Alfa 166 Replacement To Be U.S.-Built

LONDON — Alfa Romeo will likely manufacture a rear-wheel-drive replacement for its defunct 166 executive sedan exclusively in North America, where most will be sold, Inside Line has learned.

The plant, probably Chrysler's 300C site in Brampton, Ontario, will also supply Europe with the car.

The new big Alfa, originally codenamed project 169, will share a brand-new, Chrysler-developed platform planned for the next-generation 300C and Dodge Charger sedans, although the Alfa version will feature bespoke suspension and powertrains.

Alfa believes a rear-drive platform to be essential for models in this class, and its integration with Chrysler suddenly provides it with a potentially suitable architecture.

Alfa is to collaborate closely with Dodge in future, this being the most sporting brand in the Chrysler portfolio.

Insiders report that the tieup with Chrysler has prompted Alfa to rewrite much of its product plan as a result of the new opportunities that this alliance presents. Apart from the possibility of producing Alfas in the U.S., once a fertile market for the brand, higher potential sales volumes, reduced component costs and enhanced distribution have all improved the prospects for the return of this famous brand to the U.S., which is slated for 2011.

Fiat will be announcing its product plans for the Chrysler Group in more detail in Detroit in mid-November.

The Chrysler rear-drive platform could also provide the basis of a new Alfa Spider and Brera — in shortened form, it is the base for the Challenger — although there is no confirmation of this, and the architecture may prove too large to suit European buyers. But Alfa is believed to be exploring the return of the Spider, and possibly its mainstream coupe siblings, to the rear-wheel-drive format last used by the Duetto Spider in the '90s, and the Alfetta GTV in the '80s. The company has already completed the design of the Spider, and will be looking for another rear-drive platform if Chrysler's does not suit.

Chrysler Group in turn will be taking three platforms from Fiat known as A (500, Panda), B (Grande Punto) and C, the last being new and the basis for the 147-replacing Milano which debuts early next year. The C platform will be stretched to provide architecture for the new Giulia, which replaces the 159. In theory, the Giulia and Milano could also be manufactured in the U.S. once Chrysler and Dodge are producing their own models on these platforms.

Inside Line says: Fiat's Chrysler alliance may make Alfa a North American success again — if it can get the products right.

— Richard Bremner, Correspondent

Wings & Wheels Show, 26 SEP 09

Wings & Wheels is an annual car and air show located at Hummel Airfield in Topping, Virginia. This rain or shine festival provides a great all-day experience for family and friends. In addition to dozens of automobiles and aircrafts, food and craft vendors are located throughout the festival grounds for all visitors.

For the first time this year, there will be a miniture turbine jet as well as games for children. The Sheriff's office will have their new comman post, and there will be a 1944 Sterman giving airplane rides. There is free admittance for visitors; however, donations are appreciated. Parking is also available within walking distance with an appreciated $5.00 donation to the Fire Department.

DIRECTIONS

F1 Slaps Renault's Hands, Hammers Flavio

The FIA has slapped Renault, hammered Flavio Briatore, gave Pat Symonds a stern talking to and kissed and made up with Nelson Piquet.

Renault has been given a two year suspended ban for its racing fixing scandal. Falvio Briatore has received an "indefinite ban" and Pat Symonds came away with a five year suspension. Nelson Piquet turned states evidence and thus will not receive any punishment for his role in the scandal. I would suspect his chances of ever getting another F1 ride are slim to none however.

For the full text of the sanctioning click here.

In other F-1 news, here is the provisional calender for 2010. Notice South Korea is a new venue.

March 14 - Bahrain (Sakhir)
March 28 - Australia (Melbourne)
April 4 - Malaysia (Sepang)
April 18 - China (Shanghai)
May 9 - Spain (Barcelona)
May 23 - Monaco (Monte Carlo)
May 30 - Turkey (Istanbul)
June 13 - Canada (Montreal)
June 27 - Europe (Valencia)
July 11 - Great Britain (Donington Park)
July 25 - Germany (Hockenheim)
August 1 - Hungary (Budapest)
August 29 - Belgium (Spa-Francorchamps)
September 12 - Italy (Monza)
September 26 - Singapore (Singapore)
October 3 - Japan (Suzuka)
October 17 - South Korea (Yeongam)
October 31 - Abu Dhabi (Yas Marina)
November 14 - Brazil (Interlagos)

IAP CAD Slideshow

Here are some pictures of the IAP Customer Appreciation Day held September 19, 2009. It was a fun day for all and should be even better next year! (For email subscribers: you will need to click on the post link to view the slideshow.)

