RobiNZ Personal Blog

Saab = Sadly Abused Admirable Brand

GM incompetence has killed Saab.

I've never owned a Saab, not even driven one but know this little company has been responsible for so much innovation and unique design it didn’t deserve this end. GM didn’t know what to do with Saab’s technology, brand or culture and Saab didn't deserve GM’s mismanagement. I suspect this quote from Rinaldo Rinolfi, Fiat's engine guru, will resonate with Saab workers:

"We were really held up during the years with GM, which were about anything but innovation"

My thoughts are with those workers whose dedication and skill are plain to see in the new 9-5. I wonder if it will ever get to market. I doubt it, but maybe something will be resurrected from the GM Saab train wreck.

I’m just thankful Fiat escaped the clutches of GM. Its future is far from certain but at least they are controlling it. I know a lot of people have their future riding on the NEW GM, but it’s not a company I’ll support. I remember the financial bullshit that created it and what the old GM did to so many on that journey.

Farewell to a Sadly Abused Admirable Brand.

Citroën celebrate 90 fabulous years

90 years of Citroën and it ends with a new logo

via http://www.eurocarblog.com/post/2393/citroen-anniversary-video

Can Fiat fix Chrysler? - The Globe and Mail

Sergio Marchionne, CEO of Fiat SpA and Chrysler Group LLC, says he will reveal how in November so until then we can just speculate

Can Fiat fix Chrysler? - The Globe and Mail

What new cars does Fiat's boss plan to add to Chrysler's lineup? Jeremy Cato looks at the contenders…

Fiat Abarth 695 "Tributo Ferrari"

The Fiat 500 is a pretty little car, both pretty and little. This is a special 500 with its little 1.4 Turbo pumping out 134kw/180hp to make it go, big Brembo brakes to make it stop, upgraded suspension & wheels to make it corner and a variable exhaust system (valve opens over 3000rpm) to make it howl. Bellissimo!

Officially Official: Fiat confirms Abarth 695 "Tributo Ferrari" for Frankfurt debut — Autoblog

The Abarth 695 "Tributo Ferrari" makes its world debut at Frankfurt. This new performance version of the Abarth 500 confirms the link between Abarth and Ferrari based on shared values that include a passion for performance, a racing soul, attention to detail and Italian style… (Full Story, Press Release and Photo Gallery)

Two 500s: one cute, one masterpiece

While the new 500 is cute, I don’t think it’s a masterpiece…

The real masterpiece, the original by Dante Giacosa:

Toyota's Historic California Plant Closure

When I read this:

Toyota's Historic California Plant Closure

I remembered this fine example of “The Toyota Way” meeting “The American Way” seen in San Francisco earlier this year.

No, the car has not been in a collision and there were no other mounting holes in the bumper. The plate had been fixed with apparent precision, but not a level!

Fiat: prestige brand or typo?

Surely this was meant to be Ferrari? 

The cars of 2015 - motoring - life-style | Stuff.co.nz
Luxury car buyers will continue their push into the big volume markets, with prestige brands including BMW, Fiat and even Aston Martin all looking at little cars with big price tags.

How is Marchionne running Fiat-Chrysler?

 Like he did at Fiat: 

How Marchionne Will Run Fiat-Chrysler - BusinessWeek

"a rumpled figure in slacks and a black polo shirt sporting a Chrysler logo, cut to the chase. "In this business," he said, "mediocrity will kill you. We can't accept it."

Traffic Light Thought - I saw a Peugeot 107!?

This might seem an odd thought to any European or U.K. based readers given the Peugeot 107 (and it's Toyota & Citroën cousins) is a relatively common sight.

However there is no mention of the 107 on the Peugeot New Zealand web site and, as far as I know, it was never imported here. I can only assume this was a private import or arrived via Singapore, Hong Kong or Japan as a second hand import.

In contrast to the retro Fiat 500 the 107 is all modern and minimalist. I could only take it in from the adjacent lane, as we crossed the bridge, but it reminded me of the Citroën AX in it's economic approach. Large light clusters cover areas that would be expensive to form in steel, the hatch appeared to be a hinged glass with reinforcing rather than the usual frame & window insert. It's a true small car, not like the obese "Mini", and one I reckon would sell well in New Zealand if the price was right. That is, I suspect, the problem as it would face fierce competition from new small cars and larger, cheaper, Japanese Imports.

I wonder if it would stand the premium pricing Fiat are getting, or trying to get, for the 500. It's $26,990 for 1.2 500 Pop here but you can get a 1.4 Grande Punto 5Dr Dynamic for $2000 less!

