Motor Authority - blog Tag: GTA

Alfa Romeo hasn't officially announced the MiTo GTA for production yet, but already reports of its demise are making the rounds at enthusiast and news portals. The latest reports indicate the hot-hatch GTA could still see production, but it nothing is certain yet.

The news comes from an unnamed Alfa Romeo spokesman, according to Autocar, and though nothing solid is known yet, there is a definite desire within Alfa to see the car built.

The car has been strongly hinted at for production despite only seeing public display as a concept at the Geneva Motor Show. All the way back in June of 2008, Alfa CEO Luca de Meo confirmed the car was... Alfa Romeo hasn't officially announced the MiTo GTA for production yet, but already reports of its demise are making the rounds at enthusiast and news portals. The latest reports indicate the hot-hatch GTA could still see production, but it nothing is certain yet. The news comes from an unnamed Alfa Romeo spokesman, according to Autocar, and though nothing solid is known yet, there is a definite desire within Alfa to see the car built. The car has been strongly hinted at for production despite only seeing public display as a concept at the Geneva Motor Show. All the way back in June of 2008, Alfa CEO Luca de Meo confirmed the car was coming and that it would be powered by a 1.75L turbo four good for 240hp. Since then more details, including an official video of the car, have come to light. Upgrades to the standard MiTo include under-floor aerodynamics enhancements, a revised front suspension with new geometry with aluminum leading arms, and all new bushings for the rear suspension. Alfa Romeo engineers also planned an active suspension management system with advanced damper control. The car had been pegged for a mid-2009 debut, but now it's looking like it will be 2010 at the earliest if it does eventually see production. Until then, check out the video below to see the hot little Euro-hatch in action.Afla Romeo MiTo GTAOfficial release video for Alfa Romeo's new MiTo GTA Read More

Alfa Romeo's new MiTo is hardly a performance powerhouse, with the current range-topping model in the lineup boasting a diminutive 1.4L turbo engine until the performance-focused GTA arrives. But for some hot hatch fans, even the GTA’s 240hp (179kW) and hardened suspension won't be enough.

That’s where tuning firm’s like Italy’s Lester step in. Lester is remedying the situation with a number of upgrades for the stylish hatch, with a focus on both performance and handling upgrades, as well as some aerodynamic mods.

Lester is offering engine tuning for the GTA’s 1.75L turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine,... Alfa Romeo's new MiTo is hardly a performance powerhouse, with the current range-topping model in the lineup boasting a diminutive 1.4L turbo engine until the performance-focused GTA arrives. But for some hot hatch fans, even the GTA’s 240hp (179kW) and hardened suspension won't be enough. That’s where tuning firm’s like Italy’s Lester step in. Lester is remedying the situation with a number of upgrades for the stylish hatch, with a focus on both performance and handling upgrades, as well as some aerodynamic mods. Lester is offering engine tuning for the GTA’s 1.75L turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, which boosts output by 31hp (23kW). Additionally, a new height-adjustable coil-over suspension with adjustable dampers is also available, along with sport springs that can lower the car significantly. This results in improved handling and greater acceleration for the performance hatch. Accompanying the handling upgrades is a new look for the MiTo GTA brought about by an aerodynamic enhancement kit. The front of the car gets a facelift thanks to the spoiler corners on the left and right, as well as a bonnet mounted scoop. At the rear is a subtle wing spoiler and a pair of oversized exhaust tailpipes. The final touch is a set of 18in multi-spoke alloy wheels. Interestingly, Lester has installed a custom subwoofer housing measuring up to 320mm in the rear of the car.Afla Romeo MiTo GTALester Alfa Romeo MiTo GTA Read More

Alfa Romeo's new MiTo is hardly a performance powerhouse, with the current range-topping model in the lineup boasting a diminutive 1.4L turbo engine until the performance-focused GTA arrives. Thankfully, German tuner Novitec Rosso is remedying the situation with a number of upgrades for the stylish hatch, with a focus on both performance and handling upgrades, as well as some aerodynamic mods.

Novitec is offering engine tuning for the two diesel models and the petrol-powered 1.4L turbo in the lineup. For the range-topping 1.4L engine, Novitec can install an auxiliary control unit in around 5 minutes, resulting in an almost instantaneous... Alfa Romeo's new MiTo is hardly a performance powerhouse, with the current range-topping model in the lineup boasting a diminutive 1.4L turbo engine until the performance-focused GTA arrives. Thankfully, German tuner Novitec Rosso is remedying the situation with a number of upgrades for the stylish hatch, with a focus on both performance and handling upgrades, as well as some aerodynamic mods. Novitec is offering engine tuning for the two diesel models and the petrol-powered 1.4L turbo in the lineup. For the range-topping 1.4L engine, Novitec can install an auxiliary control unit in around 5 minutes, resulting in an almost instantaneous 31hp (23kW) boost. This extra power gives the 1.4L MiTo a final power output of 186hp (134kW), enough to push the car to 62mph in just 7.4 seconds, or around 0.7 seconds quicker than the standard model. For the two turbodiesels, a similar control unit is installed that boosts power by 20hp (15kW) for the 1.3L JTD model and by 24hp (18kW) for the MiTo 1.6L JTD, as well as increasing torque figures by close to 37lb-ft (50Nm). Additionally, a new height-adjustable coil-over suspension with adjustable dampers is also available, along with sport springs that can lower the car significantly. This results in improved handling and greater acceleration for the MiTo. Accompanying the handling upgrades is a new look for the MiTo brought about by an aerodynamic enhancement kit. The front of the car gets a facelift thanks to the spoiler corners on the left and right, as well as the centrally mounted cup spoiler. At the back, rocker panels make the car appear lower, while a roof spoiler and a rear diffuser both help to improve downforce. The rear diffuser surrounds the new Novitec sports muffler, which yields a more exciting growl when the engine is wound up, and the system can be combined with one, two, or four tailpipes. New Novitec alloy wheels top off the package, and high-performance Pirelli tires ensure the car should stay glued to the road.Novitec Rosso Alfa Romeo MiTo Read More

