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Alfa Romeo will produce the 8C Spider

According to the Italian magazine Quattroruote, Alfa Romeo will produce the magnificent 8C Spider that appeared for the first time at the 2005 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Five hundred are scheduled to be built from 2008 and sold at €180,000/$245,000/£120,000.
Derived from the current 8C, the spider version will inherit the Ferrari/Maserati-derived 4.7-litre V8, which has an output of 450 hp/443 bhp.
Originally the spider version was not planned by the Italian carmaker but built upon the request of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance organizers. The latter intended to display the last G1 1921 and the incredible Bertone BAT concepts and thought that a modern Alfa car with the same pedigree would be an ideal addition to the set.
July 4, 2007
Spyshots: Mercedes SLC

These are the first pictures of the future Mercedes coupe based on the platform of the next-generation SL roadster. Dubbed “SLC”, the car would be powered by the 6.2 litre V8 engine that equips all top of the range AMGs. With an ouput of more than 500 bhp in current models, the SLC would be able to compete with BMW and Audi. The latter is planning to release a high-power V10 R8 coupe later in the year.
The SLC is also an attempt to get rid of the SLR whose sales are not meeting expectations according to some rumours. Unlike the SLR, the SLC is being developed by HWA. Quite unknown, HWA was founded by Hans-Werner Aufrecht who also co-founded 40 years ago. The company is in charge of Mercedes’ entry in DTM.
Click here to see all pictures
Source: Winding Road
June 22, 2007
Fiat comes back to Argentina… With Tata

As many other companies, Fiat left Argentina in 2002 due to the economic crisis. After 5 years the Italian carmaker is back but this time it will share the risks with the Indian giant Tata. Together they will invest $80,000,000 to upgrade the factory Fiat owns there. They plan to build 25,000 Tata pick ups each year that will be sold under the Fiat label in Central America, South America and maybe in Europe. In January 2008, the factory will also start to produce the Fiat Sienna sedan again.
This is not the first common project between both carmakers. Indeed they signed an agreement to set up a joint-venture in India in last July. The joint-venture will build 100,000 cars and 250,000 engines each year in its factory located in north India. The successful Fiat Grande Punto will be one of the Fiat assembled and sold in India.
June 21, 2007
18 green Mercedes for Frankfurt motorshow

The German carmaker would reveal up to 18 new green models at the next Frankfurt motorshow according to Auto, Motor und Sport.
Thanks to the British car magazine, Autocar, we know that Mercedes-Benz will show a hybrid version of the S-Class based on the Vision S350 Direct Hybrid concept car that was revealed at the same motorshow two years ago. In opposition to Lexus that put a V8 engine in its flagship, the LS600h, Mercedes-Benz would use the existing V6 3.5 litre 268 bhp at which a small electric engine would be added. Less powerful than the LS600h, the hybrid S-Class would have 300 bhp but would get a S400 or S450 label to justify an expensive price tag.
Mercedes-Benz will also display an incredible S-Class equipped with a smal 4 cylinders 2.2 litres engine. This Bluetec diesl engine produces 201 bhp and meets Euro6 requirements due in 2014. According to Auto, Motor und Sport, the Stuttgart’s brand would also show an E-Class equipped witht the same engine and a C-Class that would make more than 50 mpg.
The last surprise would come from a hydrogen powered concept car based on the B Class that would be produced at 150 units in 2010.
June 21, 2007
Roewe builds 10,000th Chinese KV6

The first awarded Chinese engine, the Roewe KV6, has been producced at 10,000 units since the end of January. For this occasion the Chinese invited the press at a party and announced it would produce 80,000 KV6 in its Bo Shan factory in 2007.

Launched in February, the 750 model is a big success thanks to a big advertsing campaign. In order to get one, the buyer must drop a deposit whose amount varies from 5% to 25% of the price tag and must be ready to wait from one one month to three months.
Recently, the 750 model got a good review from the British car magazine Auto Express and we can expect it to be sold in Europe in 2008.
June 21, 2007
The making of the former BMW 3-Series

Everyday we can watch videos about future models or funny TV commercials. With this video we become an open-mouthed child.

June 20, 2007
Spyshots: BMW 1-Series convertible

The launch date of the 1-Series Coupe barely announced, here are the first almost undisguised spyshots of the convertible.

Like the coupe, the convertible is much sexier than the hatchback and BMW made the right decision to favor a soft top. Perhaps it is less impressive while working but it suits better the carmaker’s brand image.

No information is available concerning the engine but inline 4 and 6 will be available in order to compete with the future Audi A3 convertible.
June 20, 2007
Volvo R reincarnates into R-Design

Volvo announced the end of the “R” performance lineup in last April due to poor sales. Only 1098 S60R and 538 V70R were sold last year. Nevertheless Volvo also confirmed that sporty models would still be available but without the R label. It sounds that the R would reincarnate into an optional kit called R-Design.

Available on the S40 and the V50, the kit might include a sporty body kit and specific interior. It might also include stiffer suspensions and some engine upgrades. All these changes are quite disappointing and quite insulting for the “R” label. We must not forget that the craziest estate of the last fifteen years carried the “R” label: THE mellow yellow 850 T5-R.
June 20, 2007
Spyshots: Lamborghini Gallardo V8?

Here are the first spyshots of what could be a downsized version of the Gallardo according to the website World Car Fans. This cheaper Gallardo would get a V8 engine just like the Audi R8. On the spyshots, the main changes are a revised fascia and altered exhaust pipes.
So why Audi would sell a cheaper that would be able to compete with the R8? The Audi supercar is one of the best supercars of the market, if not the best according to some specialists, but there is a but. Audi can’t build enough R8 to satisfy demand because of fibre panels that are difficult to make. It can only build 20 R8 a day.
Selling a cheaper Gallardo with the same engine as the R8 would enable Audi to redirect the unsatisfied demand to the Italian carmaker. Obviously the V8 Gallardo would be more expensive than the equivalent R8 but it has enough sex-appeal to justify it.
Click here to see all pictures
June 20, 2007
Golf GTI V W12 in motion

Volkswagen revealed an astonishing Golf V GTI powered by a W12 one month ago. This Golf inherited its engine from the Phaeton at which engineers added two turbo. The potion produced 650 bhp at 6000 rpm. Unfortunately we only had pictures … Until yesterday. There is now a video in which we can listen to the W12 at small speed. It is not like a circuit but it is still enjoyable.
June 20, 2007