Modern-Day Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA Imagined by French Designer

If the Porsche 911 is the model that even its creators couldn't kill, then Alfa Romeo is surely its brand equivalent in the automotive world. It’s not that Fiat's management didn’t try (willingly or not), but in a peculiar way, Alfa (unlike Saab, for instance) always made a comeback.

Maybe it's the Italian flair that makes you forget sins of the past or the niggles of its current portfolio (Brera seating position, anyone?), but the Alfisti remain faithful to their beloved brand.

One such Alfa Romeo enthusiasts is independent French designer Vincent Montreuil. He may not be Italian, but then again, no one ever said that Alfas were adored only in their home country.

While the Americans are still waiting for the company to stay true to its promise and eventually return to the U.S., Vincent created some pretty convincing renderings of a 21st century Alfa Romeo coupe.

It's a modern day, front-engined, rear-wheel drive iteration of the legendary Giulia GTA of the 1960’s that he made during his last year in arts school.

Just as GTA stood for Gran Turismo Alleggerita (lightweight), messieurs' Montreuil Giulia was conceived, in his own words, as a “sport and light coupe concept". And if it was his call, he would make it really light, only 800 kg (just shy of 1,800 pounds) and give it a 200HP engine.

Now, we know that Alfa is already working on the (mid-engined) 4C and that the Giulia name is earmarked for the (unfashionably late) 159 replacement.

This does not detract from Vincent’s work one bit though. Besides, we wouldn’t bet against the Italians changing the new sedan’s name at the last moment. Either way, feel free to visit his website and perhaps leave your comments.

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Honda EV-STER Concept to Spawn a Production Model

It looks like the retro-styled N Concept 4 city car won't be the only Honda study displayed at this month's Tokyo Motor Show that will end up going into production as the Japanese carmaker's CEO Takanobu Ito told German magazine Auto Motor und Sport that the open-top EV-STER has also received the green light.

The Honda boss revealed that the battery-powered, rear-wheel drive roadster could arrive in the market as early as 2012, adding that the company may also introduce more conventional version with a classic gasoline engine, without offering any more details.

However, it's only reasonable to assume that the gasoline model would be a hybrid matching an internal combustion engine with an electric motor.

At 3,570mm (140.5-in.) long, 1,500mm (59.0-in.) wide and 1,100mm (43.3-in.) tall, with a wheelbase of 2,325mm (92.5-in.), the tiny concept is marginally larger than Honda's 1990s mid-engined kei car, the Beat.

In conceptual form, the two-seater features an electric motor that draws energy from a 10kWh lithium-ion battery and powers the rear wheels. Honda said that the EV-STER could complete the zero to 100km/h (62mph) sprint in 5 seconds flat and reach a maximum speed of 160km/h (100mph).

The Japanese automaker also claims a driving range of around 160 kilometers (100 miles) and a charging time of under 3 hours using a 200V source and in less than 6 hours with a 100V source.

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2013 Mercedes-Benz SL

It’s no key that Mercedes-Benz has almost accomplished function on the next technology of its SL roadster, as the In german organization itself lately released several complex information along with formal photos of the car, at the same time still covered up in cover up.

However, if these released examined pictures of the 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL guide grow to be real – and from what we can tell, they seem real, you can get your first look at Stuttgart new roadster style in the collection after the leap.

The tests, which were released on the Germancarforum web page, validate our accusations that the all-new SL roadster provides an overall appearance very just like the confident style with several appearance hints obtained from the lesser SLK.

More or less, it's the same tale in the cottage, which is incredibly SLK-like in information, be that for the device section structure or the middle program style.

Underneath the sheetmetal, Bmw informs us that the 2013 SL is designed almost entirely (89%) from light weight metal, apart from high-strength aluminum incorporated in the A-pillars and the (even light than aluminum) the mineral magnesium in the back section.

The new development has granted the Spanish people to eliminate some 140kg (308 pounds) over the present style. According to Bmw, "the impact is rather as if a heavyweight-class traveler had got out of the car and taken his hefty trip baggage, too".

The new SL preserves the present model's sinkable hardtop remedy, while including several new complex functions such as a modern car windows washing program, as well as new powerplant collection.

Mercedes programs to disclose the next SL to the community for the first time at the Detroit Generator Display in The month of january, but possibilities are that we'll have our first formal look at the roadster style before the end of the season.

Story References: Germancarform

 

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GM Completes 1 Million Test Miles with 2013 Chevrolet Malibu

It's no key that all significant carmakers put their new automobiles through a sequence of assessments including generating prototypes tons of distance all over the community and under all types of circumstances before they get into normal generation.

The future 2013 Malibu, which will be Chevy's first-ever international midsize automobile, is the same to this rule. On Friday, Common Engines declared that the Malibu's designers overtook the 1 thousand distance level of on-road examining, which were built up since the first one fourth of 2010 on a fast of about 170 hand-built prototypes on six different areas.

