RENAULT - Passion for life, the new ethos for Brand Renault, and it looks like it will work well.

• Renault has released a new brand signature: ‘RENAULT - Passion for life’.
• This signature is illustrative of the fresh approach to vehicle design that the brand took in 2012. It also underlines the brand’s promise to produce quality, attractive vehicles that make everyday life easier for customers.
• Renault’s new brand identity is deployed from mid - April 2015.

REVITALISING THE RENAULT BRAND’S DNA

Renault’s long tradition for making ‘Voitures à Vivre’ has seen it design innovative, ingenious, modular, comfortable cars ever since the company’s origins. Since 2012, this integral part of the brand’s DNA has combined with a determination to engage once more with its customers in an emotional way, as well. 

This called for a revitalised approach to vehicle design and the tangible signs of this commitment today are the sensuous, appealing and athletic lines of the Clio, Captur, Twingo and the imminent Kadjar.

The slogan ‘RENAULT - Passion for life’ also underlines the ongoing efforts made by Renault’s engineers and design teams to observe customers and their everyday lives in order to propose quality vehicles that pack ingenious innovations and services conceived to facilitate day-to-day life. 

Examples include the R-LINK2® multimedia system, a long list of driver aids and the Kadjar’s automatic folding seat system.

“Our new brand signature – ‘RENAULT - Passion for life’ – reflects the in-depth transformation that is under way at Renault and which began with the new Clio,” says Michael van der Sande, Senior Vice-President, Global Marketing. 

“More than the words themselves, the slogan is a pledge to our customers that Renault will continue its metamorphosis that will result in an entirely renewed range. 

In addition to being designed with passion by our engineering and design teams, our new models must make the lives of our customers easier and more pleasant every day.”

A new graphic identity for Renault group

Along with Renault’s new brand signature, the brand’s graphic identity has been reviewed and redesigned, too, by in-house teams working out of its Corporate Design Department. This evolution concerns all the company’s advertising, both audio and visual (TV, print, posters, radio, etc.), as well as websites, exhibition stands, special events, merchandising, clothing, etc.

Meanwhile, the Renault diamond has been made bolder and has been freed from the confinement of its surrounding outline. It features the same more generous, higher-status, brighter logo that adorns the front of the brand’s latest models.

The brand block has changed, as well. Although it draws its DNA from Renault’s past, it stands out as more modern and more assertive. It also features a new, specially developed typeface designed to add a distinctive touch to the brand’s communication.

The Renault yellow, which has been made brighter and warmer, is visible as a vertical strip to the logo’s right.

The result is a refined graphic identity that elegantly expresses the value of the brand’s products. This more creative and emotive approach is in line with the mission that was given to Laurens van den Acker, Senior Vice-President, Corporate Design.

“When I arrived in 2009, my mission was to reforge the emotional bond between the Renault brand and its customers,” notes Laurens van den Acker. “My response was to ask my teams to rekindle Renault’s Latin roots by designing colourful, personalisable cars with sensuous, muscular lines that spark emotions and make everyday life more pleasant.”

The Groupe Renault’s new corporate identity, which will cover the Renault, Dacia and Renault Samsung Motors brands, will be revealed at the Groupe Renault’s next General Meeting at the end of April 2015.

Taking the all new Ford Mustang from sketch to production.

• The design of the 2015 Mustang is all-new yet unmistakably Mustang
• Once a design was selected, exterior and interior designers worked to perfect the lines throughout the all-new Mustang, resulting in the car first revealed last year

For a car designer, the chance to reimagine an icon like Ford Mustang is always exciting. Doing this for the famous Ford performance car’s 50th anniversary is the opportunity of a lifetime. 

By mid-2009, with the substantially updated fifth-generation Ford Mustang in production, Ford designers, engineers and marketers turned their collective attention to what would come next: the design that would mark more than five decades of continuous Mustang development and production.  

“To the people inside Ford, Mustang is considered the heart and soul of the company,” said Moray Callum, Ford vice president of global design. “We spent a lot of time amongst the team and with customers discussing the history of Mustang and what it meant to people and concluded that we needed to move forward with a modern design that retained the essence of the brand.”