Elio Zagato, 1921-2009

Elio Zagato, son of the founder of the Milanese carrozzeria, has died at the age of 88, the company has announced. During his long career, he was responsible for bringing us some of the most desirable Italian GTs and race cars: the Fiat 8V Zagato, the Alfa Romeo 1900 SSZ, the Ferrari 250 GTZ, the Maserati A6G, as well as nearly all of the Lancia sport coupes.

Insatiable

It’s time to come clean. I cannot carry the burden of guilt any longer. I’ve been unfaithful. I’ve strayed. I’ve taken up with another. How long has this been going on; you ask? About three months, is my sheepish reply. Three months of pure unadulterated bliss! This is by no means the first time. This has happened to me before. I just can’t help myself. I’m insatiable. I remember the first time I saw her. I had to stop. I stared. I couldn’t control the urges inside me. It wouldn’t hurt to just flirt, would it? So we talked. We agreed to an “arrangement” whereby we would give it a go and see what evolves. My judgment was in question. Isn’t she high maintenance; friends in the know would ask? Aren’t they all; was my pitiable reply?

The first time I took her out I was smitten. Who am I kidding? Heck, I was smitten the first time I laid eyes on her. The first time I took her out I was beyond smitten, I was hooked. I was totally committed to a relationship without knowing what effect it would have on either of our lives, our futures or even if there was a future for us together. Oh, there had most certainly been others and I have always been the kind of guy that keeps his options open. Let’s see now, looking back, there is the English patient (or two), the odd Italian (we all know about those, don’t we?), and a Canadian, who was pretty much just like all the Americans, except somehow more polite. Go figure. Oh, and let’s not forget the plain Jane Aussie. I've "experienced" assorted Brits, a few Germans and even a lotus-eater from the land of the rising sun (that last one sounds a bit naughty, eh?). That’s the great thing about the jobs I’ve had and the places I grew up. I have been exposed to many nationalities and customs. I can pick from many different cultures and adapt to assorted “points of view” so to speak. I feel as at home lifting a pint ‘o bitter as I do savoring a fine Chianti or quaffing a fine Bohemian bier. The world is my oyster.

“She,” is yet another German. Aren’t they a bit stiff; I’m asked? Isn’t there a certain amount of regimentation and discipline involved in dealing with a Teutonic mistress? Well, some of us excel in those types of relationships, just look at Max Mosley. But a Prussian wench she is not and she doesn’t need to use a whip to get me to do her bidding. Hardly cloistered, she is well looked after and lovingly cared for and she responds quite well to my advances. In fact, I think she needs me as much as I need her. Alas, she is no spring chicken. She has a few miles on her, been down the road a few times and certainly carries her share of baggage, but then don’t we all at this stage of life? I mean I didn’t just roll of the turnip truck myself, by evidence of not just the visible scars from previous “relationships,” but the emotional ones as well. Yes, I carry the emotions from all the ones that came before. I’m no sociopath, but I do have pride and I try to keep the disappointments, the losses and at times the sheer frustrations that resulted from previous liaisons from poisoning this one. Not that they were all bad, or even any of them. By far and wide they were all special in their own way, but all good things must come to and end, so we parted and we moved on to another and another and another until such time as the one I present you with here.

Most recently, very recently, there was some flirtation with an Italian from up north. She could have been “the one.” In fact, Rinita’s “father” was more than a little miffed when I failed to consummate the relationship. You would have thought by his reaction that I left his most cherished "possession" standing at the alter. I must assure you, my intentions were purely honorable. I had all-purpose of following through; that is until I found her, the perfect match.

Who is this paramour; you ask? Her legacy is of course all German, well Bavarian actually, but she was born in the good old US of A. One might say she is a Southern Belle; however, she is unlike any Southern Belle that has come before. No, she is true to her heritage. Teutonic through and through and I love her for it. I love the crispness of her figure and way she handles every curve I throw at her. I enjoy the certainness of her response and the way she is “put together” so-to-speak. We understand each other, or at least I understand her as much as the male species is capable of understanding such an exquisite creature. My mind races with anticipation for the next time we are together, when we can again become one.

