Limited-Edition Maserati GranTurismo S MC Sport Line

The limited-edition Maserati GranTurismo S MC Sport Line with Matt White “ice” finishing is here portrayed in front of the futuristic structure of the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, where it was unveiled in a dedicated event for a selected number of Maserati customers of the Middle East.

Designed to enhance the sporty DNA of the Trident, the “MC Sport Line” sums up the experience acquired on the track by the Maserati Corse racing department, whose contribution to the design of the functional components has been invaluable. The world of motor racing also inspired Maserati’s designers when it came to styling, hence the extensive use of carbon fiber.

Only twelve GranTurismos in this configuration will be produced in Modena, all for the Middle East markets. Twelve is also the number of world titles which make up the prestigious palmares of the MC12 in the FIA GT International Championship since 2005: 2 Constructors’ Cups (2005 and 2007), 4 Drivers’ Titles 4 (Bartels-Bertolini in 2006, Thomas Biagi in 2007, Bartels-Bertolini in 2008 and 2009); 5 Teams’ Titles (from 2005 onwards uninterruptedly with the Vitaphone Racing Team); 1 Citation Cup in 2007 with the gentleman driver Ben Aucott.

Furthermore, twelve are the Middle East cities where Maserati is present with a dedicated showroom: each car will feature an internal plaque with the name of the city to which it is committed.

A limited and numbered edition of the GranTurismo S MC Sport Line, finished in a Matt Bianco Fuji with eye-catching pearlescent nuances, will be dedicated to the Italian market. Only eleven customers in Italy will be able to sit behind the wheel of this exclusive car.

Schumacher – a competitor to beat

Image via Wikipedia

Ferrari fans all over the world received the news of Schumacher having signed a contract with Mercedes GP and flooded the Ferrari website requesting an opinion regarding the matter. “What we have to say regarding Schumacher has been said by Chairman Montezemolo last week on the occasion of the traditional well-wishing with the Italian and international press,” a Scuderia spokesman said. “We’re giving our warm wishes to Michael: as of today he is our competitor and we’ll give it our all to beat him as we do with all the others.”

New Doblò Cargo

The new Doblò Cargo is top-in-class in terms of performance and functional features, load capacity and productivity, low fuel consumption and cost-effective running. It is ideal for professionals who spend many hours of the day riding in the vehicle: in city traffic and for frequent stopping-and-going for loading and unloading cargo but also for quick, long-distance transfers. The New Doblò Cargo was created for these people with roominess, cost-effective running, loading and driving ease, combined with safety and comfort, in mind.

The record-breaking features of the new Fiat Professional vehicle
Built on a new platform, the new Doblò Cargo has broken many records in its class: interior length up to 2.17 metres, width between wheel arches of 1.23 metres, volume from 3.4 to 4.2 cubic metres, payload from 750 to 1000 kilograms, combined fuel consumption of 4.8 litres/100 km and range of 1250 kilometres (with the 1.3 Multijet 90 HP engine). These record-breaking features point to major benefits in terms of work optimisation and running cost reduction for customers. The loading compartment is much roomier than the previous model: square, regular and fully exploitable, it is equipped with sliding side doors and generously-sized rear doors to make light work of loading and unloading.
Innovative design and capaciousness make Doblò Cargo the new point of reference for its category: a front end with a great personality, streamline sides with pronounced wheel arches and a rear end that puts the accent on the accessibility and capacity of the loading compartment. The appearance of a solid, robust vehicle is further confirmed by the inner and outer dimensions - larger than the previous model. This validates the Fiat Professional vehicle trend which started in 2006 with the introduction of the New Ducato and in 2007 with the New Scudo, both of which are larger and more capacious than their corresponding predecessors.

Reliable, environment-friendly engines
Fiat Doblò Cargo will be launched with a 1.4 petrol (95 HP) and three turbo diesel engines: second generation 1.3 Multijet - 90 HP, 1.6 Multijet - 105 HP and 2.0 Multijet - 135 HP. All Euro 5 compliant (Euro 4 variants are available for 1.4 petrol, 1.3 and 1.6 Multijet), the engines stand out for driving pleasure, excellent performance, quiet operation, and low running costs (fuel consumption and servicing), as well as being reliable and environment-friendly. More specifically, Euro 5 engines fit the new Start&Stop system and a particulate filter as standard features (diesel only). The engine range will later be expanded with the addition of Natural Power versions (dual petrol/methane fuel) and a new diesel version with robotised gearbox.
Safety
To ensure optimal dynamic behaviour, comfort and active safety in all road and load conditions, the Doblò is equipped with innovative mechanical solutions, including a Bi-link rear suspension layout with variable component calibrations depending on specific use of the vehicle. The Doblò Cargo implements state-of-the-art electronic stability control devices, such ABS with EBD electronic brake force distribution and, above all, ESP complemented by a Hill Holder system that assists the driver when starting on a slope, for consistent, predictable handling.
With crumple zones, front airbags and innovative front side bags for head and chest protection, the new Doblò Cargo is designed and built to reach the highest passive safety standards. Plenty of clever little solutions - like the roof shelf, a document holder on the dashboard and lots of handy oddment compartments - turn the cab into an office on wheels. Technical solutions and high-tech equipment improve comfort and help focus on driving: climate control (automatic version is available), Cruise Control, parking sensors, integrated Blue&Me hands-free system and the “Blue&Me TomTom” navigator.
The range
The range is organised around 7 different body types: short and long wheelbase van, high top van, short and long wheelbase 5-seater combi; particularly interesting is the brand-new short and long wheelbase drop-frame version, which can be easily and cheaply converted for specific trades (refrigerated vans, fixed and tilting flatbed trucks). Two outfits of the new commercial vehicle are available (standard and SX) for each of the two versions: Cargo and Combi. This means a total of approximately 400 possible solutions by selecting all the possible body, side door, rear door and engine options. Doblò Cargo has 11 paintwork colours (3 pastel and 8 metallised) with a long list of optional devices for various customisations.
The heir to a bestseller
The new Doblò Cargo is the heir to a successful model that was chosen by over 650,000 customers (total in Europe and Turkey) since it was introduced at the end of 2000. Part of its success due to the constantly renewed portfolio. The Doblò has always promptly responded to customer demands during its lifecycle, with the introduction of high top, long wheelbase and environment-friendly models (Natural Power and diesel engines with DPF). Today's introduction portfolio is very rich and complete, capable of satisfying the most diverse requests of professional customers.