Fans of video gaming might associate the letters GTA with a long-running series of mayhem and madness - and more than a little automotive hoonage. But in this case it's the name of a Spanish motorsports company that runs a pair of cars in the Formula 3 championship. Racing is a great way to build a reputation, but to reach a global audience a production car is the only way to go. In that case, we will be hearing a lot more about GTA Motor as the company has just launched a brand new supercar called the Spano.

Production will be limited to 99 units, although after the initial run a handful of special edition models are expected to be... Fans of video gaming might associate the letters GTA with a long-running series of mayhem and madness - and more than a little automotive hoonage. But in this case it's the name of a Spanish motorsports company that runs a pair of cars in the Formula 3 championship. Racing is a great way to build a reputation, but to reach a global audience a production car is the only way to go. In that case, we will be hearing a lot more about GTA Motor as the company has just launched a brand new supercar called the Spano. Production will be limited to 99 units, although after the initial run a handful of special edition models are expected to be launched. The experience in motorsport has been a key ingredient for the development of the car, and this can be seen in its chassis, which has been created by combining Kevlar and carbon-fiber with a mix of titanium thrown in as well. The engine, on the other hand, is totally unique. It's a V10 unit mounted in a longitudinal rear position, sending 780hp (582kW) and 679lb-ft (920Nm) of torque to the rear wheels via a seven-speed sequential-manual gearbox. Other race car derived technologies include the geometry of the car’s double wishbone suspension configuration and adjustable shock absorbers. The tires are also similar to the units used in racing - in this case a specially developed Pirelli PZero unit which measures 255mm on 19in wheels at the front and 335mm on 20in wheels at the rear. Braking hardware consists of 380mm carbon-ceramic discs with six-piston calipers from AP Racing. Initial testing has shown that the new supercar will be able to accelerate from 0-100km/h in less than three seconds and reach a top speed in excess of 350km/h, but we’ll have to wait until the first independent tests come out until we can determine if the likes of Ferrari and Lamborghini should be feeling a little threatened.GTA Supercar ConceptGTA Spano supercar Read More

Alfa Romeo CEO Luca de Meo first confirmed details about the upcoming GTA variant of the ultra-stylish MiTo hatch as far back as June 2008, revealing the car would arrive in the middle of this year packing a brand new 1.75L four-cylinder petrol engine turbocharged to the tune of 240hp (179kW). Today Alfa released an official video detailing the new car, and giving us a taste of the little car's throaty howl.

Alfa Romeo released the first details about the concept version of the car at the Geneva Motor Show. In line with the legendary GTA (Gran Turismo Alleggerito) signature, (Alleggerito means reduced weight in Italian), the MiTo GTA... Alfa Romeo CEO Luca de Meo first confirmed details about the upcoming GTA variant of the ultra-stylish MiTo hatch as far back as June 2008, revealing the car would arrive in the middle of this year packing a brand new 1.75L four-cylinder petrol engine turbocharged to the tune of 240hp (179kW). Today Alfa released an official video detailing the new car, and giving us a taste of the little car's throaty howl. Alfa Romeo released the first details about the concept version of the car at the Geneva Motor Show. In line with the legendary GTA (Gran Turismo Alleggerito) signature, (Alleggerito means reduced weight in Italian), the MiTo GTA Concept prioritises weight reduction, and the achievement of an optimum power-to-weight ratio. Considerable work has gone into lowering the vehicle’s center of gravity, with certain components such as the tailgate spoiler, roof, and mirror fairings all finished in lightweight carbon-fiber. To save additional weight, aluminum is used extensively in the braking system, suspension, and some parts of the chassis. Under the hood is a newly developed four-cylinder petrol engine. Designed by Fiat Powertrain Technologies, the compact engine features direct injection, dual variable valve timing, turbocharging and advanced electronic management to produce an impressive 240hp (179kW) from its 1.75L of displacement. Other upgrades to the standard MiTo include under-floor aerodynamics enhancements, a revised front suspension with new geometry with aluminum leading arms, and all new bushings for the rear suspension. Alfa Romeo engineers have also added an active suspension management system with advanced damper control as well as the Sky-Hook comfort adjustment. A full selection of driver aids and safety devices, including multiple airbags, ABS, ESP, and EBD are standard, as are anti-slip control and steering-angle-sensitive torque limitation to reduce the tendency for torque steer. Alfa Romeo is yet to announce a release date for the hot hatch but expect it to appear in European showrooms by the middle of the year.Alfa Romeo Mi.To Official debutAfla Romeo MiTo GTAOfficial release video for Alfa Romeo's new MiTo GTA Read More