The pre-production prototypes, which were designed in the U.S.A. and delivered around the planet, were influenced for a snowballing normal of more than 45,450 distance each 30 days, from GM's showing argument around Southern The u. s. declares, to the roadways and back roadways of the Usa States, Southern america, Quotes, Southern South korea, The far east, Britain, Dubai and Malaysia.

“You master a lot about a car when you invest so much time in it – and that is exactly the factor,” said Mark Moussa, international primary professional. “In the last season and a 50 %, during every small of the day, a 2013 Malibu has been generating somewhere worldwide – all to make it the best car it can be.”

The 2013 Malibu will arrive at U.S. shops in the first one fourth of 2012 with an preliminary beginning price of $25,995 for the 38mpg Eco design.

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Does the World Really Need Another Chinese Brand?

We tried to matter the number of The far east carmakers, and it changes out that there are around 70 manufacturers. That is not keeping track of the overseas makes they have already purchased like Volvo, or are currently trying to receive like Saab, nor their several combined projects with almost every big-, medium- or small-sized overseas vehicle organizations from Isuzu and Suzuki to Toyota and Common Engines.

Even Alfa Romeo, which has ended its come back to the U.S. more times than we care to consider, has programs to kind a partnership with business Guangzhou Vehicle.

Well, the list just got a little but larger as on Friday Chery Vehicle Co. and financial commitment decision organization Israel Corp. declared a new partnership that will guide to a new model known as Qoros.

At its helm is Chery recognized Guo Qian, who has thought the location of CEO, and former VW management Volker Steinwascher, who is Qoros’ vice chairman.

According to Steinwascher, the business aspires to produce about 150,000-160,000 automobiles a year by 2015 or 2016, 50 % of which will be marketed in The far east and the relax released to The european union.

He included that the new carmaker is already creating three sleek and stylish motors, which will be built at the Changshu place north west of Shanghai.

“Qoros motors incorporate In german style quality and style with Western usefulness and functionality”, said Steinwascher, conveying that the model is using designers that have formerly labored for carmakers like BMW and VW.

It’s only natural for everyone to want a element of the globe's greatest car marketplace. Experts like Yale Zhang, head of Shanghai visiting organization Automotive Experience Co., be aware that the The far east vehicle marketplace has become congested. And with many overseas carmakers preparation to start new manufacturers together with their nearby associates, it’s certain to become even more.

Zhang contributes that, despite bursting one sales history after another in the earlier years, 2011 has noticeable a decline that, if ongoing, will location some serious problems for many of those carmakers: ““If marketplace place grew even larger sluggishly, submitting low single-digit development, for many years immediately, a shakeout would become unavoidable.”
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Sights and Sounds of the New Toyota 86 from First JDM Test Drive

Our coverage of the production version of what we came to know that the FT-86 as a concept, but Toyota has decided to appoint the BT 86 for Europe and only 86 'in its home market in Japan, continues with two new videos depicting the rear wheel drive sports car in action.

The first clip is from a fast lap around the Fuji Speedway circuit, while the second video contains a more complete proof of a Japanese car magazine, which offers us more than a thorough review of the images and sounds of 86 and a wider range of colors.

Toyota is very optimistic about '86 ', which describes it as a "totally driver-focused sports car, designed to find the fundamental joys of the automobile."

A Japanese company is a recipe for a 200HP naturally aspirated engine is mounted in front of the combined six-speed manual (or 6SP car) and the differential driving the rear wheels, and a near-perfect 53:47 front-rear weight distribution.

Now, you already know that '86 'will give rise to the Global Subaru BRZ and the North American market alone, the Scion FR-S.

For those of you thirsting for more information about the '86 'you can see our overall message that includes all the technical details with the initial and the first images of both models of European and Japanese markets.
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McLaren Gives us an Insight into its New Production Center

Venturing into the car sales take a lot more than building a few prototypes of the new model, and then wait for the order to bring you even more if you're going to compete at the highest levels, and establish themselves as a manufacturer of supercars.

McLaren Automotive is why not just build its first supercar after 90 years of iconic F1, but also invested almost £ 50 million (€ 58.2 or $ U.S. 77.3 million) in the development of a new State of the Art Factory - or rather, as he called the company, the production of McLaren Center (MPC).

British Prime Minister, David Cameron, opened in MPC will be the race of the two McLaren road cars built last week. The company also launched a "look inside Manufacturing" campaign to raise awareness of the importance of engineering in the UK, encouraging young people to get a glimpse of the inner workings of the technical center.

The first stage of this campaign was the "Manufacture of McLaren challenge" competition in which students had to design and build a motor vehicle that may be less of an object at a distance of 10 meters as fast as possible.

The mousetrap-powered vehicle, designed by Woking College won the challenge, recording a time of just 2.28 seconds and was invited to the MPC, where the students received the award from the British Prime Minister.

You can follow the jump to see the video of the new McLaren Production Centre, and an extensive photo gallery.
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