Kimi will see how "The Pensioner", Michael Schumacher, drives!

I bet Kimi (or Fiat PR) didn't think Michael Schumacher would be coming back to Formula 1 when they made this advertisement!

Felipe Massa's accident was terrible and I hope he has a speedy recovery but must admit Michael Schumacher's return is rather intriguing!  It will be interesting to see how "The Pensioner" shapes up .

Schumacher confirms shock comeback | James Allen on F1.

Truck loses cab, but not so bad

Heading South on Friday I saw an appalling accident. On the opposite side of the motorway a truck had rear ended another, it's load shifting forward pushing the cab off the chassis. I was pleased to read there were no serious injuries as it looked like a bad, possibly fatal, accident. 

Truck loses cab in smash-up - National - NZ Herald News

Police are amazed no one was seriously hurt when a steel-bearing truck rear-ended another...

The Alfa Romeo MiTo arrives in New Zealand

I passed by Andrew Simms European tonight and saw the new Alfa Romeo MiTo 'in the metal" for the first time. It's just arrived in New Zealand and I was keen to see how it looked as some of the proportions look strange in the web and magazine photos I've seen, even those carefully framed manufacturer shots.

They had two MiTos (or is the plural just MiTo?) on display: metallic red in the showroom - which is above road level and not very easy to photograph - and a black one in the outside yard.

Squeezing the new Alfa look, inspired by the 8C Competizione (right), onto a small hatchback has compromised it a little but the real thing looks a lot better than any photograph.

What surprised me is how the 1.72m wide MiTo appears narrower than the Punto (1.68m w) which shares it's platform when viewed from the front. ASE had a 3 door Punto beside the MiTo and the comparison was interesting. The MiTo has a low set vertical grille and lights stacked high on the guard which look fine but are responsible for the occasionally gawky frontal appearance. The Punto has similar lights but its narrow horizontal grille makes the chassis appear wider. The short overhangs and overall length of the MiTo aren't a problem and the back, with large round tail lights, looks better the the Punto which has a plain hatch and vertical lights. The lower you are, compare the red car shot below, the better the MiTo looks. My photos don't really do it justice but rushed hand held snapshots of a black car in the dark aren't going to be award winners!

 

I only peeked at the interior through the window but it looks far more up-market than the top end Punto models, as it should given the $10-15k price difference. The sprinkling of Alfa, Fiat and Citroën logos on the photos are reflections not Alfa previewing some new Fiat Group alliance!

It's a sign of the times that the 1.4 Litre 4 cyl MiTo puts out the same 114kW (155bhp) as my 2.0 Litre 5 cyl Bravo HGT, although it has a Turbo to help. It also does the same 8 sec 0-100 km/h but the claimed fuel consumption, 6.5 l/100km, is at least 1 l/100km better than the Bravo averages.

I wondered if the Alfa Romeo MiTo styling would work but came away impressed. Although Alfa might cringe at reference to it, given it's rust bucket reputation, I reckon this little Alfa is a worthy successor to the long gone, but not forgotten, Alfasud. It might be more conventional in layout, transverse four rather than boxer, but brings essential Alfa DNA back to the small car market. It also appears the MiTo has a level of build quality the old 'sud deserved, but never achieved. New Zealand only gets one top spec MiTo model and its priced to take on the Mini. I reckon the obese German parody, good as it is, has a real rival in the MiTo.

I don't know how it goes but it looks bellissimo! I wonder if Andrew Simms do extended test drives for bloggers

  

  

Alfa MiTo: Littlies get the timing right - Motoring - NZ Herald News

Tags: alfa+romeo, mito, andrew+simms+european

Ferrari 308, 70's Bertone style at its best

Ferrari308_1977_Corrected
Originally uploaded by RobiNZ

I have no idea who owned this 308GT4, but took the photo from the street (at Hahei Coromandel) when I was about 11. It's often considered "the odd Ferrari" as the wedgie Bertone style contrasted with the curvy Pininfarina heritage but I liked it then, still do. Considering it combined 4 seats (OK really 2+2) and a mid-mounted V8 I think the proportions are good and I love the C pillar air intakes.

It's certainly aged better than the Pininfarina styled Ferrari Mondial that replaced it.

Fiat's engine guru on General Motors innovation

Rinaldo Rinolfi's comment on the car company that US taxpayers are pumping billlions of dollars into:

"We were really held up during the years with GM, which were about anything but innovation"

From Fiat retrofits Chrysler engine, shelves ‘dinosaurs’ to save gas - www.pittsburghlive.com

Crash Test Panda?