What makes a Mustang?

As Ford’s performance leader, the basic parameters of Mustang were obvious: rear-wheel drive combined with the sound and performance of a V8 engine to create the visceral experience that Mustang drivers expect.

Part of the appeal of Mustang over the years has been the way it combines style, performance and everyday usability thanks to its four-seat cabin and sizable trunk. These attributes had to be part of the new design. With these basic parameters, Ford designers established a footprint to work with roughly the same as the fifth generation model.

From a design stand point, the challenge was how to design a car that was contemporary, but unmistakably Mustang. The goal was to create a Mustang with a bold, aggressive face, with chiseled detailing on the body and a more athletic stance on its tyres. 

The process kicks off

A typical new car program kicks off with a design brief that lays out the needs and wants for the upcoming vehicle. However, with 50 years of continuous development and production, every designer knew what to sketch and how a Mustang needs to look.

Several hundred sketches were submitted in early 2010 incorporating many of the primary Mustang DNA cues to varying degrees. The long hood/short deck, bold grille, shark-front nose, fastback profile, side hockey stick contour and rear tri-bar taillamps were reinterpreted in dozens of different ways.

Similarly, sketches of the interior featured the distinctive symmetrical instrument panel with a double brow design and large analogue gauges.

“There are a few key elements that make Mustang a Mustang. As designers, we need to edit those cues deciding which ones to retain, how to interpret them in a modern way and how to combine them to create a car that is immediately identifiable as Mustang,” added Callum. “Looking at all of the different Mustangs over the past five decades, those cues have appeared in some years and not in others, but the end result was still a Mustang.”

Perhaps the most prominent of those cues that did not make the final cut was the scoop, or “hockey stick” profile, on the flanks of the car. Many of the early proposals included some form of this visual feature, but ultimately it was not included in the final production model.

Throughout 2011, hundreds of initial sketches were narrowed down to a handful of proposals that would be transformed into an initial batch of clay models for evaluation in three dimensions. After further development, three themes went into the final selection phase in early 2012.

The 2015 Mustang theme is selected

By the summer of 2012-as with all previous generations- the main Dearborn, Michigan, studio took the lead on developing the Mustang into a production car.

Designers, clay sculptors and digital modelers spent countless hours refining the lines and surfaces that create the three dimensional body side and the powerful hunches as well as the long-sculpted hood with a forward leaning nose that give the 2015 Mustang its unique look and personality.

Details such as the shape and size of the grille and headlamps were refined and the rear track was widened by 70mm, giving the new car an even more aggressive stance.

The elimination of the front and rear bumper shelves and the use of unified side glass with the B-pillar hidden behind the rear quarter windows contribute to the new Mustang’s more contemporary shape.

On the interior, the team paid close attention to the relationships of the various elements, and designed them in a way to achieve optimum fit and finish. The final theme was inspired by the wing of an airplane, with the double brow carved out of the wing. All the gauges, registers, toggle switches and other design elements are placed into the wing. Everything is where it needs to be for usability, just like the cockpit of an airplane. The toggle switches are a highlight of the modern center stack.

The designers have also taken advantage of modern lighting technology at both ends of the car. Indirect LEDs illuminate the blade style tri-bar taillamps with a uniform glow. LEDs are also used for the three gills mounted inboard of the high-intensity discharge headlamps, recalling the gills molded into the headlamp buckets of the original 1965 Mustang.

Along the way, the shape of the new Mustang underwent twice as much aerodynamic testing as any previous generation.

The convertible

The convertible is clearly part of the same product family as the fastback and yet much of the bodywork is actually unique to the open-top car. Subtle but important differences in the shape of the rear bodywork give the convertible a cohesive shape of its own. 

From the raised and straightened muscle line on the rear haunches to the recontoured bootlid, the new Mustang convertible has a more linear quality whether the top is up or down, giving the car its own distinct presence on the road.

The final production design of the all-new sixth-generation Ford Mustang was revealed to the world in December 2013 and will be available in UK dealerships by the end of 2015.

