Alfa Romeo launches the Giulietta

Alfa Romeo has just announced a new five-door compact based on the MiTo platform - the Alfa Romeo Giulietta. The new car will replace the aging Alfa 146, and this front-drive compact will debut with four engines - two 1.4-liter petrol engines (120 & 170 bhp) and two diesels (1.6-litre at 105bhp  & 2.0-litre at 170 bhp). The name Giulietta means "little Julia" in Italian and is pronounced Julie-etta, and is steeped in Alfa's history as a best-selling sedan.

The new Giulietta shares the same strong Alfa DNA as the other cars in its line-up, with its updated Alfa shield and sharing design elements with the Alfa Mito compact. The car measures 171.3 inches long on a 103.5 inch wheelbase (width is 70.9 inches and height is 57.5 inches), making it slightly longer than a Golf (which it'll compete against) and slightly taller than the out-going Alfa 146.

Sporting enthusiasts will always remember Alfa as the sports car manufacturer, and they will be pleased to know the Alfa Romeo Giulietta will be launched with a 1.8-liter four-cyclinder enine with turbocharged direct injection producing 235 horsepower, as the Alfa Romeo Giulietta 1750 TBi. The car may be compact, but all models will feature a host of technology such as stability control, DST (Dynamic Steering Torque) and Q2 electronic differential (splits torque between the two front wheels to maintain grip and avoid wheel slip).

Personally, I think Alfa is on to a winner with the Alfa Romeo Giulietta (they probably need to work on getting the correct pronunciation out to the customers). The design for a compact car is stunning to say the least, and with the bland (IMHO) styling of the current Golf and Polo, this little number can run circles around the competition (which I felt should include the MINI and Fiat 500). I love the resigned headlight cluster (much more than the MITO) and the creases in the bonnet is a nice touch of muscle. The honeycombed grill reminds me of the previous Golf GTi, which is not a bad thing.

From the side, the Alfa Romeo Giulietta looks equally stunning with the smart crease along the shoulder-line of the car. A unique aspect will be the hidden door handles of the rear doors, which harks back to the Alfa 156. I'm glad they put it back here in the Giulietta because it's a perfect fit for the sporty character of the compact, making it look like a coupe even! And the turbine-blade rims have the killer-look, although I'm sure that you'd probably need 17" or bigger rims for the full-effect. They do look like they're really difficult to to clean though. And yes... the red Alfa brake calipers are heavenly...

There are many cars today which are mismatched - they either have a nice front or a good rear, but seldom both. The Alfa Romeo Giulietta on the other hand, got both ends right. In fact, I'd think the rear is even better than the front! One can't help but think of the Alfa Brera when they look at the swanky curves of the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, so obviously the Alfa DNA runs deep in the family. The end result of teh creases and curves are dramatic, and the tail-lights are styled with a flair for passion, unlike the dead-looking or gawky and awkward looking taillights you find in many cars today. Twin-exhaust for a 1.4-litre car? Definitely a case of aesthetics over technicality, but they do look gorgeous! The keyhole is probably hidden behind the badge of the serpent, delivering one of the most stunning rear design of a car.

The Italian flair for design and passion continues inside with the incredibly stylish interior. The uniquely styled seats take centre-stage with the ribbed design that only Italians can pull off, emblazoned with the Alfa logo in red stitching on the headrest. The official pictures show a huge retractable sunroof as well, which will probably be an expensive option (maybe only available in the 1750 TBi?). If I must criticize something, perhaps it's the headroom which looks pretty tight in the photo, especially for the rear passenger. There're no official photos of the dash board yet, so I do hope that doesn't disappoint an otherwise great design for a car interior.

So if you are looking for a nice continental compact car, there're the usual suspects such as the VW Golf/Polo, the MINI, the Peugeot 207 etc. And then there's the Italian alternative - the Alfa Romeo Giulietta. Darn... even the name sounds sexy already!

What's Saab with that?

If you think about continental cars, you'd think about luxury brands such as Mercedes, BMW, Audi or Volvo. If you're feeling rich, perhaps marques such as Ferrari, Lamborghini, Zonda, Maserati, Bugatti or Aston Martin will interest you. If you're feeling mainstream, be sure to check out Volkswagen, Peugeot, Citroen or Renault. If your taste runs a little more niche, you might even want to look at Jaguars, Alfa Romeos, MINI or Landrovers.

But what on earth can possibly compel someone to buy a... Saab?

Saab is the Swedish car-maker that hails from the land which gave us Volvo, Ikea and Abba. But unlike its more famous compatriots, many drivers never even heard of Saab. It's almost akin to saying Lada when you mention Saab to mainstream drivers whose knowledge of continental cars are limited to the big luxurious three (that's Mercedes/BMW/Audi for you).

Saab was the spunky Swedish car company unlike anyone else. For starters, it was initially owned by a parent company company which built planes. Not just commercial planes - Saab AB built kick-ass European fighter jets such as the Gripen/Griffen. But sometime in 1989, Saab automobile was purchased by General Motors and lost its soul, churning out cars which did not possess as much character as the original models. An entire series of corporate mistakes saw Saab's sale tumble.