Does Fiat have a Crash Test Panda!

Via Cream_Tweets

Fiatsler or ChryFiat?

Whatever they call it, it's happening! I much prefer the Fiat Group part of this potential line up

Fiat/Chrysler allowed to merge

Deal puts Fiat in Chrysler driver’s seat
In creating the world’s sixth-largest carmaker, Marchionne is betting he can pull Chrysler out of a sales nose dive on the force of the small, fuel-efficient vehicles Fiat has excelled at building. At the same time, he’s hoping to expand Fiat’s reach, bringing brands such as Alfa Romeo back to a market it abandoned years ago, and in doing so make the brand a global power

Fiat announces Chrysler's new management lineup

New Chrysler Group takes first steps

Green transport, not a simple as you think

The greenness of transport is subject to debate. Public transport might be better, unless the bus is empty which in peak hours could be half the time.

Train can be worse for climate than plane - www.newscientist.com

True or false: taking the commuter train across Boston results in lower greenhouse gas emissions than travelling the same distance in a jumbo jet. Perhaps surprisingly, the answer is...

Goodbye General Motors, Hello Great Motivation (from Michael Moore)

I love cars but, I must admit, not any GM made. I don't always agree with Michael Moore but think his plan for GM's revival knocks anything the tired GM Executive presented to Obama for six. General Motors is dead, this is Great Motivation:

Goodbye, GM ...by Michael Moore (Click through for the full GM letter)

"1. Just as President Roosevelt did after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the President must tell the nation that we are at war and we must immediately convert our auto factories to factories that build mass transit vehicles and alternative energy devices. Within months in Flint in 1942, GM halted all car production and immediately used the assembly lines to build planes, tanks and machine guns. The conversion took no time at all. Everyone pitched in. The fascists were defeated."

"We are now in a different kind of war -- a war that we have conducted against the ecosystem and has been conducted by our very own corporate leaders."

"President Obama, now that he has taken control of GM, needs to convert the factories to new and needed uses immediately."

2. Don't put another $30 billion into the coffers of GM to build cars. Instead, use that money to keep the current workforce -- and most of those who have been laid off -- employed so that they can build the new modes of 21st century transportation. Let them start the conversion work now."

Fiat get Chrysler, now what?

Chrysler get Fiat power train & small car technology, Fiat get Chrysler's US distribution network and maybe US plants which I can see the sense of having. You have to wonder if any more deals are in the offer to replace the lost Opel bid and give Fiat large RWD platform for Alfa/Lancia. I hope the 300 isn't being considered for that as an old Americanised Mercedes chassis ain't ever going to make an Alfa.

Maybe Tata, with it's Jaguar connections, is back on the phone list. They could use some more volume (both large RWD & 4WD) and Mr Marchionne knows who to call.

Fiat to acquire Chrysler assets - BBC World

Bye Bye 1.0 Litre Ferrari

After 13 years  3 months  & 9 days the mighty Uno 45s has gone. It has travelled 247,000km, 192,000 in my hands, but is unlikely to do many more. A recent WOF signalled rust that was un-economic to repair so the time had come to part. However, it has gone to a Fiat fan so bits will survive, to keep other Uno's alive,  or maybe it will be resurrected.

So I'm back to owning just one Fiat, farewell RH!

Tags: uno

Chrysler, meet Mr Marchionne

This AP article has a really good summary of Sergio Marchionne's rise to the top and how he turned around Fiat Auto. Recommended reading, I didn't realise he pushed the new Bravo, especially for Chrysler management...

Fiat CEO willing to take the wheel at Chrysler

While Marchionne inherited the Grande Punto and Panda — both small, hot-selling cars — he pushed for the redesign of the iconic 500 and the reintroduction of the Fiat Bravo, a car that proved Fiat could build a midsize sedan people would buy. In an example of flat management at work, Fiat came out with both cars in just 18 months.

Tags: Fiat, Chrysler

MiToNz - The Alfa Romeo Mito heads to New Zealand

The baby Alfa Romeo MiTo is heading to New Zealand in, Mini fighting, high power Turbo form. It will be interesting to see how those lines, sometimes rather strange in photos, look in the metal.

MiTo - It's Mighty Near!

Alfa Romeo has confirmed that its all-new MiTo model will arrive in New Zealand in July providing the car market with a unique compact performance car that sets new standards for style, performance and technology...

Tags: alfa+romeo, mito

Redefining Chrysler?

