Auto Design

A couple of days ago I returned to Balocco, at the Fiat Group Automobiles proving ground, to test drive the new Alfa Romeo Mitos equipped with the very promising “Multiair technology”. In few months there will be three versions: the 1.4 MPI (aspirated) the 1.4 TB 170 HP and the 1.4 TB 136 HP, where TB stands for Turbo Benzina (gasoline). The first two goes on sale in fews days in main European markets. The Quadrifoglio Verde comes in Janaury, when the right hand drive cars will also be ready for export.

I was very keen to witness the impact this technology (comparable to the invention by Fiat’s engineers of the revolutionary Common Rail) will have on the reduction of emission from all sort of internal combustion engines (fuel with gasoline, E85, oil for diesel, CNG,  LPG) as well as on their performance.

A few laps on the two of the many circuits created at Balocco (the so-called Langhe for handling, and the regular one for high speed) are very convincing: the 1368cc four cylinder engines in aspirated setting (78  kW) or turbocharged (100 kW for the  or 127 kW for the “king of the hill” Quadrifoglio Verde) have all it takes to deserve the label of “truly Alfa Romeo’s Cuore Sportivo”. They are very flexible, very progressive yet very brilliant (prompt in their response at low revs and low gear) and reactive in mid-load and mid gear condition. Out of the track and on twisting mountain road, driving the “100 kW” turbo engined Mito I found myself going most of the time in third gear, with which you can do virtually anything as if it were an automatic. This used to be, and still is, very typical of the Alfa Romeo dynamic cars. What left me a lot more cold and sceptic is the gearbox, not so fast not so precise when you need to shift into first or second gear. Here Fiat Powertrain Technology, the suppliers of the powertrains have many opportunities for improvements.

Nothing, or almost, is changed as far as the design goes and I decided I would add a touch of beauty to my story with a pleasant excursion up North.

The day of my test drive I was very lucky as I was allowed (an unusual concession) to take the new Mito out of the proving ground so that I could go on my own, where I wanted to really test the car and used it to experience an enjoyable drive that I could recommend to you, should you have the chance to be in Balocco (that is mid-way between Milano and Torino) or in Milan and have one day for yourself.

The main destination is a small place called Orta San Giulio, a small town on the Lake Orta. Every good travel guide will recommend a visit. Especially if you are not so keen on shopping in Milano and you have seen its main attractions. A day (or two) out of town may be very refreshing and good for you physical and spiritual health. If you have the time and you are lucky enough to get a room you may even consider to spend one night at Villa Crespi, a rather unique combination of a 4 stars luxury hotel and gourmet restaurant rated with two stars by the most authoritative Michelin Red Guide to restaurants and hotel. Rooms start at 150 euro (which might be a lot cheaper than an equivalent hotel in Milano, especially if you visit a fair there, consider it for the Salone del Mobile, if you are a designer) and a lunch or dinner ranges from 70 to 120 Euros.

The village of Orta and the San Giulio island, with the Monte Sacro (Holy Mount) a World Heritage site of UNESCO, more than justify the journey and can fill up a whole day, walking through the woods of Monte Sacro, strolling though the village and looking at shops, buildings and people, eating a refreshing ice-cream and taking a short boat ride to the San Giulio Island.

Lake Orta lies to the west of Lake Maggiore, in the northern Italy. It is a minor star in the constellation of the subalpine lakes, but all the fascination and the history of the larger lakes seem to be concentrated in this short space.

Do not be ashamed or surprised if you have never heard of Lake Orta and Orta San Giulio. This is not know even by many Italians. Yet it has long been a favourite by discriminating for the quiet beauty of its landscape, its fascinating history and its wealth of artistic treasures – principally Romanesque and Baroque architecture.

The German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, visited the lake in May 1882 and said that the experience changed his life forever. Indeed he inscribed the date “from Orta onwards” as a preface to his masterpiece Thus Spoke Zarathustra. French famous novelist Honoré de Balzac, described the place as “grey pearl in a green jewel-box”.

I have been there few times before and choose to spend just a couple of hours thus taking the time to drive to Milano via the Mottarone pass and down to Stresa where I would reach the motorway.

You have to drive up the Mottarone, especially on a clear day to enjoy a stunning view over seven Alpine lakes of different size, two of them in Switzerland, with the white Alps as a background.

If the air is not absolutely clear you will still see the closest lakes Orta, to the west, and Maggiore to the East, The peak is at an altitude of 1491 metres.

From the pass you can drive downhill along a very entertaining private toll-road (where you will cross into very few cars) with a poorly maintained tartan surface that put to full test the suspension of the Alfa Romeo Mito, rich of hairpins and faster bends that you will love to handle with the agile and dynamic Alfa Romeo. I had a great fun.

