There is some tension in the Fiat group over the production of Fiat 500 EV electric minicars, it seems. While CEO Sergio Marchionne predicts that for every sale of a Fiat 500 EV, Chrysler would make a $10,000 loss. Despite that figure, the company is pushing ahead with the Chrysler-built Fiat electric car, to debut in the US in 2012.

Meanwhile, Fiat Chairman John Elkann has said that electric cars get unfair coverage in the media, when compared to the actual proportion of those vehicles on the market. It would seem that this kind of excessive focus is contributing to the pressure automakers feel to build electric vehicles, despite them being economically unviable.

It seems a kind of phantom competition has been constructed over electric cars, with manufacturers racing to compete and provide alternatives, without getting any real returns. On the 10,000-dollar loss of each Fiat 500 EV, Sergio Marchionne says:

Continue reading: Fiat 500 EV to produce $10,000 loss on every vehicle

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We’re going to take this image of the Alfa Giulia Cloverleaf version as a rendering although the rhetoric on AutoExpress would suggest otherwise. Whatever the case, we like what they did and if the Alfa Giulia (159 replacement) turns out to be anything like this, we could have another gorgeous Alfa on our hands. The Giulia model will most likely inherit the Giulietta platform, lengthened for the sedan model, and will show off Fiat’s latest and greatest Multiair engine range, which is nothing short of impressive.

If Alfa can pull this one off, the Giulia sedan might be the one model that the market has been waiting for and could signal the real turning point for the company after the Alfa MiTo and Giulietta models. It will have to be very good and although the new Giulietta has been described as Alfa’s best car in a long time, the jury is still out as to whether it’s a great driver’s car.

The Giulietta perhaps was not designed purely to be a “driver’s car” but it’s what many customers and fans expect of the company with a great sports heritage. According to reports we could see the Giulia as early as next year and it would be considered a general competitor to the BMW 3 Series. It could get the 1750 TBi engine with 200 hp from the Brera, and a couple of high performance diesel options should also be available.

While the standard model should have a new Active Roll Control system and the various DNA driver modes to give a balance between cruising and sports handling, the top-performance Quadrifoglio Verde will carry the sports flag, possibly equipped with a 3.3-litre V6 from the Chrysler Pentastar. It could have about 300 hp with MultiAir technology and direct fuel injection, making this the kind of competitor to the Audi S5 that we’d love to see.

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The new Fiat 500 is now in its third year and Fiat has decided to give it an edge with a new twin-cylinder engine. The engine is the 900 TwinAir with 85 hp which will equip both the 500 and 500C models from September. It’s the first of a new family of twin-cylinders using the new Multiair system.

The TwinAir range will include engines with powersteps ranging between 65 and 105 hp while assuring an impressive reduction in CO2 emissions of about 30 percent. The 85 hp TwinAir has extremely low emissions for a petrol model, with manual transmission achieving 95 g/km of CO2, getting down to 92 with the Dualogic gearbox.

Fiat is proving its engineering capabilities are nothing to be sneezed at, though it invests them in a pint-sized model. The Fiat 500 is hugely popular, though, and new engine options such as this one should make it more appealing to those who want power and speed in a small package. A smaller turbine guarantees greater engine response. Compared to the standard 1.2-litre 70 hp engine the engine is about 23 percent more powerful. And compared to the 16v 1.4-litre, the engines are equally as powerful, but the new twin-cylinder is about 30 percent more economical on fuel consumption.

Fiat 500 TwinAir

Continue reading: Fiat 500 gets new twin-cylinder engine: 500 TwinAir

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The Alfa Giulietta in white or the Alfa Giulietta in red….? There was never any doubt that the Alfa Giulietta would be a sexy car at the Geneva show, and the 147 replacement looks like it could hold its own among the Giulietta competition, aesthetically at least. The big question is whether it will be enough for Sergio Marchionne. In a year marking 100 years of Alfa the main goal is to be a crowd pleaser, and sell while you’re at it.

The Alfa Giulietta comes with some impressive engine options - the new 1.4-litre Multiair with 170 hp, for example, or the 1.4 T-Jet with 120 hp. But if you want the superfast, sports model in true Alfa Romeo tradition, you’ve just got to go for the Giulietta Quadrifoglio Verde, with its four-cylinder engine with 235 hp. It has a top speed of 242 km/hr and can reach 100 km/hr in 6.8 seconds. Check her out in these lovely Giulietta live pics.

Alfa Romeo Giulietta live at Geneva

Continue reading: Alfa Romeo Giulietta live pics from Geneva Motor Show

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The Alfa Giulietta could be the car that saves Alfa Romeo in the eyes of CEO Sergio Marchionne, unimpressed by the performance of the brand. And it’s nothing less than we’d expect from sensual Alfa design, and this fast cut video shows it from all angles. Try to ignore the subtitles, or you’ll miss the look of the car (fabulous in white).

Debuting at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, the Alfa Giulietta will have a turbocharged 1.4-litre petrol engine with 120 hp, though the more exciting 1.4 Multiair will also be available from the launch date, with 170 hp. There will be a 1.6-litre JTDM with 105 hp and a 2.0 JDTM with 170 hp. For those wanting the full Alfa power job, a Quadrifoglio Verde version should also be produced, with 235 hp.

