In Nomvember 2009 VW will play its ace with the sixth series of the Golf: a difficult task for the small-medium car which will have to make its way on the knife edge passage from one generation to the next. It should be a callling back to the fourth series, implicitly admitting the scarse appeal of the current range.

There will be a number of departures from the style of the fifth Golf: chrome plating will disappear and the next version will have a more subtle grill with only the brand’s logo in view. The measurements will be slightly larger, reaching 423 cm, only three more than the current model. In terms of occupancy the situation will remain more or less the same.

Auto, Motor und Sport reports that the focus will be more “driver-oriented” with notable steps forward in reducing weight and emissions thanks to a new diesel-hybrid engine. Another word from up high was “downsizing” the motors, a move that will involve all manufacturers in the coming years: the Golf will have both aspiration petrol and turbo engines from 80 to 200 hp, while for the diesel a common rail with a first in a 1.6 litre which will be offered with the 2.0 TDI.

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Its destiny was uncertain and information continuing to disappear: after all we’re talking about the heir to the Escort RS Cogsworth, a car with a strong heart and heavy feet. After having officially confermed its presence with a teaser Ford has begun to unleash onto the road the first models of the Ford RS, waited upon by fans as the first spring sun.

The two-colour duco and especially the air vents of the bonnet don’t deserve criticism for their gaudiness as in place is a 280hp with five cylinder turbo from Volvo origins. The only shame, according to rumours, is the presence of rear wheel drive, though it does have electronic differential. The debut, as already anticipated, should be in 2009.

Via | AutoExpress

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The official blog of the Alfa Mi.To has arrived online, the baby version having finally been revealed last Friday. The most interesting part is definitely the “Meet Mi.To” which allows for some lucky users to discover, and then reveal to others the Mi.To, after having seen it in person at the Centro Stile Alfa.

Navigating through the site the first technical data of the Mi.To can be read: the measurements, as we had already indicated, are 406 x 144 x 172 cm, with a wheelbase of 251, while the trunk and fuel tank capacity are at 270 and 45 litres. A curiosity: it seems that the car can be adapted for both four or five occupants, according to customers’ needs.

For the engines the 1.4 turbo 155 hp has been confirmed, the same as the Abarth Grande Punto. The five cylinder “Euro 5 ready” handles an overboost function, where the Torque passes from 206 to 230 Nm. In the video, Sergio Cravero explains the reasons behind the choice of the name Mi.To.

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Undoubtably it’s Alfa Romeo Mi.To Day at Eurocarblog: after the first official images and the official press release here’s a nice video that shows the exterior of the Mi.To. Nice car.

Via | Thecarfanatic.com

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Subaru has in store a nasty version of the Impreza, equipped with a diesel engine capable of 200 hp output, which is 50 more than the more normal boxer presented recently.

Prodrive of Banbury is behind the development, according to reports from Channel4Car. The Japanese hatchback has a strong point in its sporty attributes (225 km/hr, 0-60 mph in less than seven seconds), with performance and consumption comparable to the best common rail examples currently available.

The name will probably remain as RS so as not to infringe on the WRX STI range. Unfortunately we will have to wait until next year for sales. Until 2009, as regards a diesel, we will have to satisfy ourselves with the powerstep at 150 hp.

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After the ufficial teaser, the Top Gear site has some realistic images and developments on the new Focus RS that, suprisingly, will be presented under the “concept” category at the London show, and will not be a reality until 2009.

The five cylinder turbo will have between 280 and 300 hp but the latest rumors conferm the use of only rear-wheel drive and not all-wheel, which would be necessary to compete with other rally cars such as the Subaru Impreza STi and the Mitsubishi EVO X. The RS however should be equipped with semi-active limited-slip differential. At this point we ask ourselves if releasing it in 2009 will be too late for such a special version, which will probably be on the heels of the career-end of its previous model.

Continue reading: Ford Focus RS: only a concept in 2008

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The official announcement of the Alfa Mi.To is out. Mi.To is short for Milano-Torino: Milan is the historical Alfa Romeo base and the place where the Mi.To was designed, Turin is the city that will be responsbible for the Mi.To’s production.

The Mi.To’s style is inspired by the 8C Competizione, especially the glass surfaces, the front, the headlights and the frontlights.

The Mito has dimensions very similar to those of the Grande Punto, with which it shares the underlying platform: 4.06 metres long, 1.44 metres high and 1.72 metres wide.

Initially there will be four turbocharged engines, ranging from 90 hp to 155 hp. There are no details on the exact engines, but we can expect the 90 hp engine to be the same 1.3 JTD used in the Grande Punto and the 155 hp engine to be the same 1.4 T-Jet used in the Grande Punto Abarth. The other two engines will probably be the 120 hp 1.4 T-Jet and another diesel engine (either the 105 hp power step of the 1.3 JTD or the new 1.6 JTD).

Continue reading: Alfa Mi.To - the official announcement

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Today is the big day for Alfa Romeo: the Mi.To will be officially announced. For now we have to make do with these three preview images found by Carscoop but later on in the day we’ll have official details.

We’re expecting a nice range of engines, from the 95-100 hp of 1.4 used in the Grande Punto to the 230 hp of the new 1.8 T-Jet, with intermediate options ranging from the 105-120 hp 1.6 Mjet turbodiesel engines and the 150-180 hp of the 1.4 T-Jet engines used in the Grande Punto Abarth.

Via | Carscoop

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Rumours about the new small Alfa Romeo hatchback are flying around the ‘net. The latest is about the name of the car known until now as “Alfa Junior”. After the unsatisfying Alfa Naming contest, now there’s talk of difficulties in registering a trademark for the Junior name.

The latest names being bandied about are Alfa Mito or Alfa Milano. As support for these hypotheses, the Progetto955.it blog has discovered that the “alfamito” and “alfamilano” domains have been registerd by Fiat Group all over Europe.

Via | Progetto955.it (render from Autoweek.nl)

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Mini is resuming production of the John Cooper Works-tuned Mini, both in the hatch and Clubman version.

The engine of the new John Cooper Works Mini will be the 1.6-litre turbo-charged 4 cylinder unit, tuned to produce 211 ps and a torque of 260 Nm (temporarily boostable to 280 Nm). The sprint from 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) will take only 6.5 seconds. The modifications are extensive (details in the press release below) and include a bigger turbocharger with a higher charge pressure. As an added bonus, the JCW Mini will be the first to comply with the Euro5 emission regulations.

Sales of the Mini John Cooper Works and Mini John Cooper Works Clubman will start in July 2008. Prices are yet to be announced.

Continue reading: Mini John Cooper Works

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