Posts Tagged ‘Used Chevy Corvette ECM’

Auto News: Fiat to group Abarth, Alfa Romeo and Maserati together

Wednesday, January 27th, 2010

The Abarth, Alfa Romeo and Maserati brands amalgamated under a single group, according to the announcement of the Fiat Group.

Sergio Marchionne, the Fiat Group’s boss announced the decision, and the new group for the Abarth, Alfa Romeo and Maserati brands will be headed by German Harald J. Wester. Wester will also retain his position as Chief Technical Officer for Fiat Group and Fiat Group Automobiles and Chief Executive Officer of Maserati and Abarth.

According to Marchionne, the purpose of bringing the Alfa Romeo, Maserati and Abarth brands under the same leadership is to emphasize and leverage the value of the shared qualities of the three brands in terms of their sporting characteristics and performance.

Other changes within the Fiat Group pertaining to the new shake-up is the appointment of former Volkswagen and Audi executive Sergio Cravero as Product Portfolio Planning & Product Concept of Fiat Group Automobiles, who gives up his position as CEO of Alfa Romeo to Wester.

Auto Tune: VW Passat CC now available as a 5-seater!

Saturday, January 23rd, 2010

In Malaysia, the Volkswagen Passat CC is a pretty dam good looking vehicle, available at a price of a Volkswagen Scirocco. But the Volkswagen was trying to be too true to the whole concept of a ‘coupe’ – they only gave the Passat CC two individual seats at the rear! A lot of manufacturers do this when they debut four doors with ‘coupe’-like rooflines, even the CLS and the X6 is like that.

Definitely, the Passat CC is wide enough to fit 3 at the rear so it seems to be a waste to dedicate the center area of the rear to a storage compartment. It looks like many others think so as well – requests by potential customers all over the world to offer a 5-seater has been so strong that Volkswagen has actually gone ahead and decided to offer a 5-seater version of the Passat CC.

And in the Passat CC, the new 3-seat rear bench is optional, and the individual seat option will continue to be the ‘de facto’ configuration for the Passat CC. This option will cost the customer 100 Euros, which is pittance for an additional seat when you’re already spending so much on the car.

If Volkswagen Malaysia offers this option, you’ll finally be able to go ahead with your Passat CC purchase without having your relatives and in laws whisper about how you spent over 200 grand on a car that can only seat two at the rear.