Chrysler plants.  


Report: Alfa Romeo Giulia Coming In 2011 - MotorAuthority

The new Alfa Romeo Giulia sedan is reportedly set to be revealed next year for the European market, while Americans will have to wait an additional year. According to Fiat-Chrysler CEO, Sergio Marchionne, the Alfa Romeo brand isn’t likely to arrive in the U.S. until 2012, when local production of the Giulia--and a Chrysler model based on the same platform--starts up.

Based on Fiat Group’s new “Compact-Wide” platform, the front-wheel drive Giulia will feature a McPherson front axle with a twin-link rear suspension. A high-performance all-wheel drive variant may also be offered, as well as a sporty wagon.

AutoExpress damns 135BHP MiTo MultiAir with nice styling and engine, shame about the rest

Motor-noters are never happy, are they? Even when a car hits lots of sensible targets, it's just not good enough.

Alfa Romeo MiTo Multiair 135bhp | First Drives | Car Reviews | Auto Express

We’ve already driven the hot 170bhp Cloverleaf variant, but for those who want to trade some of that power for extra economy, a 135bhp version of the same 1.4-litre turbocharged engine is also on sale.

Essentially a sophisticated electronic variable valve timing system, MultiAir technology accurately controls airflow into the combustion chamber. The result is greater torque at low revs, better top-end performance, good fuel economy and
lowered CO2 emissions.

Last 147 to be registered in the UK - and it's a diesel

Not sure if the last 147 sold in the UK will be such a big collector's item, but it's still a nice car. Note that the guy has to be an Alfa nut after buying 8 of the wretchedly lovely things.

Terance snaps up motoring history (From Knutsford Guardian)

Terance, 64, said: “I’ve always been a huge Alfa Romeo fan, so to know I have played a small part in its history is fantastic.”

Terance has been living in Bermuda for the past 16 years, but recently returned home to the UK. His new car will be his eighth Alfa Romeo, with Terance’s past cars including an Alfetta, an Alfa Romeo 33 and the original Giulietta.

Evo damns MiTo Cloverleaf with faint praise

It's not a magazine that praises form and function over acceleration, so this is a fairly predictable - but honest - review.

Alfa Romeo MiTo Cloverleaf review | evo

It’s the best Mito we’ve driven. Damned by faint praise, then? Well, it’s not a hardcore charger in the mould of the Clio 200, but instead trades outright driver appeal for a good measure of refinement and ride comfort. It strikes a good balance in this regard – even on Highland roads ripped apart by winter frosts, the ride never became crashy, the dampers never clobbered their bump stops, something that simply isn’t true of the standard Mito.

Vaguely mixed MiTo review from TimesOnline

It's not a bad read but I'm not sure what the reviewer is really saying, either. Good? Bad? Compromised? Or simply charismatic but odd?

Behind the wheel: the Alfa Romeo MiTo MultiAir 1.4 review | New Car Reviews - Times Online

The hatch is stylishly petite and stylishly high up, which means that to get anything into the boot you’re going to have to lift it almost to chest height and then sort of post it. And the back seats tip but don’t fold flat. But this disdain for practicality is historical, too. Alfa may be the only company to build an estate car that offered less boot space than the saloon it was modelled on (the 156 Sportwagon).

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3rd time 'round for the Giulietta

I owned the wedge-shaped 2nd or 'nuova' Giulietta back in the early '80s, so I am pleased to see a "mark III" use of the name. And the car - the 147 replacement - looks pretty good to my tired old eyes. I won't be able to afford one unless I sell my kids into slavery but there you go. If you have taste and style and want a cool car, here it is. At least until the GTA is launched.

Wraps come off Giulietta | Auto Express News | News | Auto Express

Say ciao to Alfa Romeo’s rival for the Volkswagen Golf! This is the first official image of the family star, which was at the centre of a last-minute name change.

Due to be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March, it had been thought the car would be called Milano. However, just moments before the official name was confirmed to us, Alfa bosses decided to change it...

The new name is Giulietta – a last minute alteration that was made following the firm's decision to scale back its businesses presence in Milan. The five-door hatch replaces the 147, and it sports a stylish look inspired by the firm’s 8C Competizione supercar and MiTo supermini.

Link to Auto Express Alfa Giulietta pics

Alfa Giulietta spied | Auto Express News | News | Auto Express

Here's proof that Alfa's new Giulietta is inching ever closer to the showroom. Eagle-eyed Auto Express reader Paul Davies spied this prototype testing in Livigno, northern Italy recently.

