Alfa Romeo Milano: BMW 1-Series Rival Caught on Video

Alfa Romeo's MiTo sport hatch will soon get a big brother in the form of the 147's replacement that abandons the firm's numerical system in favor of the more 'sensual' Milano name. Spied here on film at Nurburgring, the Milano is still under heavy disguise but it is evident that the hatchback's styling will be influenced by the smaller MiTo which in turn was inspired by the 8c Competizione.

Based on Fiat's new C-Evo platform, the Milano will be offered with an extensive range of turbocharged petrol and diesel engines producing up to more than 200 horsepower. The five-door model will compete in the premium hatchback market along with the Audi A3 and BMW 1-Series.

The Milano's official presentation, which has been constantly delayed due to various reasons including the economic slowdown, is now expected to take place either at the Frankfurt show in September or, most likely, at next year's Geneva Salon. For more details and spy shots of the Milano, click here to read our previous post.

Via: Worldcarfans

Spy Shots: Ferrari Testing California with HGTE Sport Package at the Nurburgring?

Our spies have caught a mysterious Ferrari California performing test runs on the Nurburgring race track. According to our photographers, there were two Ferrari test drivers on hand that changed positions behind the steering wheel every so often and that the California featured the usual electronic equipment you find on test cars. Since the California has already been launched, there are two plausible explanations.

The first thing that leaps into mind is that Ferrari may be tweaking the California for future updates while another explanation is that the Italian automaker is readying a Handling GT Evoluzione sport package for their entry-level coupe cabriolet supercar, similar to the one offered on the 599 GTB Fiorano. Let's not forget that Ferrari's marketing team loves special edition models and packages.

Before we say anything else, let us not that besides the special antenna on the rooftop and the masked patch on the left-hand side of the front bumper, the California test car did not feature any other distinct features.

If Ferrari is indeed working on a HGTE sport package for the California, expect to see a modified suspension setup along with a lower ride height, special tires and a recalibrated seven-speed twin-clutch transmission. If the HGTE sport package for the 599 Fiorano is anything to go by, then minor styling enchantments inside and out as well as new alloy wheels and a sportier exhaust system should also be in the mix.

Jaguar Goodwood Special XKR: First Official Photos of Performance Model

The lime green Jaguar you see going slideways above is the 'Goodwood Special XKR', a one-off model that it will make its world debut at this weekend's Goodwood Festival of Speed. It is based on the facelifted 2010 XKR that exits the factory with a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 producing 510HP and 625Nm of torque that propels the coupe to 60mph (96km/h) from standstill in 4.6 seconds. Jaguar said that the one-off model features an array of performance enhancements and a louder exhaust, but did not disclose any specific details.

The 'Goodwood Special XKR' also features 21-inch alloy wheels and a lowered ride-height while the coupe's exterior stands out with the unique Lime Green paint scheme and XKR exterior graphics along with satin graphite detailing to the front grilles, headlights, door mirrors, side window surrounds, rear signature blade and bonnet louvres.

Ford's Agency Tries to Lure Carscoop and Other Blogs into Writing about their Cars to Enter a Draw for a Media Test Drive...

In all the years I've been in the media business, I've seen and heard some really weird things but automakers and their marketing agencies never cease to amaze me with their ignorance and dubious promotion methods. Earlier today I received an email from a representative of the Social Media Group, an independent agency handling a Ford account.

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Nissan GT-R Sets Guinness Record as World's Fastest Production Four-Seater

Leaving the oh-so-boring Nurburgring lap time records aside for a moment, Nissan's European arm announced that the new GT-R has made its way into the Italian edition of the "Guinness Book of World Records". The Japanese supercar set a world record for the fastest 0-100km/h (62mph) acceleration by a four seater series production car with a sprint time of 3.5 seconds. We remind you that in April, Nissan revealed the GT-R established a new lap time at the Nordschleife circuit in Germany with 7min and 26.7 seconds.