The US welcomes back Alfa Romeo and the stunning 4C

• 2014 New York Auto Show debut of all-new 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C coupe and limited-edition 4C Launch Edition marks the Italian sports car brand’s return to the North American market
• Mid-engine proportions and inspiration from the brand’s racing traditions highlight Alfa Romeo 4C’s purposeful design for maximum performance
• Alfa Romeo engineers leveraged advanced materials and technological solutions from Formula 1, including a carbon fiber monocoque, aluminum chassis structures and a composite body shell for an ultra-lightweight coupe with supercar-level performance
• State-of-the-art powertrain technology: all-aluminum 1750 cc direct-injection turbocharged engine with intercooler, dual variable-valve timing and advanced scavenging technology is paired to a blistering fast Alfa TCT twin-clutch transmission
• Alfa DNA selector optimizes the Alfa Romeo 4C’s powertrain and chassis control calibrations to the level of driving performance and capability needed
• Excellence made in Italy: Alfa Romeo 4C combines the best technical and manufacturing competencies of two brands, Alfa Romeo and Maserati
• Available this June and designed for America’s “Alfisti,” the Alfa Romeo 4C Launch Edition includes unique appointments and is limited to 500 serialized coupes

Marking the Italian brand’s highly anticipated return to North America, the all-new 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C makes its New York Auto Show debut – a mid-engine design inspired by the brand’s legendary racing history, state-of-the-art carbon fiber monocoque and all-aluminum turbocharged engine influenced by Formula 1, and advanced technological solutions, all to deliver supercar-level performance and driving exhilaration.  

“The all-new Alfa Romeo 4C delivers supercar-level performance in its most elemental form,” said Harald Wester, President and CEO of Alfa Romeo. “With its ultra-lightweight materials and technological solutions derived directly from motorsports, a mid-engine proportion for maximum agility and purposeful styling cues to enhance performance – the all-new 4C coupe marks Alfa Romeo’s return to sports cars and the brand’s return to North America.”

For the Alfa Romeo brand, the all-new 4C represents the essential sportiness embedded in the brand’s DNA: Italian style, performance and technical excellence, for maximum driving pleasure in complete safety.

Acronym 4C

The Alfa Romeo 4C is inspired by the century-old tradition of Alfa Romeo and projects the brand's authentic values into the future: Italian style, performance and engineering excellence, offering maximum driving satisfaction in total safety. The “4C” name recalls Alfa Romeo's great sporting tradition: the acronyms 8C and 6C in the 1930s and 1940s distinguished racing and road cars fitted with powerful eight and six cylinder engines. The 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C model’s designation continues this tradition with the latest all-aluminum 1750 cc four-cylinder engine. 

A tradition of essential beauty and function 
The inspiration for the all-new 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C dates back to the 1967 33 Stradale, the homologated version of the racing Type 33, which is considered one of the most beautiful cars of all time. Like the 33 Stradale that combined extreme mechanical and functional requirements with undeniable Alfa Romeo style and performance – the 4C coupe shares its body forms and follows this performance tradition with an undoubtedly Italian-styled composite body “clothing,” a state-of-the-art carbon fiber and aluminum structure, and a high-performance turbocharged engine.

With a purpose-built cockpit inspired by the legendary 1967 33 Stradale, entering the interior of the all-new Alfa Romeo 4C means entering a world derived from motorsport – only essential components for performance are integrated.

Two composite-framed sport seats, thermoformed dashboard and exposed carbon fiber monocoque highlight the coupe’s technological uniqueness. Furthermore, a driver-oriented cockpit with flat-bottom performance steering wheel with paddle-shift controls and aluminum pedals speak to the brand’s racing spirit. Emphasizing the Alfa Romeo 4C’s advanced technology and focus on lightweight technical solutions is a 7-inch full-color thin-film transistor (TFT) instrument cluster that  displays simple, high-impact graphics to keep the driver focused on the road, or track ahead.

