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Posted by Alex Bale
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Well, not exactly. But kinda. You see, it was announced today that "Ferrari will take a more active role in engine development for Alfa, similar to what Ferrari already did for Maserati." Those the words of Fiat-Alfa-Chrysler (and therefore, Ferrari-Maserati too) boss Sergio Marchionne. What Ferrari did, specifically, for Maserati was it started building Maser's engines. The V8 in the GranTurismo and Quattroporte and the V8 in the 458 and California are actually quite closely related and are cast and assembled in the same Ferrari factory for both brands.Now, this (sadly) doesn't mean that Alfa is going to start stuffing V8s into the Mito and Giulietta (oh, the thought) but what it does mean is that Marchionne is keen to start putting more clear air between humdrum Fiats and sexy Alfas, and he thinks that the key to that is in the engine. Start getting Ferrari to tinker with Fiat's MultiAir, TwinAir and MultiJet diesel units and, voila (or the Italian equivalent), you have a new family of specifically Alfa engines good enough to take on the best that BMW and Audi can produce. Presumably, such engines will also migrate westward, into Dodge and Chrysler models to be sold under the SRT brand.
To be fair, there's nothing much wrong with Fiat's 1.4 Turbo petrol, especially once it's been tweaked for service in Abarth models and likewise, the 1750 TBI 1.8 turbo engine from the Giulietta Cloverleaf gives little or nothing away to any German engine. So quite what Ferrari can do, and how far the tinkering will go, remains to be seen.
Posted by Alex Bale
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Mercedes' updated E-Class will now be available with a 585bhp wunder-weapon E63 AMG version.
The hot AMG versions of the new-look E-Class saloon and estate will now be made available as a 'standard' (if that's quite the right word) version with a BMW M5-bothering 557bhp and 720Nm of torque from an updated version of the 5.5-litre twin-turbo V8 engine. But there will also now be an S model, with a whopping 585bhp and 800Nm of torque, from a tweaked version of the same engine. That one will accelerate this large, comfy, four door saloon (or estate) from 0-100kmh in just 3.6secs. That's not far off McLaren F1 supercar pace.
The S model will also get a locking rear-diff as standard (which should lead to some interesting on-track moments...) Both models can be fitted with massive 420mm ceramic brake discs as an option, while inside, the cars will be fitted with a high-end Bang & Olufsen sound system and a specially-designed IWC dash clock.
Mercedes' 4Matic four wheel drive will also be available as an option, which sound like it might be a good idea for the 585bhp S version, but there's no official word yet on whether you'll be able to have 4Matic with right-hand-drive.
Posted by Alex Bale
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
As part of a big family portrait of its newly facelifted E-Class range, Mercedes has revealed the look of the new E63 AMG model.It's a bit of a dodgy Photoshop job this, as you can see that the AMG version appears to be massively larger than the regular saloon E-Class running alongsude it, but it does at least reveal the chunky new grille, air intake, bumper and delicious set of black alloys that the new E63 will be wearing. It's certainly the best-looking version of the updated E-Class we've yet seen.
Most significantly of all though, this E63 will be the first AMG saloon to be offered with Mercedes' 4Matic four wheel drive, a major break with hot German saloon tradition. You'll still be able to buy a traditional, rear-drive E63 of course, but the option of the 4Matic setup means that four wheel drive is moving ever closer to the motoring mainstream.
This being an AMG, the opportunity will hardly be missed to give the 5.5-litre twin turbo V8 engine a power upgrade, so expect to see a rortier 550bhp output. That 4Matic option is looking more and more desirable by the minute...
Posted by Alex Bale
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
It's the Detroit Motor Show next week, and you can expect to be seeing all sorts of gorgeous machinery that we just can't have on this side of the Atlantic over the next few days.
Chief amongst them will be this; the Hyundai HCD-14 concept car, which Hyundai is teasing us with this blacked-out image of. It's a preview of the replacement for Hyundai's Genesis saloon, a US-only model that combines a rear-drive chassis with a 4.6-litre V8 engine and BMW-rivalling interior and dynamics. What a shame we don't get them here...
No word yet on drivetrains or anything else, but the Not Wanted Here sticker could be peeled off at some stage. Hyundai in Europe is keen to grab some of the US's premium halo models for itself and there's a faint chance that this big, sexy saloon could make it to this side of the water at some stage in its lifetime. Here's hoping.
Meanwhile, Hyundai's growth in the UK market looks to be stalling, not because of any problems with the cars or the sales network, but because the UK head office can't get enough cars to meet demand. According to Autocar magazine this morning, extra demand from the US, China and Asia has Hyundai's Korean and European factories working flat out and there's just not enough capacity in the system to make cars to expand sales in the UK. There are more than a few European car makers who'd love to have that problem...
Posted by Alex Bale
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Maserati's new Quattroporte isn't just a (gorgeous) new luxury saloon, to take on the likes of the Mercedes S-Class and BMW 7 Series; it's also the kicking off of a massive renewal for the Maserati brand with three all-new models and a plan for 50,000 sales a year.
That's a massive increase on current Maserati sales, but Fiat bosses have big plans for its premium performance brand, and to leave clear air between it and in-house rival Ferrari, the three new models (including this new Quattroporte) are going to be as far from mid-engined supercars as is possible.
The Quattroporte, seen here, will make its official debut at the Detroit motor show in January, and will continue with Ferrari-based V8 power; most likely an updated version of the 4.7-litre engine currently found in Maserati's GranTurismo coupe.
The new Quattroporte is longer and more spacious than before, but with more light weight aluminium in its structure in an attempt to keep its bulk under control.
“Maserati stands today at the edge of an unparalleled strategic and industrial growth that will see our presence in the world rise to 50,000 units a year by 2015" Harald Wester, Maserati's CEO told us. This growth is a challenge for which Maserati has carefully prepared itself and that we all welcome with anticipation.
“It is a growth based on those values of style, elegance, quality and performance for which Maserati has always been recognised and praised in almost 100 years of history. This exciting progression will make the new Maserati a true global player with two new production sites in two different continents and a heart solidly planted in Modena, Italy, where our roots are.
“It is a growth that will be based on three new models entering two new segments of the automobile market – and it starts with the all-new 2013 Maserati Quattroporte.”
The two other models? Well, this is where the mouth really starts to water. First up, probably late next year, will be a new Ghibli; but unlike the sixties original, this Ghibli will be a four-door saloon, smaller than the Quattroporte, that will take on the likes of the BMW 5 Series and Audi A6. There may even be a high-po diesel version using a twin-turbo derivative of the VM Motori V6 diesel found in the Ghibli's distant cousin, the Chrysler 300C.
After that will be the Levante, Maserati's first foray into the SUV world and a rival to the Porsche Panamera. Expect a swoopy body atop a much-modified Jeep Grand Cherokee platform with, again, likely diesel as well as petrol, powerplants.