If you did one of those brand word association tests about "Chrysler" would you think of the world luxury?

Car dealers take it on the chin - Stuff.co.nz

"Pity the luxury car dealer. While for some buyers, money's still no object, the recession continues to drive some dealerships to the wall."

"In Hastings, luxury car dealer Main Street European was put into receivership by creditors"

"Meanwhile, luxury car company Chrysler filed for bankruptcy protection in the United States."

Tags: chrysler

Fiat 128 - Celebrating Forty Years of Front Wheel Drive Fiats

Autoblog.it have a tribute to the Fiat 128 celebrating it's launch, forty years ago, in May 1969:

Fiat 128: quarant'anni di trazione anteriore - English Translation

Nel lontano maggio del 1969 debuttò la Fiat 128, la prima vettura a trazione anteriore sviluppata dalla Casa torinese...

This outwardly mundane 3 box saloon was not the first front wheel drive car, by a long way, but was the first to combine all the attributes of a modern FWD car. Before you mention the Mini, I refer you to this L J K  Setright tribute to the Fiat 128. I found it several years ago, while writing an obituary, and he details the innovation and excellence of the 128 as only Setright can;

L J K Setright: Happy birthday to a remarkable, but long-forgotten Fiat

Giacosa saw a need to replace Flat's classic 1100, and decided that it should have front-wheel drive. Under him were three brilliant engineers: Montabone was good at everything, Cordiano likewise, but particularly good at suspension, while Lampredi was the greatest engine-designer of his times. The result promised to be extraordinary....

I owned a '79 128 Special, 1300 four door sedan, and did many happy kilometres in it. When I got mine, secondhand, it was a rather faded orange but I had it re-sprayed to it's original Tangerine glory. It might have been a fairly staid design but in that colour it certainly stood out!

By then the 128 was showing it's age in terms of design and interior styling, both little changed since launch, but the driving experience shamed many more modern cars. The modest tyres and power meant it was not fast in outright terms but wonderful steering, handling and the unbustable engine that revved willingly to the red line (I fitted a rev counter) made it quick. The 128 also donated it's mechanicals to one of my favourite '70's Fiats, the outstanding little X1/9.

There is another 128 connection in my life. A couple of years ago I got in touch with a former Primary School Teacher. A special science project - based on paper aircraft - he let me do as a ten year old was the inspiration for a rather odd, but successful, competition submission. It won me a trip to a conference in Las Vegas. He noticed from my blog that I like Fiats but was surprised, 30 years later, I still remembered his car at the time was, of course, a Fiat 128.

Sadly, like many 70's Fiats, it was ultimately corrosion that ended my 128 ownership. The mechanicals were fine but the tin worm eventually won. It's hard to lay the blame entirely with the Italians as Kiwi Fiats were assembled locally with minimal protection. That was not just a Fiat thing as many locally assembled rusty 70's Toyota, Nissan, Mazda proved. Although the Uno proved to be a worthy successor I was sad to lose the mighty 128.

Fiat + Chrysler + Opel = Grande Fiat?

Is Mr Marchionne going to pull off the auto merger of the decade, create a mega-mix mess or fail? According to The Economist he may stitch together a deal that merges Fiat, Chrysler and Opel, largely funded by US and German Govt subsidies.

You have to admire his nerve, taking on Chrysler while whipping Opel out of GM control is one heck of a task. Mind you, Fiat have benefited from GM troubles before, maybe they will again.

Fiat’s grand plans - www.economist.com

"...by the end of next week Fiat could have forged a huge shiny new car company for no outlay of cash or Mr Marchionne’s impressively ambitious plans could have come to nothing."

Fiat shows new Formula 1 derived fuel-saving technology - MultiAir

MultiAir brings hydraulic control of valve timing to improve internal combustion engine efficiency. Improved power and torque enables smaller engines, less weight, which leads to improved economy. Interesting that an improvement in fun is also claimed thanks to more responsive engines. This is "hybrid killing technology"?

"Hybrids should only be used if there is no other, cheaper, way of making a petrol engine more efficient. Unfortunately for Toyota there is" - Rinaldo Rinolfi, VP Fiat Powertrain Technologies (See this post)

See more at the Fiat MultiAir Technology Home page

Fiat shows new fuel-saving system | Freep.com | Detroit Free Press
BY MARK PHELAN • FREE PRESS AUTO CRITIC • March 5, 2009

GENEVA, Switzerland -- Fiat unveiled an engine technology on Wednesday that it says can reduce fuel consumption as much as 25%...