Ultra-lightweight: carbon fiber, aluminum and composites structures 
To create the ultra-lightweight architecture needed for maximum performance and dynamic efficiency, Alfa Romeo 4C engineers looked to Formula 1 and only the most advanced supercars for state-of-the-art materials. The result is a monocoque made entirely of carbon fiber that delivers extraordinary stiffness and strength. Attached to the Alfa Romeo 4C’s exotic monocoque are front and rear cell structures, roof reinforcements and an engine-mounting frame made from lightweight aluminum.

Alfa Romeo engineers continued the use of state-of-the-art materials by creating the bodywork entirely of SMC (Sheet Molding Compound), a low-density, high-strength composite material that is 20 percent lighter and dimensionally more rigid than steel. Providing the ability to create complex shapes while saving weight by 20 percent compared to steel are PUR-RIM (injected polyurethane) fascias and rear spoiler. Engineers even optimized the Alfa Romeo 4C’s windshield and side windows by using 10 percent thinner glass to reduce weight by up to 15 percent.

Finally, two sport seats feature a carbon fiber and fiberglass reinforced-composite structure to deliver the strength and seating position needed for performance driving.  

High-tech powertrain for exceptional track performance and drivability 
The engine is the beating heart of any Alfa Romeo, and for the 4C, it beats to an all-new 1750 cc direct-injection 237 horsepower aluminum engine. To ensure exceptional performance and drivability on the racetrack or city streets, this new engine features cutting-edge technical solutions, including direct-injection, intercooler, dual (intake and exhaust) continuous variable-valve timing (VVT), eight counterweights, and intake and exhaust systems optimized for Alfa Romeo 4C’s mid-engine layout.

A new generation turbocharger features a pulse-converter exhaust manifold to exploit pressure waves and boost torque at low-engine speeds. A waste gate valve adjusts turbo pressure and improves the engine’s efficiency. Advanced scavenging technology enables the Alfa Romeo 4C to maximize torque at low engine speeds and deliver more response to driver input by increasing combustion efficiency and turbine speed, all while eliminating turbo lag. As a result, torque delivery is instantaneous, with a peak of 258 ft.-lb. (350 N•m); 80 percent of which is available at only 1,700 rpm. 

Teamed to the all-aluminum engine is a paddle-shifting Alfa TCT twin-clutch transmission, which has been specifically tuned for the all-new Alfa Romeo 4C. With its uniquely calibrated software that adjusts with the Alfa DNA selector system, the Alfa TCT’s gearshifts are designed to become most aggressive in the Dynamic and Race modes. The Alfa TCT system also integrates a “launch control” mode – delivering the utmost acceleration possible as soon as the driver releases the brake.

Alfa DNA selector offers advanced technological solutions 
The all-new Alfa Romeo 4C features the brand’s innovative Alfa DNA selector with “Race” mode – enabling the driver to optimize the right level of performance through four modes. With a touch of the Alfa DNA selector, the character of the Alfa Romeo 4C can be changed to (in order of increasing capability):

• All-weather – designed to ensure maximum control under adverse weather conditions and enables gentler accelerator input and special engine and brake control logic to match road speed and prevent skidding
• Natural – enables grand touring comfort and smooth drivability for the Alfa TCT gearbox
• Dynamic – enables improved driving performance via a more aggressive powertrain calibration and less intrusive electronic stability control (ESC) setting
• Race – is the most extreme performance mode, putting the driver in total control of the car under race conditions. ESC and anti-slip regulation (ASR) are deactivated to allow the driver to control traction through the accelerator pedal. The Alfa Romeo Electronic Q2 differential control system remains active for fast exits out of corners or bends
  • In Race mode, launch control can be activated, allowing the Alfa Romeo 4C to deliver supercar-level 0-to-60 mph acceleration blasts in the mid-4 second range

For driving convenience in Dynamic, Natural or All-weather modes, the Alfa Romeo TCT gearbox can utilize an “auto” mode.

