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

The Japanese bloggers develop tourism

The regional authorities offer bloggers special rounds in exchange for reception of responses about local sights. Often sponsored by regional tourist associations, such rounds, as a rule, are very cheap, as from their participants it is required to place subsequently the detailed information on trips in the blogs.

«Similar rounds represent good chance to advertise our sights», — one of organizers has declared.

According to Yusuke Abe, the official responsible for assistance to development of tourist places of Management on tourism, rounds, basically, are on sale through travel agencies, but also growth of number of the rounds organised at local level is observed.

«These rounds represent a new kind of the advertising using ability of bloggers to transfer the information», — he has told, having added, that creation of such rounds and attraction to them of attention are necessary for stimulation of tourist branch.

The association of tourism of city Rishirifuji (island Risiri in sea of Japan, that to the West from Wakkanai), in the beginning of this year sponsored a three-day trip in cost of 10 thousand the yens, including also a transfer and residing provided that participants will share experience in the blogs.

«It should help tourist branch in winter, nonseasonal, the period», — the representative of association has declared. For attraction of the people living there where almost or snow does not lay at all, the association has aimed at bloggers of region Kanto who within several days have gathered in necessary group.

Participants of this round have visited the basic sights of island, including tasting of seafood and walk on snowshoes on snow-covered wood. One of participants has written the following in the blog: «you can see Such tremendous places only here!». The Vakkanajsky association of tourism in the future plans to continue to sponsor similar winter rounds.

«We would like, that people who never knew island, have visited him and have shared the experience», — the representative of association has declared.
The tourist association of prefecture Niigata sponsors the similar rounds aimed at bloggers from other prefectures, since 2007 Participants of such rounds pay only the transport expenses. During travel they eat seafood and products of local agriculture, and also examine the basic picturesque places of Niigata.

«We are aimed at making our prefecture more known and to increase number of tourists through notes in blogs. We promote own appeal through the consumer point of view, instead of on the basis of the information which is given by ourselves», — one of representatives of association has declared. — «We welcome their opinions owing to their objective estimation».

Also similar rounds carry out prefecture of Gifu and city Amacho (prefecture Simane).
«The bloggers who have taken part in a trip became friends and have again visited here already together. It is unexpectedly favorable effect», — the official from the tourist association Amatyo offering three-day round free of charge has declared.

Art by www.benedict1.com

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.

In brief, the email stated that Ford is hosting the exclusive media event "2010 Model Year Drive" in Dearborn, on July 21st but since the number of people interested in attending the event are more than the available places, Ford decided to create a draw in which a winner will receive two all-expense paid tickets for the test drive event. And yes, there's a catch...

To participate in the challenge, the Social Media Group representative told us that we'd have to create a post on Carscoop on the theme "Ford in 2010" and link it back to from "Opportunities with Ford - Ford in 2010 on Connect2Ford.com". But wait, it gets even better. We are told that we can enter as many times as we like as the more posts linked back to Conect2Ford.com, the bigger our chances to win a place in Ford's 2010 Model Year Drive event.

Now here's my personal take on the matter. First of all, I really don't care who sent the email, for me it wouldn't have made any difference if it was signed by Ford's CEO himself. The agency represents Ford - period.

And while I may understand the need to promote the company, there's no way I can agree to these type of marketing methods even for casual blogs that rant on numerous subjects, let alone for a weblog that specializes on automobiles like Carscoop. We've received plenty of "regular" media invitations - even though for logistical reasons, we cannot attend many of them, but this is something entirely new, and not in a good way.

I'm guessing that the winner would probably have to state something in the article(s), but still, it's unbelievable whichever way you see it - to take part in a media test drive you have to write about our cars and participate in a draw! Guess we'll have to add this to our list of shame alongside the first test drives and first photos of vehicles that many automakers hand out to specific publications and websites well before the official release...

As one fellow blogger - journalist put it (yes the media test drive offer was sent to many sites,) "even if you won, you'd be the jackass of the event".

Ethics aside, it's clearly evident that these people are completely ignorant of the fact that (sure there are plenty of exceptions) the thin line between the so-called traditional media (magazines, news sites etc) and blogs is diminishing every day with both sides trying to incorporate elements from one another.

And if anything else, just because a site is labeled as a blog, it doesn't mean that the writers (professionals or not) don't respect their readership. Feel free to express your thoughts on the subject in the comment section below. - John (Photo created by Carscoop)

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.

Official: Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 Valentino Balboni - Lighter, RWD Model with 550HP

Turns out that we were spot with our estimates on the technical specs of the all-new Lamborghini Gallardo LP 550-2 (okay, okay, we simply used Lambo's naming strategy) that was officially revealed today after the first photos of the supercar were leaked into the net yesterday. Named after Lamborghini's best known test drivers, Valentino Balboni who retired after 40 years with the company, the Gallardo LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni ditches the Gallardo's four-wheel drive system for a rear-drive setup while power comes from a 550HP 5.2-liter V10 engine.

Lamborghini said that the conversion from all-wheel drive to rear-wheel drive only was not simply a question of moving the transmission to the rear axle as the vehicle had to be thoroughly adjusted and tuned. The company's engineers performerd changes on the supercar's springs, dampers, stabilisers and the tyres as well as adjusting the aerodynamics to take account of the change to the power flow.

Other changes concern the redevelopment of the rear axle differential, with a 45 percent limited slip, the recalibration of the e-gear transmission and a series of adjustment to the ESP system which now permits greater drift angles.

The only current Lamborghini that delivers its power to the road via its rear wheels alone is 30kg or 66-lbs lighter than its all-wheel drive equivalent, the 560HP Gallardo LP560-4. Weighing at 1,380kg or 3,042 pounds, the LP 550-2 launches from 0 to 100 km/h (0-62mph) in 3.9 seconds or 0.2sec slower than the LP 560-4, while it achieves a top speed of 320 km/h or 199 mph (LP 560-4: 325 km/h or 202 mph).

On the outside, the Balboni Gallardo features color strip in white and gold running from the front panel all the way back to the rear spoiler, a transparent engine cover and Scorpius alloys in dark grey finish while the brake callipers come in black, orange or yellow, depending on the exterior paint finish. Customers can choose from a palette of eight exterior colors.

Inside, the special edition Gallardo comes equipped with a full leather upholstery is black with the seats featuring a white color strip. The centre console is completely upholstered in a contrasting Polar white leather while a badge below the left side window bears the signature of Valentino Balboni and the production number of the car.

The Gallardo LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni will be produced in a limited series of 250 units with suggested retail prices without taxes set at €162,000 for Europe, £137,900 for the U.K. and $219,800 for the U.S.