Back on the motorway I checked the difference between the “Comfort” and the “Dynamic” driving model that let the driver choose the pace (performance and consumption) at the push (or pull) of a switch.

Well, I had a great day and should you have the chance to share my experience I am sure you will simply love it.

Italy, August 6th, 2009.

The Bertone Saga is coming to an end these days as the Italian government has reviewed the very few offers presented from five bidders, only three of which met the procedure formality and the expectations of the Appointees (namely: granted a job to all Carrozzeria Bertone workers).

The job of Minister Claudio Scajola was simple and easy. Perhaps just a formality.

The first of the three bidders that made it to the deadline was interested just in the premises and facilities of the coachbuilding industrial complex of Carrozzeria Bertone; one only wanted the Bertone brand name, logo and Archive; the third one wanted both. Read the rest of this entry »

The Concorso d’Eleganza di Villa d’Este this years has been as good as the weather. That is to say that half of it was very good, with peaks of excellence, and the remaining half was bad, raining and boring, with touches of ugliness.

 By the end of the elegant week-end on the Lake of Como, one would say it was not one the best edition ever but still offered enough interesting cars to look at, people to greet and talk to, and subjects to discuss.

As such it was one not to be missed. Those who did not attend it missed the extremely rare chance of hearing the sibilo and smelling the pollution of its turbine engine, not to mention seeing this extraordinary visualisation of the dreams about the cars of the future they were dreaming in the fifties and sixties.

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Among the most beautiful cars to be seen at this year Concorso d’Eleganza di Villa d’Este is this unique Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B designed and built by Carrozzeria Touring in 1938. The extremely elegant (and fast) Berlinetta was built on the running chassis developed by Alfa Romeo as the successor of the very successful Alfa Romeo 8C 2300. In its time, the Alfa Romeo 8C built in many different configurations for the road  and for the racing circuits was one of the fastest motorcars world-wide. Alfa Romeo built only 33 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B running chassis but, only six were coachbuilt as Berlinetta.

This Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Berlinetta is owned by Alfa Romeo’s Museo Storico

This unit, coming back to Italy after 62 years spent around the world, ranks as one of the most elegant vehicles to emerge before the Second World War. In September 1947 the car migrated from Italy to Switzerland and to the USA. After being sold to a buyer in South Africa in 1980, the car – with red paintwork at that time – was restored in England and repainted in its original blue.Powered by the famous Alfa Romeo straight-8 designed by Vittorio Jano, the car was purchased in 2005 by Jon Shirley, one of the founders of Microsoft who resides in Medina (Washington) and restored to its original condition

Voted Best Car in Show at Pebble Beach last year, it is very likely that it will double its success and be awarded the Coppa d’Oro di Villa d’Este by public referendum. After all the Concorso takes places few miles away from the shops where this car was built 71 years ago.

BMW and the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este will be celebrating their 80^th anniversary this year with a very special edition that will also mark the ten anniversary of the BMW sponsorship and involvement of the famous event on the banks of Lake Como. Although BMW was established in 1916 (as a constructor of aircraft engines) the company built its first passenger car in 1929 after becoming famous for its motorcycles. Read the rest of this entry »

Geneva will offer a preview of the powerplants that Fiat would share with Chrysler in the USA, as early as next year, if the alliance currently under scrutiny will get the green light. Read the rest of this entry »

I have known Christopher “Chris” Bangle since he was at Opel at the time when he designed the interior of the Opel Junior show-car. Through the years we have talked several times. I cannot consider him a friend. We never met for other reasons than our jobs and in our roles, but through the years I have been appreciating more and more what he was doing at Fiat, when he was there and at BMW.

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According to unofficial but well informed sources, Alfa Romeo is working at a new development of its limited edition and very successful Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione. The Alfa 8C GTA.

Official sources declined to comment on the rumour but rather than denying the report they simply say “no comment”.

Declining to comment on plans for a new successor, while the current one is still on sale, is not simply a practice by all manufacturers but is a must, if they want to survive.

Every single unit of the lot of “500 only” limited production Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione, has been sold but a good share of the production has still to be delivered and the first 8C Competizione are due to reach the U.S.A. only next month – May, 2008. Read the rest of this entry »

On the occasion of the delivery of the first Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione, tet me share with you this report I compiled last year for few motoring mazaines around the world. Read the rest of this entry »

The first Alfa 8C Competizione destined for the United States enthusiasts has been delivered today to James Glickenhaus, the car collector that has commissioned and own the only Ferrari P4/5 built so far.

There was an handover ceremony “Miller Motorcars” in Connecticut and James Glickenhaus took the opportunity to say he was particularly proud of being the first American customer to receive an Alfa Romeo. Subsequently, James took his first ride in the car.

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