The whole Novitec group of tuners - it includes Novitec, Novitec Rosso, and Novitec Tridente - produce a wide variety of tuning programs for Italian brands with the first of the three - Novitec - handles all the work for brands like Alfa Romeo, Abarth, and Fiat.
Recently, the German tuner went to work on a new styling and performance package for the Alfa Romeo Giulietta hatchback.
All the changes and additions made on the Giulietta’s exterior were made to improve the car’s already attractive aesthetic appearance. As part of the package, Novitec added a ground effects kit, a new rear diffuser, a new sports suspension kit that drops ride height, new quad exhaust pipes, and a set of alloy wheels that range from 18" to 20" in either a black or gray finish.
Not one to leave the powertrain alone, Novitec also gave the Giulietta a slew of power booster kits for the different variants of the car. The 1.4-liter TB version takes the output from 120 horsepower to 195 horsepower while the top-of-the-line 1.8-liter TBi nets an impressive new output of 261 horsepower, up from the 235 horsepower output the standard model comes in.
Alfa Romeo fans in the US have a lot to be excited about because the long-awaited return of the Italian brand in American soil is drawing closer and closer.
Now, according to Autobild, the stage for Alfa’s return to America could take place at the 2013 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Autobild is also reporting that Alfa Romeo is intent on bringing at least five models to the 2013 NAIAS, highlighted by the drop-dead gorgeous 4C GTA Concept.
Together with the 4C GTA, other Alfa Romeo models expected to join in the US invasion include the Giulia, the Giulietta, the five-door MiTo, and a still unidentified Jeep-based crossover.
We’ve all anxiously waited a long time for Alfa Romeo to return to our neck of the woods and it certainly hasn’t come with some impatience. But now that it’s beginning to look like the Italian brand is in fact US-bound after years and years of absence, that impatience and anxiety is slowly becoming excitement and eager anticipation.
Alfa Romeo was returning to motor sports when it built the 1962 Giulietta Sprint Zagato. Zagato was a prominent designer and past collaboration with Alfa Romeo had proven fruitful in the Le Mans and Formula 1 circuits. In 1957, Alfa had formed a relationship with Bertone, another famous shop, to develop the Giulietta Sprint Speciale which was a high performance version. That car would become the basis for the new venture with Zagato.
The companies decided to concern themselves with form over function while developing the new GT racer. The plan was to offer the car to customers for their own GT teams and thus it needed to be a strong and reliable performer on the track. Zagato was a master and developing aerodynamically efficient and lightweight machines and the Giulietta Sprint Speciale chassis provided the perfect jumping off point.
Perhaps the reason these cars remain so special today is their overall beauty. The design was focused around performance, but in turn the body became very well recognized and an instant classic for Alfa. Combining the low roofline with the elongated and round body made the car desirable to collectors. The rarity of the “Coda Tronca” version lends to the high selling price at the recent auction that saw chassis 0184 sell for $420,800.
Hit the jump for more details on the 1962 Alfa Romeo Coda Tronca
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The Geneva Motor Show is now in the rear-view mirror, which means that the spotlight has now turned to the New York Auto Show this coming April, and if there’s one thing that we can all look forward to in New York, it’s that it will be the site of the 2011 World Car of the Year awards.
All in all, 39 vehicles were included in the initial entry list comprising of new cars from all over the world. From these 39 cars, the list was whittled down to ten finalists with the top three contenders from these 10 cars receiving the final nominations for the 2011 World Car of the Year title.
The cars that are subject for nomination are selected and voted on by an international jury panel consisting of 66 automotive journalists from 24 countries around the world. Each member of the panel has been appointed by the World Car Steering Committee on the merits of their experience, credibility, and influence within the auto industry in their respective countries and, to an extent, in the region.
Eligibility for the World Car award is important in determining which cars can be nominated for the awards. This year, all candidates for the awards must become available for sale on at least two continents from January 1, 2010 to May 30, 2011.
Apart from the World Car of the Year title, other awards that will be announced at the New York Auto Show include the World Performance Car of the Year, the World Green Car of the Year, and the World Car Design of the Year.
Check out all the nominated cars for each of the categories after the jump.
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Shortly after its official launch, the Alfa Romeo Giulietta has become quite a successful model. And as customers always ask for more the company is offering a new engine in the line-up: a new 2.0 JTDM-2 equipped with the latest generation JTDM-2 MultiJet Common Rail system.
This technology, combined with an electronically controlled variable geometry turbocharger delivers a total of 140 HP and a peak torque of 350 NM at just 1750 rpm (with the D.N.A. selector in Dynamic position) and 320 NM at 1500 rpm (in Normal) - giving it the highest torque in its class compared to similarly efficient and powerful engines.
Equipped with this engine, the new Giulietta will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 9 seconds and will be capable of a top speed of 127 mph. The model comes equipped with DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) and Start&Stop as standard, a close coupled diesel particulate filter and a built-in EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) system that improves control of temperature and gas flow.