Don't bother visiting your nearest Saab dealership for these Saab.

But there are scores of motoring enthusiasts who still like Saab cars, with yours truly being one of them. Sure Saab might have lost some of its soul with the GM engine and such, but it still has plenty of character left. I might not like its dull instrument display or the number of buttons on the dashboard, but it has the coolest cup holder I've ever seen (tip: if you're in a Saab, make sure you get the owner to demonstrate how it unfolds). The design of a Saab is distinctive, and it has a Scandinavian handsomeness to it, even though I hate the chrome around the current Saab 9-5.

But what I truly like about it - is how it walks softly and carries a big stick. You see, it may not look like it, but underneath the Swedish gentleman appearance lies the soul of a raging Viking. Saab is one of the strongest proponent of turbocharging, from way back in the 1970s. And the way Saab cars are designed are different - the turbos are not the crude and loud business you find in Japanese rockets.

Looking good topless...

Instead, Saab built the turbos to deliver the maximum amount of torque in the mid-range, which makes it very easy to overtake another vehicle on the move. So while you're driving in the city, most of the instances when you need fast pick-up are during the moments you wish to overtake, and the Saab makes it a real breeze. Say you're traveling at 40km/h behind a truck - simply signal out and tap on the gas, and you'd be hitting 80km/h before you know it. The pick-up in the mid-range is simply unbelievable!

If you buy a Saab, you're either an engineer, architect, doctor or dentist. Or you could be a motoring enthusiast. If you belong to the latter group, you probably tuned your Saab to deliver even more power. The thing about the Swedish is that they're pretty prude when delivering the stock cars, but everyone knows that they're really Vikings in disguise, waiting to be handed their horned helmets and a club. Saabs can be easily tuned by flashing the ECUs with a different set of software, and that reprograms their brains to release the Viking within. By swapping a few parts out and reprogramming the ECUs, some Saabs can achieve in excess of 500 bhp under their bonnet!

By the way, Saab has been acquired by Swedish sports car manufacturer Koenigsegg in 2009, stopping the rot from GM's ownership. I suppose Saab cars are going to get even faster... and hopefully the acceleration applies to its sales figure as well. So if you're thinking of owning a continental brand that does spell yuppie (spelt as mercbmadui), and you cannot handle the flamboyance of a Alfa, consider a Saab. Yes... even if you're not a doctor, engineer or architect.

Return of the King

You know the cave drawings of cavemen hunting the T-Rex or any other dinosaurs? How about the imagery of the polar bears and penguins mucking around (in the Coke commercial)? People are funny… they like to juxtaposition stuff which never existed together naturally. The truth is that both scenarios never happened – they are divided by time and geography. Dinosaurs died out millions of years before the first man ever walked the earth, and penguins live in the South Pole of Antarctica while polar bears reside in the North Pole of Artic. They will never meet, except in the imagination of mankind.

People are naturally fascinated when two rivals of different era and geography meet. Remember Jurassic Park or Aliens vs Predator? The excitement of pitching highly competent individuals against one another in scenarios which one never thought would be possible sends the pulse racing. Which is apt that fans of F1 racing were thrown into frenzy after Michael Schumacher announced that he will temporarily return to racing to replace Felipe Massa who was knocked out of action in a freak accident.

Michael Schumacher (or Schummy to his chummies) is the living legend in F1 racing. Unlike Aryton Senna, Schumacher is alive and kicking at just 40 years young. Statistically speaking, he is the most successful F1 driver with the most number of wins, podiums and pole positions. At the top of his game, Schumacher retired in 2006 and became the advisor to the Ferrari racing team, sharing his considerable racing experience with the current drivers Felipe Massa and Kimi Räikkönen.

After Michael Schumacher retired, the F1 fans were focused on the strong rivalry between Lewis Hamilton and Alonso. Hamilton quickly became the new darling of the media with his strong billing as a young driving prodigy, who also became the youngest driver to win the F1 championship. There were several F1 drivers who showed sparks of brilliance, such as Jenson Button and Alonso, but the question remained on everyone’s mind – will there be another driver who is as dominant and consistent as Michael Schumacher?

Imagine the flurry of excitement when Schumacher announced that he will return to racing to temporarily replace Massa in the F1 championship! Finally, the world will see a match between “the greatest” and the young turks. How will a 40-year old champion fare who has never driven for 3 years, fare against the zestful and ambitious competition? Can good old experience and maturity win against youth and unbridled drive? Everyone wants to know if young and explosive Lewis can hold up against the brilliant German strategist, to determine if brawn/stamina or brains/experience is the more potent weapon in the high-speed stakes of F1 championship.