Continue reading: Alfa Romeo Giulietta video

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We saw the Alfa Romeo MiTo “Nine” video over on Blogdolcevita.com and here is some more information on the MiTo Nine package courtesy of our colleagues at Autoblog.it. The package is named after the upcoming movie musical from Rob Marshall, based on the Federico Fellini film, 8 1/2.

The “Nine” package is available for all versions of the MiTo, except the Quadrifoglio Verde equipped with the 1.4-litre TB MultiAir engine with 170 hp. The Nine kit on the “Progression” range offers “Elegante” 16-inch alloy wheels, black tint roof and brushed finish for door handles, mirrors, and headlight frames - at a cost of about 1,400 euros.

For the “Distinctive” range of the MiTo, the special kit includes 17-inch wheels, leather seats, lumbar back adjustment in the rear passenger seats, and the same black roof and brushed satin finish. The cost on this range is 1,700 euros. Check out the MiTo product placement if you’re going to see the film, and see the “Nine” with the Alfa MiTo preview video on Blogdolcevita.

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2010 will be an exciting year for Alfa Romeo with the new Alfa Giulietta being released. These pics come from the official Giulietta website and show the Rosso Competizione red colour, although we still don’t have a full view shot which is very frustrating if you’re an Alfa fan!

The Giulietta 1750TBi engine option, with Quadrifoglio Verde is available from the debut, as part of an impressive engine line-up, which includes the 1.4-litre 120 hp and 165 hp (the latter is MultiAir). Diesel options available include the 1.6-litre with 105 hp and the 2.0-litre with 170 hp.

Continue reading: More Alfa Giulietta pics

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The new Fiat Punto Evo is turning into a success on the local Italian market, with more than 35,000 sales since it first came on the scene on October 10th. While some Italians have reservations about the style of the Punto Evo, it is a winner in terms of its technology and performance, at competitive prices.

The Punto Evo shows off some great Fiat Powertrain technology at low prices. Prices for the Punto Evo start at 11,800 euros, ranging to 17,200 euros for the Multijet II 1.3-litre with 95 hp. The original 1.3-litre Multijet with 75 hp sits in the middle at 13,650 euros.

While the Fiat Punto Evo might not glow on other markets, its importance to the Italian market looks assured, particularly with these competitive prices. The new 1.4-litre aspirated Multiair engine, and the turbo T-Jet model, will both debut in the course of 2010.

Source | Autoblog.it

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After the launch of the new Fiat Punto Evo, the Abarth Grande Punto also gets an update. Housed in a new look Abarth Punto will be the 1.4-litre Turbo MultiAir engine with 170 hp, soon to debut on the Alfa MiTo Quadrifoglio Verde (or Alfa MiTo clover leaf).

This would suggest that the future version of the Abarth Punto Evo EsseEsse could reach 200 hp, but it also indicates that we may soon see an Abarth with dual-clutch technology. The new Alfa MiTo will feature the new c635 six-speed transmision, built in Italy and having also dry dual-clutch technology. It will appear on the MiTo, future Alfa Milano and probably many other vehicles of the Fiat group. So fingers crossed that we will see an Abarth Grande Punto Evo with this technology - it would be car to test drive!

Source | Autoblog.it

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Here’s the first video of the Fiat Punto Evo to get a closer look at what is fast becoming the flag bearer for Fiat. After the hype of the Fiat 500 (cute but small), settling in to something more sensible, and more powerful, is just what we need. Fiat is serious about the new Punto Evo, giving it some style and, more importantly, the Multiair 1.4-litre engine.

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The Fiat Punto Evo made its appearance at the Frankfurt Motor Show and has now been officially presented with new pics and details. We’re still waiting on the full press release, but below are the details from Frankfurt.

The Punto Evo should be an exciting model for Fiat, building on the success of the Grande Punto, with new technological innovations and an impressive engine range. The next generation 1.3 Multijet is available, as is the new 1.4 Multiair, both Euro 5 compliant. Twin-fuel LPG and methane versions are also available.

Start&Stop technology is included, and the Punto Evo will be fully kitted out with seven airbags, Blue&Me entertainment system and “hill holder” hill start function among others. It will be available on the Italian market from mid-October and could prove to be an economic alternative to the Alfa MiTo for those less style conscious. More details and pics after the jump.

Continue reading: New pics Fiat Punto Evo debuts

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According to rumours, the Fiat C-Evo platform set to debut on the Alfa Romeo Milano will appear on future Jeep and Chrysler models. This is after indiscretions regarding Multiair engine technology and Chrysler assembly operations at Fiat Bertone facilities after the Fiat-Chrysler deal.

Apparently the first model that will be built on the platform will be a compact Jeep SUV, while Chrysler will use C-Evo on the new PT Cruiser and Sebring (the longer wheelbase C-Evo version). It’s even possible that the latter model will have a Lancia-branded Italian version. All new C-Evo Chrysler models should be using Multiair engines from 2011, with subsequent debuts from 2011 to 2012. We can’t help but wonder if there’s much in it for Fiat at this stage…

Source | Al volante via Autoblog.it

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