Ferrari may also bring the Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) recently introduced to Formula 1 to the road: The aim of KERS is to improve performance, rather than economy, but it hasn't helped them so far. Ferrari will arrive in China, the third Grand Prix, with zero points!

Confirmed: Ferrari testing hybrid powertrain in 599 prototype

According to Ferrari president Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, the Italian automaker is already testing its KERS system in a prototype based on the 599 chassis.

Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Citroën arrive at Andrew Simms European, Newmarket

I went past Andrew Simms European on the way home tonight. "The new home of passion" looks good

Andrew Simms European - Auckland, New Zealand

PS: The old Continental Cars Fiat/Alfa showroom looks a bit sad. It's stripped of all branding and currently houses a random selection of used European (inc Fiat Group) cars.

Can Tony Sergio Fix It?

Chrysler's fate is in the hands of the US Government and a brilliant Canadian who heads a, formerly itself ailing, Italian industrial giant. How bizarre is that!

I suspect Chrysler is beyond saving and this deal will, at best, result in a genuine US presence for Fiat Group. It's also an escape clause for Cerberus who probably only want the Finance arm, if anything.

Still, if anyone can, Sergio can!

Chrysler's fate in hands of Fiat's Canadian CEO

In the past five years, Fiat’s Canada-raised CEO Sergio Marchionne achieved what no one could do in Detroit: He took a company on the verge of collapse and made it profitable. Perhaps even more unlikely, the former chartered accountant with an MBA and law degree is now Chrysler’s best hope for survival.

Buy an Alfa Romeo Brera, get a Fiat Punto free!

It launched on April 1st but this deal is no April Fool. Andrew Simms European celebrate their arrival as a Fiat, Alfa Romeo dealer with this brilliant deal.

Alfa's lovely looking Coupe for the open road and a stylish Fiat Punto for around town. Both would fit well in the garage! Where to find Ninety Grand?

Andrew Simms European - Auckland, New Zealand

.

This offer is exclusive to Andrew Simms European. This offer expires on May 31st, or until our stock of six Alfa Romeo Breras are sold. When they are gone, they are gone!

Obama, the Italian Saviour?

Business Pundit have  a pretty good summary of how Obama's move to help out Fiat, I mean, Chrysler will play out:

Chrysler/Fiat Merger: It’s All About Fiat

Fiat, the Uno for Chrysler?

Brawn's brilliant Melbourne debut, Honda's dream or nightmare?

I saw this advert from Honda on a site today.

Brawn won today because Honda failed last year. They made the brave choice to write off 2008 and spend the year working on the car that was the class of the field today.

It's a pity Honda couldn't live their dream. That decision to pull out of F1 might make financial sense but it's cost them a fortune in publicity this week, month, maybe even a title this year. The eyeball to dollar value of F1 is high, especially when you are winning.

You can't count out McLaren, Ferrari, Red Bull or even Toyota (last to third!) but Brawn have a healthy advantage and several flyaway races to make the most of it.

Congratulations to Brawn, Jenson, Rubens and the team. Commiserations to all those at Honda who helped make it happen and weren't there to live the dream. Who kicked out their ladder?

Tags: brawn, honda

Formula 1 turns upside down, while Honda weep?

Imagine if you'd told the Honda Board last year that the first Grand Prix Qualifying of 2009 would see:

• McLaren languishing at the tail end of the field: P14,15
• Ferrari struggling to qualify in the top ten: P7,9
• Honda locking out the front row: Pole and Second

Would they still have pulled out of Formula 1?

That's what happened today leaving Brawn GP and Virgin, thanks to a last minute deal from a very happy Richard Branson, to benefit of the hundreds of millions Honda invested since taking over BAR.

It's quite possible they'll win the race tomorrow, maybe even the rest of the fly-away races leaving McLaren, Ferrari and the rest scrambling to catch up. Imagine Brawn GP get to mid-year with cars at the sharp end of the championship and a real possibility of challenging for the title?

Honda funded all that, then walked away at precisely the wrong time. A money saving decision that might turn out to be one of the most expensive mistakes in Formula 1 history.

PS: One thing Brawn do need to work on is a better website. The current one is littered with PDF files leading to a miserable browsing experience. Given the turmoil of the last few months, and the fact that they've made a winning car, maybe it's only temporary.

