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Fiat has announced that it will be producing its famed Alfa Romeo brand for the Chinese market in partnership with Guangzhou Automobile Group Co Ltd. The joint venture was also announced by Zeng Qinghong, the president of the Chinese automotive group. The joint manufacturing effort will be called Guangqi Fiat and is scheduled to start production in July, 2012.

The venture will begin by producing Fiats, but Qinghong said, “Besides the Fiat brand, after talks between the two shareholders, we will introduce the Alfa Romeo brand to the venture company.” His comments were given during the Guangzhou auto show. The partners are still discussing a timetable for the production and sale of Alfa Romeos in China.

Guangqi Fiat will have an initial capacity of 140,000 units. The joint venture was developed with the intent of offering multiple auto brands and an array of products being manufactured at any one time. Chrysler Group, currently managed by Fiat, has openly said that it was going to aggressively seek a means to build more vehicles in China. The Guangqi Fiat organization could be a convenient venue for them to do so.

The Chinese auto market is seen to be the largest under served venue in the world at this time. The problem that Alfa Romeo will face is that it will be a johnny-come-lately to the luxury segment of that market. Audi, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW have already established themselves and growth in the luxury segment has been slowing. Fiat and Chrysler may have success with their smaller family cars, but it could be a struggle for Alfa.

2006 Alfa Romeo Spider

Alfa Romeo brought renowned automotive style salon Pininfarina to makeover the GTV Spider in 1998, thankfully. At the time the $60,000 price tag was a lot to ask for what seemed to be an underpowered and ungainly car, but, as with all cars, a used Alfa Romeo Spider has depreciated, becoming a much more reasonable priced ride.

As with all used cars, you can not just dive in head first and hope you have bought the right car. There are many things to keep in mind when shopping for a used Alfa Romeo. First, if you opt for a pre-2000 convertible, the tops were known to have an issue with the teeth. Check for smooth action as the top is opened and closed.

The next item to check for is the maintenance record. If the seller doesn’t have one on hand, do not buy the car. Alfa’s are finicky cars and if they are not properly maintained, they will fail. As you look over the maintenance record be sure that the oil was changed every 5,000 miles. The manufacturer recommended every 10K, but the cars use too much oil for that interval. Semi-synthetic oil should have been used each time. Listen for a rattle that sounds like a diesel engine when the car is started. It may clear up after a couple of moments, but it means that the hydraulic variator is bad. That means a new engine.

Other items to look for are: cambelts should have been changed every 35,000 miles, rotors and brakes, the high pressure air conditioning line frequently leaks near the evaporator, and a squeak in the rear suspension means a dry bushing. The bushing is integrated into the control arm, meaning a fairly expensive repair.

After checking any used Alfa Romeo over in person, pay for a vehicle history report. No need to be surprised by crash or weather damage that has been covered up. If you take care, you can enjoy your used Alfa Romeo Spider for years to come without spending a fortune in repairs.

Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne spent his visit to the 2011 L.A. Auto Show alternating between proudly displaying Alfa Romeo offerings and denying rumors that the storied brand was up for sale. He did both with his trademark smile and the good humor that usually marks his press interactions.

First the rumors that Alfa Romeo and/or Ferrari were going to be sold in part or whole. ”Oh please,” he said ”I think we’re going to hold tight and fight.” The rumors have been swirling as Fiat as a whole has been struggling to remain profitable. Also, Ferdinand Piech, CEO of Volkswagen, has made it abundantly and publicly clear that he would love to acquire Alfa Romeo. Piech is going to have to wait for a very long time according to Marchionne.

Now, for the centerpiece offering that Alfa had at the show. The Alfa Romeo 4C Concept was rehashed in L.A. The car is expected to go into production at the end of 2012 and will be marketed as a 2013 model. It is going to feature a 1.8L four cylinder engine strapped to Alfa’s six speed TCT twin clutch automatic. That will put 200 horsepower at its owner’s command. The 4C will weigh in the neighborhood of 1,875 lbs. Alfa is accomplishing the low weight with a composite body and aluminum frame. MSRP is targeted at $60,000. This is meant to be the new flagship car for Alfa Romeo.

It is good to see Machionne in good humor and deflecting rumors of a sale, especially to Volkswagen. It would be almost disgusting to see a company known for underpowering everything it builds take over Alfa. From the looks of the 4C concept, Alfa Romeo should see sales increase in the near future. Maybe that will quiet all of the rumors.

