About 2 months ago, I was helping out fellow club member Adam Davis with a drive story for his motoring website www.lautista.com.au. The brief this time was to drive and compare an original 1960s Mini Cooper S with the recently superseded supercharged version, and the current turbo version. I was lucky enough to have a decent drive in the supercharged model, but more about that later. I’d never had any great love of the later Minis, but I can respect the fact that they are a fun and pretty quick car. Reviews of them are usually pretty favourable, and some of the ones that turn up to our sprint days are indecently fast.

As I started talking to the two blokes who owned the later Minis, both were, shall we say, keen, to point out that the cars belonged to their wives, and that they were practical, stylish and easy to drive cars. That said, they were both also very vocal about how much fun the cars were, and how fast you could hustle them along. The driver of the supercharged car was upset that on one particular stretch of the drive his car was 3km/h down on the turbo car. Suffice to say that both of them were having twice as much fun as legally allowed on the open road. (more…)

Based on Fiat’s Grande Punto platform and designed with the exotic Alfa Romeo 8C in mind, the Alfa Romeo MiTo (for Milano and Torino) is the firm’s answer to the Mini. Only available only in a three-door, it’s also the first in a two-part replacement of the aging 147: a new five-door only car rumored to be badged Milano will be introduced in the next few years and the 147 will be phased out at that time.

I recently had a chance to sample a gasoline-powered 120hp 1.4 T-jet MiTo equipped with a 6-speed manual transmission. When I first drove off in the car I was anything but impressed – it seemed slower than my daily driver 1997 Fiat Brava, 200cc bigger but also heavier. I was expecting it to be much faster and briefly wondered if I mistakenly hadn’t released the hand brake all the way. Once I got the rpms up it picked up a bit but as soon as I hit a roundabout and had to build up speed again I found myself cursing the acceleration. (more…)

We just got news that the BAT 11 owned by Gary Kaberle of Michigan will be making an appearance at this years Concorso Italiano. The BAT 11 is an exciting new Bertone designed concept car. The BAT 11 has futuristic styling although the basic design theme is over 50 years old. The show car is based on the platform dimensions of the Maserati Gran Turismo, itself a long-wheelbase version of the Alfa 8C. There is so much more to this car, but you’ll have to see it in person.

North American Debut of Unique Alfa 8C Scheduled for Meadow Brook Concours

A one-of-a-kind 1934 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 (serial no. 2311237) will make its North American Debut at the 30^th Anniversary Meadow Brook Concours d’Elegance on August 2, 2009. This exciting performance car is a one-off alloy Boattail Speedster formerly owned by Angela Cherrett− noted authority and author on Alfa 8Cs, and will be presented in unrestored condition.

“We’re thrilled that the owner of this thorough-bred vintage race car has chosen the Meadow Brook Concours as the venue for its North American debut,” said Matthew de Larcinese, Executive Director – Meadow Brook Concours d’Elegance. “This addition to the show field is certain to be a crowd pleaser!” (more…)

Ever wonder exactly what is involved in restoring a car to an award winning level? What kind of attention to detail it takes to get all the bits and pieces correct?

Well recently one of our AlfaBB.com site memebers George Kraus did exactly that. George documented and posted many photos of his restoration process. Recently his 1960 Giulietta Spider Veloce won a “First In Class” at the 2008 Forest Grove Concours d’Elegance.

Here is a link to his wonderful thread covering some of the cars transformations.

I was riding with my cousin in his Peugeot 306 on a June day when the topic of what car I drove came up. At the time, my daily driver was a 1988 Milano. I started to explain what an Alfa 75 looks like.

“A four door sedan, kind of boxy. You know, the ones the cops used in Italy in the early 90s. Does that help at all?”

“.. not one bit.”

I told him I’d show him a photo and with that, the subject was dropped in favor of us two taking turns pointing out how hot it was. Not five minutes later, I saw a worn out Alfa 75 2.4 TD parked at a shop and pointed it out to him. As we drove past, I noticed more Alfas—a 33, an Alfetta, a Super, a Spider and another 33. The second 33 had a trailer with the remains of a 2000 GTV on it. Thinking that GTV would be worth a look, I asked my cousin to turn around at the next roundabout. (more…)

As reported earlier, BMW and Fiat will be teaming up on a new front-wheel-drive, small car platform that will underpin the next MINI and future Fiats and Alfa Romeos. Now comes word from Automotive News that the partnership will also include the two automakers collaborating on Alfa Romeo’s return to the States in 2010 and the introduction of a new model, code-named “project 940.”

Fiat’s statement included the line, “as part of a possible cooperation, BMW Group will provide Fiat Group Automobiles with support in launching the Alfa Romeo brand in the North American market.” Furthermore, a Fiat spokesperson told AN, “MINI U.S. dealers would have the possibility to also sell Alfa Romeo cars.” (more…)

If you think the new Alfa Romeo MiTo looks good now, wait until the seriously sporty GTA version is launched. Representing the most powerful model in the range with the GTA designation, the MiTo is expected to arrive following the standard MiTo’s launch in summer 2009. The top range hot-hatch will produce 230hp from a 1.8-liter turbocharged engine with direct injection and variable valve timing.

Although the image above is rendered speculation from the fine folks over at Progetto955.it it looks tantalizingly good with the over sized rims on low-profile tires which fill in the air gap of the bulbous wheel arches quite nicely. The body kit is eccentric, but still, tastefully done. (more…)

Alfa Romeo once again unveils its new models onto the world market at the Geneva event. Indeed, following on from the Alfa 159 and Brera in 2005, the 159 Sportwagon and Spider in 2006, and its Personalisation Programme going by the name of “Alfa Unica” in 2007, it is now the turn of the alluring Alfa 8C Spider.

Undisputed centre stage on the stand, this new car inherits its coupe sibling’s winning formula that shook the motoring world. Put together by Alfa’s Centro Stile and production limited to 500 cars, this new open top immediately entices with that unmistakable “Italian elegance”, a unique and inimitable style that hints at its typically sporty Alfa handling.

(more…)