Ferrari Vs McLaren, the dilemma : 2009

This is my update for 2009:

• I’m a Kiwi = Support McLaren
• I’m a Fiat fan = Support Ferrari
• Lewis Hamilton is a legend = Support McLaren
• But I really like Massa = Support Ferrari
• In spite of his talent Kimi is just so dull = Support McLaren
• McLaren is a legendary team, Ferrari is a religion = Support Ferrari

Support Ferrari = Support McLaren so I’ll just enjoy what looks to be the best Formula One battle in years! *

* Which, judging by pre-season speed, could even be Brawn. That's a real long-shot but wouldn't it bizarre if Honda walked away from a championship the year they could have won it?!

Andrew Simms European - Auckland's new home for Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Citroën

Some good news arrived today in the form of a letter from Andrew Simms European. From April 1st, no fool, they are filling the void left by the withdrawal of CCS by adding Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Citroën to the brands represented at their Newmarket premises. The showroom, parts and service facility will be on the corner of Broadway & St. Marks Rd, Newmarket, along with another North Shore Service facility.

Andrew Simms operate six Mitsubishi dealerships around New Zealand. However in the letter Andrew shared his background, which included working for Fiat & Citroën agents before Mitsubishi, and revealed he owns an Alfa Spider and 147 GTA race car.

This is great news for these brands, which are niche rather than the major players they are in Europe, and I wish Simms every success. I'll grab some photos of the new set-up sometime after the opening.

Andrew Simms Mitsubishi, Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Citroën - www.andrewsimms.co.nz

Fiat CEO in a fighting mood

Isn't this refreshing, Fiat fight back! It's not going to be easy but with leadership like Sergio Marchionne is providing Fiat has a chance. General Motors executive could learn something from the little Italian they ran away from...

Fiat CEO will 'fight like hell' to make profits - Automotive News
Marchionne criticizes defeatist bosses

* Maybe Hugh Macleod should suggest  to Sergio Marchionne that Fiat adopt his "Recessions are for wimps" cartoon as their blue monster!

The Cars Group on Vox

My blogging mate Jack Yan has invited me to co-host a new, Automobile focused, "Cars" Group on Vox. If you like cars and you're on Vox, or considering joining, and have a browse and join in!

Cars Group on Vox

What's Vox?

Vox is a free personal blogging community from Six Apart, who also do TypePad. It gives you a platform to share your content, integrate other media and create a community. Posts and media can be added the Cars Group from your Vox blog as you compose, or after posting. Just use the "Add to Group" option.

"Blogging is fun again. With powerful privacy controls and hundreds of beautiful designs, Vox is a great place to build your online neighborhood. Add seamless integration with popular web services like Flickr and YouTube, and we think you'll agree that... Vox makes sharing your life with friends and family, easy, safe, and fun."

Visit Vox and explore posts,  photos,  videos,  audio,  interests,  and more.

Who's the greenest car maker?

Not Toyota

Fiat: Europe's lowest emission brand

Making lots of little cars helps.

A Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabriolet in the Catlins?

I was reading CAR U.K. and thought this Porsche advert looked familiar. Could it be the Catlins, Southland, New Zealand as seen in this photo I took in 2005. Compare the hills and fore shore, seems familiar? It wouldn't be the first time my Adventure South travels and Porsche adverts have coincided.

 

911 Carrera S Cabriolet - 911 Overview - Models - Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG

Continental Car Services say Bye Bye to Fiat & Alfa Romeo

Continental Car Services (CCS) began life back in the 60's as “Town & Country Motors” where mechanic Tim Bailey both fixed & sold cars. They included Fiat and I remember going there as a kid with my Aunt who had 850 and 124 Fiat Coupes in the 70’s, an Uno in the 80's.

CCS became part of the Sime Darby conglomerate who retail a wide variety of brands in NZ. Within a few hundred metres you could see Alfa, Audi, Fiat, Ferrari, Peugeot, Porsche, Maserati and VW vehicles in the CCS stable. It’s like a permanent motor-show with all the cars on sale!

My faithful old Uno 45 came from CCS, my Bravo HGT was originally sold by them although I got it from Precision Motors (part of the same group). For as long as I can remember CCS has been the place to go for Italian, the best, cars.

Therefore, it was very sad to get a letter today announcing from April 1 2009 CCS will no longer be selling Fiat or Alfa Romeo. They will continue to service them but I presume this will close the combined Fiat/Alfa showroom they opened back in 2006. It's a pity to see such a long standing relationship with a quality operation come to an end but they said the small sales volume did not justify the investment required.