Due to make its worldwide debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March, the Giulietta five-door hatch replaces the 147, and underneath the plastic disguise of this mule is a stylish look inspired by the firm’s 8C Competizione supercar and MiTo supermini.

evo mag remembers the Alfasud

I'm not sure I totally agree, but here in Oz rust wasn't such a problem, so it's a different perspective. Yes, they rusted, all cars did back then, but Alfas had "a reputation", deserved or not. OTOH not one of my Alfas has had serious rust. The Giulietta, none at all. The 33ti, none again. The GTV, some rust where the rear mounted battery spilled acid.. and some surface rust on the boot, almost 30 years after manufacture... in fact a Hyundai Excel we had for a few years - an excellent car, BTW - rusted more than all 3 Alfas put together. But that's my Aussie experience only...

More pertinent may be the oil that could easily get on the (inboard) front rotors, not mentioned in the article.


1972: Alfa Romeo Alfasud | Car Feature | evo

When did Alfa Romeo last build a really great car, something that set standards and shamed the competition? It may have given us some inspired vehicles over the last few decades – and plenty of sheds too if truth be told – but none has been so effortlessly superior in its class as the Alfasud.

NZ Mito article

Not entirely sure why "DNA" is pretentious - it's used everywhere these days, almost always out of context. But it's a positive review overall.

Alfa Romeo: Zippy Mito with pedigree - Motoring - NZ Herald News

Alfa Romeo has designed this car to ooze style; to recall the brand's design and racing heritage; to deliver a premium performance persona in a pocket-sized package.

Politics of location. Why the Milano became the Giuletta Mk III?

I hope this isn't the reason, but it sure makes sense. With the famous 'Alfa Romeo Milano' now no more than words, the revised badgework becomes necessary. From a business angle moving to Torino makes a lot of sense. But my heart is with Milano I'm afraid.

New Alfa small car mystery | Car News | Hot Hatchbacks | evo

We’re led to believe the reasoning behind it all lies in Alfa Romeo’s decision to relocate fully from Milan (or, indeed, Milano) to Turin, turning its back on 99 years of Milanese heritage. Since Fiat’s acquisition of Alfa in 1986, the company has gradually been moved away from its home, with car production stopped in 2000 and the last group of employees – designers and engineers, mainly – being shifted early next year.

Rave review of MultiAir and the MiTo

Alfa Romeo Mito MultiAir | Car feature | evo

MultiAir is nothing less than the greatest advance in petrol-fuelled piston engines since Daimler-Benz came up with fuel injection for the Messerschmitt Me109 fighter aircraft. Some of the motor industry’s biggest brains have been trying for years to devise a way of opening an engine’s valves by some means other than a mechanically acting camshaft, hoping to achieve variability of valve timing and lift beyond anything so far coaxed out of a camshaft and tappets. MultiAir has got there.

Slightly more detail on the new Giulietta via evo mag

Alfa Romeo Giulietta | Car News | Hot Hatchbacks | evo

There had been some mystery about its successor, which was set to be called the Milano but had its press release pulled a week ago as Alfa scurried away and changed the name to Giulietta.

147-replacement Milano-to-be turns out to be Giulietta Mark 3

Alfa Giulietta: Italy’s new Golf rival

Alfa Romeo has unveiled its all-new replacement for the 147 small car, the Giulietta that reaches Australia in 2010.

8C Spider reviewed

Mostly reasonable and fair-minded review of Alfa's 8C Spider at the Financial Times.

Alfa to unleash a MiTo Cloverleaf version? Hope so

Legend returns on MiTo | Auto Express News | News | Auto Express

It looks as if Alfa fans are in for a spot of luck. The Italian firm has announced the latest driver-focused version of its MiTo hatchback, the Cloverleaf.

Car magazine briefly notes the 159 and its engines

Read it here. No analysis, just the facts. More depth soon, perhaps?

A nice crop of racing Alfas.. and the odd interloper

Just stumbled over this nice link to US track cars, excellent pics, classic Alfas and more...

Alfa Romeos to be rebadged as Dodges? And vice-versa?

I guess it's possible, but does it make any sense? Perhaps they will share parts and platforms only?