But beyond the obvious excitement in the clash of the titans, one can sense how the strength of the Ferrari team lie beyond the simple technical superiority of their cars. Having a world-class champion and a brilliant strategist who stayed with Scuderia Ferrari to impart knowledge and skills, as well as a team of dedicated staff who perform their duties with the precision of clockwork, and such camaraderie that everyone knows their own roles and will chip in to help beyond their work roles. A great car might help a team win a race or a championship, but it is the spirit of a great team that helps a team stay as champions in the long run, even in seasons where their cars are not the greatest. The stewardship of Scuderia Ferrari and their recognition in retaining the best staff and talents is what makes Ferrari great. Any darn fool can make a fast car in one season, but it takes a truly great management to keep the gears of a great team oiled when the season is dry.

Those who know me will understand I’m not just talking about Ferrari.

Car photography made easy!

If you are a proud car owner and you'd like to take some nice photos of your car, here're some tips on the basics of good car photography. These are really simple tips to follow, but they're guaranteed to make your photos much better. Check it out!

Imitation is the best flattery

As the saying goes, imitation is the best form of flattery. This is an old ad from Peugeot, but it still gets me in stitches whenever I view it. Not many brands dare to use humour in their ads, but when done well humour is an exceptional weapon in disarming the jaded consumer. Stupid management will say that this ad will not really make consumers believe that the Peugeot is a desirable brand.

The clever marketers will snigger at such comments, for they know the true value of this ad lies in the portrayal of Peugeot as a clever brand, and the drivers of Peugeot as fun people.

Get bitten by the serpent!

If you have $120k to spend on a car, would you opt for the Teutonic-inspired Mercedes Benz C180, the driving machine in the guise of a BMW 320i, or the lean-mean technological machine Audi A4?

These are the traditional choices of the young and successful yuppies, focusing on the badge to show that they've arrived. Which is funny though... if they've arrived, where are they supposed to be heading towards after they have "arrived"? Throw your car keys casually on the table during your reunion with your classmates, and they know instantly that you are successful in your career and you are one of the herd who heads towards the premier marques' showrooms once you have achieved something. That used to be true for an executive continental saloon car, because you only have three sensible choices (trust me, you wouldn't want to be caught in a Citroen C5 because everyone will be wondering why you bought a "corporal" brand car when you could have gotten a "star").



Now the universe has changed with the introduction of the Alfa Romeo 159 1750 TBi. Alfa Romeo (pronounced ro-may-o, not Romeo as in the love story) has one of the richest heritage in automobile history. Unfortunately somewhere along the way, Alfa lost their direction and churned out great sports cars which were great when they worked. Their unreliability became as legendary as their driving prowess, and as Jeremy Clarkson put it "Alfas depreciate as fast as they accelerate". But these were still true-blue sports cars, which prompted Clarkson to claim that you are not a petrolhead unless you have owned an Alfa. That's pretty strong endorsement for Alfa Romeo from the man himself.



So recently, Alfa Romeo got its act together, and began producing cars that not just look gorgeous, but they actually work. The new age of Alfa began a few years ago with the Alfa Romeo 159, an executive saloon which makes the competition look like they have been styled with a sledge hammer. The strong sexy curves and delectable triple headlamps make you want to drool all over the car. Nobody can design cars like the Italians can, and the strong emotive styling continues inside the car with some really strong racy elements centred towards the driver. Everything about the Alfa Romeo 159 is perfect...



Well... almost. You see... in a bid to build a better car, Alfa went overboard with its engineering and made a overweight car. Everything works like they ought to in this car, but the car was slightly sluggish with the excess weight. Mind you... it feels sluggish only because we can comparing to the great Alfas of the good old days (those rust buckets!), but they deliver pretty decent performance against the Mercedes C180 or BMW 320i. So what they have now is a sexy looking number without the soul and passion of an Alfa Romeo.

Other than the weight, there were a couple of other issues. The engine was not inspiring like the old Alfas, which compounded the problem with the heavy body. The 159 was styled by the great Giugiaro, so now Alfa needs to make the 159 as fast as it looks. And it does look fast!

Fast forward to 2009... Alfa announces the arrival of the new Alfa Romeo 159 1750 TBi. With a new turbo charged direct fuel-injection 1.75 litres engine, the new 159 delivers a sparkling performance of 7.7 seconds for the century-sprint, and it develops 200bhp (4750-5500rpm) and 320Nm from just 1400rpm! That is phenomenal - imagine pulling away from the traffic at the lights or overtaking in the city traffic!

To make it perfect, the new 159 is rumoured to have a dual-clutch motorized gearshift like the DSG, to deliver power and convenience (but worrying bout jerkiness for newcomers to Alfa). Detractors will wince at not having a manual gearbox, but hey... Alfa developed a modern turbo petrol engine. Nothing is sacred anymore... Alfa needs to get more market share to thrive, so you can get your new Alfa GT the way you want it!

So if you are in the market for ane executive saloon, take a good hard look at the new Alfa Romeo 159 1750 TBi, and take it for a test spin. With competitive pricing and a good reliability trackrecord, owning an Alfa Romeo is not the unthinkable thing it was. Why arrive with the rest when you can lead the pack?