I hope Ateco (who represent Fiat, Alfa Romeo & Citroen in NZ) get through this but it's tough times for the whole industry, even tougher for the small brands*. I have heard another, primarily Mitsubishi, dealer will be taking over but as I write there is no news on the Fiat NZ site and I've had no reply to an email sent several days ago. If Ateco read this feel free to respond in the comments.

So long Continental Cars, thanks for the decades of service.

From June 2006 - New Fiat & Alfa Romeo Showroom in Auckland
Continental  Car Services (Auckland) launched a new dedicated Alfa Romeo & Fiat Showroom this weekend...

* For my U.K. and European readers: It may seem strange but in New Zealand Fiat is regarded as a niche, almost prestige, brand rather than the mass market option it is in Europe with sales measured in hundreds according to the latest public registration statistics. The 500 will have bumped that number up this year but even it has been positioned as an expensive small car. Judging by the number I've seen on the road I suspect it hasn't been the boost I'd hoped for Fiat in New Zealand.

Tags: Continental+Car+Services

The Northern Gateway Toll Road, or 214km for Fush n Chups

I was watching TV3 Evening News and they showed the new Northern Gateway Toll Road, which opened yesterday with a traffic jam. It's going to be $2 each way and I thought "I'll never see it" for several reasons:

• I'm opposed to tolling for public roads. We pay enough "toll' in fuel and other transport related taxes already.
• There is a longer alternative route, Highway 16, which takes me closer to home.
• Why pay a toll to go down a boring, if pretty, motorway and miss a brilliant drive?

Then they said "It's toll free until midnight" so I had to go, might be the first and last time I ever see it!

We headed north via the Riverhead - Coatesville Road. I've travelled it many times as a passenger, cyclist and driver and know it so well I could call it - rally pace note style - without references but tonight there was something new. On a sharp'ish, near hairpin, bend as you approach Coatesville there was a solar powered sign that would probably light up and say "Slow Down" if you were going, what "they" consider, too fast. How do I know that?

From there it was north to Silverdale where we joined the Northern Gateway "Toll Free for today Toll Road". It's impressive as passes through enormous cuttings and over long viaducts where you drive beside the tops of large Kauri trees. The traffic heading north was light so could glimpse the vistas without endangering life & limb. The view down the valley to Waiwera was lovely but you don't really get a sense of being on a bridge due to the width, 4 lanes + median, and barriers. I went under this viaduct last year, while it was still in construction, and it looks far more impressive from the valley below than it does from the road. The supposed highlight is twin tunnels (separate North/South) through Johnstones Hill but they are quite short and broad. I think Homer Tunnel, on the road to Milford Sound, is far more thrilling. They were marked to make the two approaching lanes merge into one. I wonder if this is it temporary as seems odd to "throttle" a new road like this?

The new section is only about 6km long but cuts out 11km of windy narrow coastal highway on the Orewa - Waiwera road, yellow in the Google Earth image below. It's still a free alternative and has it's own great views and, I assume, far less traffic than before!

     *

Once off the new section we made a short excursion to Puhoi, it's cute village but understandably rather quiet on a Monday evening, even a holiday one. Then it was onwards to Matakana. Got some Fush un Chups (Nu Zild for Fish and Chips). They'd been busy and "only had Gurnard" but there is nothing wrong with "fresh today Gurnard" in a nice crisp batter and real chips (not French bloody fries which I hate). I don't remember it's name, can't find it on Google, but (updated thanks Lance!) "C", the takeaway shop next to "Stubbs Butchers & Deli" at Matakana does great grub. I was pleased since I drove 107km to try it!

From there we headed further North to Wellsford and then home down the West Coast on Highway 16. This is one of my favourite driving roads if there is no traffic as there are only a few safe passing areas. Even on the last evening of a long holiday weekend there was no traffic thanks to the new toll road! From Wellsford to Helensville used to be about 60km of great driving with a 10km horror gravel stretch in the middle. It's been upgraded over the years and is now sealed all the way and realigned enough, but not too much, to make the corners flow. The only thing I did notice is Transit have gone mad with large reflective yellow warning signs and arrows to the extent that they are almost a hazard thanks the to the glare from high beam headlights! 

Lets just say the Bravo got a bit of a workout, or overheating test**, and was fun on such a rewarding road. You don't have to go that fast to have fun, just maintaining the speed limit on the windy parts is fun enough.

I liked the Northern Gateway Toll Road, but I love the Highway 16 alternative so I won't be using it! One day when the oil runs out I'll remember driving 214km for Fish n Chips, with pleasure!