Alfa Romeo Giulietta

The new Alfa Romeo Giulietta will be presented to the world at the forthcoming Geneva Car Show. Sales of the new model will start in spring and be gradually extended to all the major markets. The Alfa Romeo Giulietta is expected to give new impetus to the brand in one of Europe's most important segments.

In the Centenary year, the name is a tribute to an automobile myth and Alfa Romeo. The Giulietta is a car that, in the fifties, caught the imagination of generations of car enthusiasts, making the dream of owning an Alfa Romeo and enjoying the high level of comfort and technical excellence accessible for the first time.

The Alfa Romeo Style Centre has produced a new Giulietta, a sports car capable of expressing both great agility on the most demanding routes and providing comfort on everyday roads.

A new architecture for enhancing road hold and agility in total comfort and safety

Meet the new Alfa Romeo, a compact created to appeal to customers who seek top dynamic performance and those who are looking for a distinctive style and a high level of comfort.

The Giulietta has brand-new architecture, designed to meet the expectations of the most demanding customers in terms of road holding, agility and safety. Its excellent dynamic performance and great comfort are the result of refined technical solutions implemented in the suspensions, a next-generation steering system, a rigid yet light structure made of aluminium and high-strength steel, and state-of-the-art manufacturing technologies.

Alfa DNA, a device which customises behaviour of the car according to different driving styles and road conditions, can adapt the new Alfa Romeo to the needs of each individual driver to enhance driving pleasure and comfort. The new architecture of the Alfa Giulietta was designed to integrate and enhance all onboard systems. Three set-ups (Dynamic, Normal and All Weather) are available and can be selected using the Alfa DNA. This device - standard across the entire range of the new model - modifies the operating parameters of the engine, of the steering system, and of the Q2 electronic differential, in addition to fine-tuning the stability control system (VDC) behavioural logics.

Italian style sportiness and comfort

Combining sportiness and elegance, the Alfa Giulietta is the result of Alfa Romeo's new direction in style and technology - an approach that started with the 8C Competizione supercar and which recalls the brand's glorious past while projecting its traditional values of technology and emotion into the future.

The front end is developed around a “trilobe shape” and features a brand-new interpretation of the classic Alfa grille, set into the front bumper and suspended between the two air intakes. The entire car develops from here to combine a lively personality with an elegant form. The front headlamps implement LED technology and a Daytime Running Lights (DRL) function for maximum active safety.

The profile of the Alfa Romeo Giulietta is rich in personality and confers the appearance of an agile, solid model. This is above all the result of the coupé shaped side windows, which highlight dynamic and streamlined shape, and of the concealed rear handles. The side ribbing adds to the car's slender look, while the taut lines closing in on the rear end accentuate the "wedge" shape of the body.

The style of the rear end, like that of the front and the side, is strong and consolidates the impression of a muscular car, firmly gripped to the road. Like the headlamps, the rear light clusters implement LED technology, to the advantage of preventive safety, in addition to good looks.

The interior design is taut and light: a horizontally developed dashboard with aluminium element accents and rocker controls which explicitly recall the 8C Competizione. Painstaking attention to detail and the high quality of the materials used are the most advanced expression of Italian style.

Finally, the dimensions of the new car give a compact, dynamic shape combined with excellent roominess and a capacious boot (350 litres): the car is 4.35 metres long, 1.46 metre high and 1.80 metres wide with a wheelbase of 2.63 metres.

Innovative engines for exciting, environmentally friendly driving

The Alfa Romeo Giulietta guarantees top level performance and next-generation technology in terms of technical solutions, performance and environmental friendliness. Four Turbo engines will be available at launch, all Euro 5 compliant and fitted with a standard “Start&Stop” system for reducing consumption and emissions: two petrol engines (1.4TB - 120 HP and 1.4TB MultiAir - 170 HP) and two diesel engines (1.6 JTDM - 105 HP and 2.0 JTDM - 170 HP, both belonging to the second generation of JTDM engines). Finally, the range is completed with the lively 1750 TBi - 235 HP with an exclusive Quadrifoglio Verde configuration.

Safety and dynamic behaviour at the top of the segment

Alfa Romeo Giulietta was designed to obtain the maximum Euro NCAP rating in order to offer total protection to driver and passengers. Furthermore, suspension, steering and braking system are designed to be perfectly balanced even during extreme manoeuvres.

Finally, the Alfa Romeo Giulietta is fitted with the most sophisticated electronic devices for dynamic control as standard: VDC (Vehicle Dynamic Control), DST (Dynamic Steering Torque), Q2 electronic differential and Alfa DNA selector. All these systems guarantee driving safety, dynamism and performance in the best Alfa Romeo tradition.