It's not something I'd get worked up about. If they were close enough design-wise and the Dodge was cheaper I'd buy the Dodge and stick Alfa badges on it...

Slightly more on the new 159 1750 'Berlina'

A link from India on the new Berlina 1750.

Alfa 169 goes Canadian, based on Chrysler 200C

As I said before, it all makes good practical sense.. now tell me, what did the "Alfa Romeo - Milano" label once mean?

Jeep Cherokee to become Alfa CXover/A? Yeeeech

It makes sense to grow a brand, it makes sense to share components. But an Alfa-ised Jeep Cherokee? Oh puke! Please let this not happen... 

The devil's work... Top Gear and the 147GTA Autodelta 328

It's a bit of fun, isn't it?? At least whilst we still have petrol, anyway.

Another GTA....! The 8c GTA, no less!

Well this is worth a read, although it's waaay out of my price range and it won't be the greenest car around. "Following in the footsteps of the 1965 Giulia Sprint GTA, it’s a model designed to blur the lines between a no-compromise race car and a comfort-oriented road machine. Alfa has cut no corners: the new vehicle is the most extreme to leave the factory gates."

Read more: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/239929/new_alfa_8c_gta_is_here.html

The Berlina 1750 is back.. although it's called a 159 turbo

Can't say I really miss the Berlina, but the 2.0l did move pretty well for a medium sedan... well now the 1750 moniker is back, but on a 159 instead of the Berlina... or so they say.

No surprises really

Some videos... the 147 replacement is the Milano. And the MiTo GTA is still "go", despite rumours.

Why do motoring journos "love" Alfas yet put them down? Habit? Deeper psychological need?

I don't really understand why this happens, and it's so common it's almost universal:

The 159 came here in 2006 sans not only the automatic transmission option — crucial these days if you’re serious about attracting more than a few hundred punters (such as myself) — but also the refinement, efficiency, performance and various other things hoped for by those of us who, against all reason, hold Alfa Romeo in some regard.

Agreed, I prefer a manual too, but many people like the auto (presumably for reasons of simplicity, reliability, lowered skill requirement and/or laziness I guess). But why say that it's "against all reason" to hold Alfa Romeo in some regard? It gets repeated so many times that it's become viral, something that many people repeat, even if they have no personal experience with the brand.

It must be part of that psychological imperative to label things again. Oh, and manuals are (arguably) simpler to make and repair and generally offer more car control with lower fuel consumption. As long as you use them properly. It all goes out the window with EVs anyway so let's not bother arguing about it.

How the world has changed. Another take on that Alfa GTV6 brochure #images

Alfa GTV6_brochure_058a
Originally uploaded by gtveloce

I just realised, of course, that the classy driver is in fact a classy passenger patiently waiting for that adventurous pilot/husband/boyfriend of hers to finish with the flying, already, and take her to that trendy restaurant featured elsewhere in the brochure.

I suspect Alfa's marketing is a bit sharper now. I remember it used to tagged with "the line, the style, the power". At least that stuck in my head. I have no idea what tag line they use now, so they aren't reaching me, anyway. And I'm probably in the target market.

In hindsight, a faintly hilarious Alfa GTV6 brochure, circa 1982

Alfa GTV6_brochure_060
Originally uploaded by gtveloce

Ah, nostalgia. This brochure is a hoot in many ways, if you want to look at it like that... but it was a serious marketing effort at the time. Alfa Romeo was spinning a tale here, of a car that races the wind, overtaking lesser cars at will. One loses count indeed. It reads like a poor translation from the Italian in parts, giving the impression that the car was actually built for classy women with a penchant for upmarket, trendy restaurants and hooning. I suspect that after she leaves the airfield she completes some nice circle work before drifting into the sunset. Or it could just be my imagination.

As a side note, although I vaguely knew GTVs existed, I saw my first one in the flesh, so to speak at Camden Aerodrome, Sydney, whilst awaiting a flight in a glider. It struck me then as a car that had style, and that I wanted to own. It was the very early 1980s. Maybe there's some truth in this Alfa + flying demographic.

ALFA RL SPORT e Super Sport

ALFA RL SPORT e SS_049
Originally uploaded by gtveloce

I've owned several Alfas and along the way have collected bits and pieces... including this set of old ALFA drawings in a red folder. It came from a dealer, when I bought my Giulietta, so I assume as promotional material Alfa was releasing it for everyone's edification.... including yours, if you choose to look.