Northern Gateway Toll Road | Land Transport NZ 

Home - Northern Gateway Alliance - building the ALPURT B2 highway from Orewa to Puhoi

* I had a photographer in the passenger seat, but she was hampered by having no screen to see what was being shot. I dropped my faithful little Ixus 430 and smashed the screen earlier that day  It's taken over 5,000 images and has been a great little camera. Time to get another even though it's still photographing fine.

** More on the Bravo HGT, I think stands for Heat Gives Trouble, in a future post but suffice to say it behaved perfectly again...

Microsoft & Fiat help you drive green

Fiat Blue & Me technology, based on Microsoft Automotive, has a green driving advisor based on data logged as you drive.

Sergio Marchionne: The party is over for Fiat, for everyone

Consider this quote;

"The obligation for all industry players is to take a very hard look and say, 'How do I deal with the next 20 years? How do I position my business in an industry that needs to be cleaned up? How do I do that?' I am in that mode now."

That's why you have to read this article:

Marchionne: The party is over - Automotive News
Fiat CEO says it is time for auto world's 'Wal-Marts' to totally change way they do business

Jeremy likes the Bravo?

He's not daft, Clarkson likes the (new) Bravo!

Fiat Bravo 1.4 TJet 150 Sport
It is not quite as good as a Golf. Except for a couple of things. The way it feels and the way it looks...

All the new car launches in 2009 from Car Magazine

Thanks to long lead times the current loom, doom, recession isn't going to stop a huge influx of new product next year, It includes lots of Fiat Group product from Alfa, Fiat, Ferrari and even Lancia. Since we get most U.K. sold cars, and quite a few Japanese ones that aren't even seen there, add a few months to the launch dates before expecting to see them in New Zealand.

All the new car launches in 2009 | Secret New Cars | Car Magazine Online

Stile Bertone re-born

Will a new Design Director, and influx of new young designers, bring new life to Bertone? I hope this design icon thrives.

Who's Where: Jason Castriota joins Stile Bertone

Fiat bite the hand that, once, fed them?

 Is Fiat Group SpA CEO Sergio Marchionne's disapproval of a U.S. governmental "Big Three Bailout" a bit mean? Consider GM's $2 Billion exit from Fiat partially funded his brilliant company & product revival which is credited with saving Fiat.

Then again, perhaps he has a point given the fact that GM paid a small fortune to exit a company which has the sort of small platform technology/capacity they currently need. Even worse, rival Ford are benefiting from it as it's seen in the new Ka. If that's a sign of GM management skill, perhaps throwing more money at the same team is not such a good idea.

Fiat CEO Speaks Out Against Big Three Bailout - The Car Connection

Tags: gm, ford, bailout

Autocade, it's an international Automotive wiki

Jack Yan is building an automotive wiki with hundreds of articles (summaries). The aim is to create a reference spanning makes, models and markets. Have a look and, if you have specialist knowledge, consider contributing! 

Autocade - The automotive wiki

Welcome to Autocade (in beta), the international, editable automotive database. It is a wiki—with a difference. It’s global, rather than geographically biased; and, we hope, more accurate than general sites such as Wikipedia, due to careful editing. It’s aimed at car enthusiasts, including the motoring press, who may want a quick reference to international models.

Autocade is not meant to replace Wikipedia or the specialist car sites dedicated to selected makes or models. Wikipedia, for example, has lengthy pieces on selected models—Autocade seeks to provide primarily summaries, akin to a dictionary. The decision of the publisher is ?nal when it comes to disputes.

It’s also not meant to replace buyers’ guides such as cars.com, Edmunds or The Red Book in Australia, nor information sites such as Global Auto Index.

Autocade may best be thought of as a research supplement to the above.

Jeremy Clarkson - Renault Twingo vs Fiat 500 Abarth

J.C. compares the sportiest Twingo Renaultsport 133 to the Fiat 500 Abarth. It's unlikely to help Kiwi buyers - we don't get the Twingo here - but I like his verdict.

Jeremy Clarkson Renault Twingo Renaultsport 133 review | Driving - Times Online

Giovanni Agnelli interview

It's an old, rather short, clip but still worth watching;

Giovanni Agnelli interview - the Don of motor sport: Jeremy Clarkson's Motorworld - BBC

Jeremy Clarkson is in Modena to interview Giovanni Agnelli - the man who privately owns Maserati, Fiat,Lancier,Alfa Romeo and many more!

Saab design is "Going forward"

As Mark Adams, VP Design GM Europe, states about 55 seconds into this video. It will impress Graeme Hill, NZ Commander of the Campaign against [saying] Going Forward