2012 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Novitec

In the olden days of racing, Alfa Romeo was king. Long before Enzo Ferrari thought of making his own cars, he tuned an Alfa. That is a bygone era. Today Alfa is better known for hatchbacks than supercars and Ferrari is a sister company instead of a competitor. Fortunately, not everyone is happy with that. Novitec and a few engineers at Alfa believe it is not a sin to make power available to the masses.

Let’s have a look at the engine upgrades first. Novitec has installed its proven Powerjet 2 tuning modules in the turbocharged gasoline Giulietta. This module features a simple plug-and-play installation that boosts the 1.4 TB 16V model to 141 hp, up from the standard 120 hp. When you look at the power output of the 1.4 TB MultiAir engine, the Novitec manipulations produce 195 hp. Any complaints so far? The 1.8L can produce peak torque of 284 ft/lbs and 261 hp. This helps propel the car from 0-60 in 6.5 seconds.

The tuning doesn’t just stop in the engine compartment. What good is a fast car if it doesn’t look sleek and handle well? Novitec added 18, 19, or 20 inch wheels. The Big Daddy 20 inchers are available with a silver or matte-black finish and completely fill the fender wells for a lowered look that adds aggressiveness to the stance of the Guilietta. In addition to the wheel changes, there are sport springs to consider. The Novitec versions lower the ride height by 1.25 inches. Then there is the stainless-steel coil-over suspension with adjustable ride height and damper rates. The adjustable suspension can lower your car between 1.25 and 3 inches, which gives the car a firmer setup.

The Novitec makeover goes on to add aerodynamic pizzazz by adding spoiler corners, a centrally mounted cup spoiler, side skirts, and a rear fascia with diffuser that is designed to allow for the upgraded Novitec exhaust system, which gives the car a throatier, more aggressive sound.

Novitec and Alfa Romeo are doing their best to shed the ho-hum attitude that many have toward the Guilietta. It may be a hatchback, but with the right tuning, it can be an aggressive performer.

1933 Alfa Monza

Owning an Alfa Romeo is a dream for many people. Just as every dream ends, the need for your current Alfa may also. Trying to sell your used Alfa Romeo can be more difficult than you might expect, especially if you are not prepared. Here are several tips to help you sell your Alfa as quickly as possible.

The first key is to honestly assess the value of your used Alfa Romeo. It may be your baby, love, or most cherished possession, but it could also be less valuable than all of the memories that you associate with it. Walk around your car, noting rust, dents, etc. Write down the exact mileage and look for sun fading on the paint. Log on to a site like Edmunds.com or kbb.com and enter all of these factors into their value formula. The last thing that you want is to have one number in mind and have that number be quite a bit more than the car’s actual market value.

Next, you need to have an understanding of the market. A used Alfa Romeo requires a niche buyer. While family sedans appeal to a great variety of people, sporty sedans do not. The market narrows if you have a convertible for sale in the winter or a hard top in the summer.

Third, is pricing your car. Once you have gotten a value from an authority site, how much do your list your car for. For the sake of having an example, let’s say your Alfa has a maximum worth of $14,995. Yes, it is very tempting to ask full value, but you will have a long wait for the right person to come by and pay that. Step one…do you have a loan? What is the pay off for that loan? Step two…add $500 to the price you must have for the car. Why? So the buyer can talk you down a little and you still get the money you want for your car. For example, let’s say you owe $10,000 on the car and want to sell it quickly. Ask $12,500. The price is not so low that people will wonder what is wrong with the car, but high enough that you are going to put money in your pocket after paying off the loan. You have room to let a buyer talk you down as much as $750 and still put a nice down payment on your next car.

Lastly, marketing your car is very important. You will want to clean you car thoroughly. Wash, wax, full detail inside and out. Even after that, a ”For Sale” sign in the window will not be enough. Advertize your car in local car magazines, newspapers, and on reliable websites. Be sure to have all maintenance records on hand to show any potential buyers. Offer a vehicle history report as well.

If you market your used Alfa Romeo correctly, you will have to deal with a torrent of gazers, gawkers, and actual buyers. This is annoying to say the least, but the right person will eventually darken your doorstep and take your baby away. It may feel as if you are losing a child, but, with money in hand, you can start looking for a new one right away.

Club Alfa Sport

Alfa Romeo To Enter Chinese Market

What To Check Before Buying A Used Alfa Romeo Spider

Alfa Romeo Highlights From 2011 L.A. Auto Show

This Is How Novitec Does A Giulietta

Tips For Selling Your Used Alfa Romeo

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