So there it is my friends. You may weep for me or you may curse me. You can sigh with disgust and tell each other “I told you so,” or you can laugh with distain and banish me from your tribe, but what’s done is done and I have full intention of carrying on and enjoying this affiliation with my Merlot Red 2003 BMW Z4 3.0i for as long as it may last. OK, so it’s not an Alfa Romeo, but it is a sports car and I’m a sports car guy so, for now anyway, I may not be a “laid-back-pasta-eater,” more like an “uptight-schnitzel-devourer,” but what the heck. The Alfa Romeo party is by no means over; however, so never say never. I hear rumor of a boatload of new Italian beauties will be arriving sometime in 2011. It will just be about time to replace the Honda by then. Remember, I am nothing if not “insatiable.”

Ciao for now, or should I say Aufedersein!

Brad

IAP - Brown's Island this Weekend!

Just a quick reminder about a couple of big events for Virginia area Alfisti (and any NC/SC long haulers):

- International Auto Parts Customer Appreciation Day is this Saturday, September 19th. There will be a MAARC table set up courtesy of IAP. Come on by and say howdy.

- Brown's Island car show in Richmond is this Sunday. CLICK HERE for more info.

Hope to bump into some of you this weekend (not literally, of course).

Ciao for now,
Rick

Renault F1 - The Saga Continues

So, Flavio says he "quit to save Renault." Meanwhile, Pat Symond, (former) Renault F-1 Chief Engineer, has been offered immunity if he turns state's evidence and testifies against the team the FIA's World Motor Sport Council hearing on Monday. Renault chief operating officer Patrick Pelata says Briatore is to blame. Alonzo shrugs and knows nothing. Alain Prost rumored to be next Renault F1 team boss, or maybe David Richards from Prodrive. Who knows? Stay tuned for more international intrigue.

Also, Kubica may go to Renault, or he may not...it depends. He may go to Williams instead, that is if Nico leaves to go to Brawn GP. If that happens, which of the top two points scorers for 2009 gets dumped for the young German? God I love F1. This is the best season yet.

Briatore Out!

Flavio Briatore resigned today as head of Renault's F1 team and Renault chose to "not dispute the recent allegations made by the FIA concerning the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix." according to a BBC report. Director of Engineering, Pat Symonds, also resigned amid the allegations and just prior to the FIA's World Motorsport Council hearing which is to be held on Monday.

In related news BMW says it has agreed to sell its Formula 1 team to Swiss-based Qadbak Investments. The FIA has given the new team the "14th grid position" for next year, effectively a "reserve position" in the event another them, such a Renault, in light of above, or Toyota, long rumored to be leaving, depart the fix. The team is expected to use Ferrari power next season.

The FIA will expand the F1 grid to 13 teams next season, with Lotus, Campos GP, Manor and US F1 joining the fray.

MAARC Blog Subscription Drive

To all the members who responded to my subscription drive email:

Thanks to you the member-subscriber rate is now at 40%, up from the previous 17%. This was a resounding success which totally blew away my 18% goal! It also means that many of you are receiving your first email update, so now you should know what one looks like when it lands in your inbox.

Once again, thanks everybody. I hope to see some of you at IAP's customer appreciation day in Charlottesville on September 19th. Look for me at the MAARC table - I'll have some free stuff to give away!

Ciao for now,
Rick

FOR SALE: Spider Hard Top - Charlotte

Alfa Romeo hard top for sale. Most recently used on a 1986 Spider Veloce (not sure exactly all the models it is made for). Condition is very good for the age, rubber seals are all good, vinyl is not torn anywhere and looks close to new. Unsure of the year of manufacture. Was kept in dry storage for a few years and was purchased by me roughly a year ago. I’m selling it because I no longer need it (had a new soft top installed). All the latches are there and function properly. If you have any questions feel free to call or email me (email preferred). Located in Charlotte, NC. Make me an offer. Thanks for looking.

Matt McCallum
Mattcm32@gmail.com
704.575.0541