Archive for November, 2008
Wednesday, November 26th, 2008
Mazda Motor Corporation will showcase the world premiere of the all-new 2010 MAZDA3 5-Door at the Bologna Motor Show on December 3, 2008. The launch of the MAZDA3 5-Door follows on the heels of the debut of the 4-Door sedan, which made its world premiere at the current Los Angeles Auto Show. The all-new MAZDA3 5-Door adopts the same characteristics as its sedan counterpart, offering sporty driving and dynamic design, together with top-class environmental and safety performance.
The all-new MAZDA3 is available with key features typically not seen in its class including:
- Bluetooth hands-free phone and audio
- Adaptive front-lighting system and Bi-Xenon headlights with auto leveling
- Advanced keyless entry system
- Push-button start
All 2010 MAZDA3 5-Door models will be equipped with the newly developed 2.5L engine, shared with the MAZDA3s 4-Door and MAZDA6i. The 2.5L engine found in the MAZDA3 produces 167 horsepower and 168 lb.-ft. of torque.
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Wednesday, November 26th, 2008
The Alfa Romeo MiTo has been awarded a prestigious five-star Euro NCAP rating, setting it at the top of its segment in the field of safety. The ‘sportiest ever compact car’ notched up a score of 36 out of 37 in the Euro NCAP adult ratings and a judgement of “Good” (the only car in its segment to obtain 3.35 points of out a maximum of 4) in the new tests that Euro NCAP has introduced to assess the ability of the front seats to prevent whiplash”.
This major accolade yet again confirms Alfa Romeo’s particular commitment to all aspects relating to driver and passenger protection. The Alfa Romeo MiTo was in any case designed and built to obtain the maximum score in passive and active safety tests. Examples include the most sophisticated electronic devices for control of vehicle dynamic behaviour (from braking to traction): Vehicle Dynamic Control (not disengageable) that manages important functions such as the Hill Holder, traction control, assisted panic braking, MSR to prevent the wheels locking during over-run, ‘active electronic steering’ DST (Dynamic Steering Torque) and Q2 Electronic that simulates the presence of a self-locking differential electronically .
Thousands of hours of virtual simulations have made it possible to develop the car without the aid of prototypes in just 16 months. The virtues of the virtual design were then put to the test physically on cars produced in the Mirafiori plant, with two hundred tests on components and subsystems, more than one hundred impact simulations on a Hyge slide and more than eighty crash tests (frontal impact, side impact, roll-over and shunting, taking into account the various speeds at which impacts may occur, the different types of obstacle and the need to protect occupants with very different physical characteristics). These statistics demonstrate Alfa’s deep-rooted commitment to making the Alfa Romeo MiTo one of the safest cars in its segment and also in the field of motoring as a whole. The new model represents the state-of-the-art as far as passive safety is concerned. Total protection, in short, as evidenced by 7 airbags as standard (two of which are Multistage); three-point seatbelts with double pretensioners and load limit limiters; S.A.H.R. (Self Aligning Head Restraint), a new second-generation device built into the backrests of the front seats that moves the head restraint closer to the occupants’ heads in the event of an impact to lessen the effects of whiplash. Not to mention the contribution to occupant protection made by the body, the bonnet, the doors and the dashboard crossmember in addition to the seats and steering column, that have been designed with a view to their behaviour in the event of an accident.
In the field of preventive safety, the Alfa Romeo MiTo also offers headlights with a daytime function (known as Daytime Running Lights) that automatically turns on the side lights when the engine is turned on – to meet a specific standard that will enter into force in 2012 – and LED tail-lights that offer greater brightness than conventional bulbs, for greater safety.
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Tuesday, November 25th, 2008
A few days ago the millionth Grande Punto came off the production lines at the Fiat factory in Melfi. This model was launched in 2005 and was the heir of two best-sellers: the first Punto (from 1993 to 1999) of which 3.5 million were manufactured, while the second series (launched in 1999 and currently on sale under the name Punto Classic) exceeded 3 million.
Intended for the British market, the millionth Grande Punto is a Passionate Red Sport version equipped with the spirited 1.4 turbo petrol 120 bhp engine. The car’s distinguishing characteristics are its large “Skydome” electric roof, 17” diamond-cut alloy wheels and chrome rear view mirrors. These last two features confirm the great attention given to accessories and aesthetic details introduced with the 2008 range.
Always a huge star on all the international markets, the Grande Punto MY 2008 has recently had a make-over with the adoption of major features aimed especially at the younger public. Just think that the sports line (Sport and Racing) accounts for 25% of total sales, while 14% of these customers choose to customise their cars with original stickers. Not only, currently 30% of Grande Punto customers demand Blue&Me, the system that has changed the paradigms of communication, information and in-car personal entertainment.
Moreover, aware of the comfort and safety features of the upper segment, 40% of customers choose the Dynamic version. Finally, for a few weeks now the dual fuel (petrol/methane) Grande Punto has been on sale, expanding the Natural Power range currently comprising the Panda, Multipla, Doblò and Punto Classic models. It is an important point that 24% of total sales of the Grande Punto are actually of the new methane version. The Grande Punto Natural Power is the ideal answer for those who want an environmentally-friendly car which is also economical with low fuel consumption. All this combined with excellent performance, extraordinary versatility and maximum safety levels.
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