Supercar performance, compact size 
Thanks to Alfa Romeo 4C’s advanced technological solutions and compact size, the coupe demonstrates its precision, agility and performance credentials with a top speed of 160 miles per hour (mph), 0-to-60 mph acceleration blasts in the mid-4 second range, 1.1 g of side acceleration on corners and 1.25 g of maximum braking deceleration.

4C combines the best technical and manufacturing competencies of Alfa Romeo and Maserati 
The very best technical and industrial expertise of the Alfa Romeo and Maserati brands were used to develop the all-new Alfa Romeo 4C. Teamwork between the two brands included the integration of the Alfa Romeo Style Center design with the well-known craftsmanship of the Maserati brand’s Modena production plant. In addition, the Alfa Romeo 4C was boosted by the technological contributions of Italian suppliers, who are international leaders in manufacturing high-performance components.

This is a distinguishing trait of Alfa Romeo, a brand with a century of history that continues to be one of the most famous and popular ambassadors of Italian products around the world.  
Limited to 500 serialized units: 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C Launch Edition 
For “Alfisti” in North America, a special 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C Launch Edition will be made available this June. These first 500 Alfa Romeo 4C coupes will be serialized and include the following appointments:

• Alfa Red, Rosso Competizione or Madreperla White exterior paint
• Bi-xenon headlamps with LED illuminated daytime running lights
• Carbon fiber rear spoiler and mirror caps
• Aluminum rear diffuser
• Race suspension tuning with front- and rear-sway bars and performance-tuned shock absorbers
• Racing exhaust
• Staggered 18-inch (front) and 19-inch (rear) forged wheels painted in Dark Gray
• Red lacquered brake calipers
• Sport seats with black microfiber
• Leather-wrapped instrument and door panels
• Red or White interior accent stitching on the instrument panel, steering wheel, handbrake, floor mats and door handles
• Serialized “Launch Edition” plaque

2014 Alfa Romeo range successfully launched on the Isle of Man.

• Three new 2014 models: Alfa Romeo MiTo, Alfa Romeo Giulietta and Alfa Romeo 4C, launched to the media on the Isle of Man from March 17-19
• New Alfa Romeo MiTo on sale in the UK priced from £14,350 OTR
• Alfa Romeo MiTo Highlights include revamped interior and new 105hp TwinAir engine
• Streamlined model range with new colours and more equipment
• Uconnect™ five-inch, colour touchscreen infotainment system as standard
• 2014 Alfa Romeo Giulietta on sale in the UK priced from £18,235 OTR
• Exterior revisions include a new grille, new alloy wheels and new colours
• Interior upgrades include new seats, new door trims and a new steering wheel, plus new upholsteries and revised switchgear
• Uconnect™ colour touchscreen infotainment system, with Bluetooth and DAB, standard across
  the range
• Improved emissions across the engine range plus more performance from the 2.0-litre JTDM-2
  turbo diesel
• Alfa Romeo 4C marks a return to lightweight sports coupés for the brand
• Advanced materials and construction ensure lightness and rigidity
• Compact, agile and engineered for pure driving satisfaction
• Supercar performance with impressive economy and emissions
• On sale in the UK in October priced from £45,000 OTR

Alfa MiTo

The 2014 Alfa Romeo MiTo has gone on sale in UK offering customers higher specification, revised interiors, subtle styling enhancements and even more advanced technologies, including the Uconnect™ five-inch, colour, touch-screen infotainment system as standard equipment and the addition of the new 105hp TwinAir engine to the range.

Externally the 2014 Alfa Romeo MiTo benefits from a new, chromed front grille; titanium grey headlamp and tail lamp surrounds; tinted rear windows and a sports rear bumper, as well as a revised colour palette that now includes a new “Matte Magnesio Grey” finish.

The interior is thoroughly revised with new dashboards, upgraded plastics and a new Uconnect™ five-inch, touch-screen infotainment system with voice recognition, Bluetooth, steering wheel remote controls, USB/Aux ports and optional satellite navigation.

A comprehensive array of traction, braking and stability control systems is standard on all Alfa Romeo MiTo models and these systems, along with steering effort and throttle response, can be adjusted via Alfa Romeo’s trademark Alfa D.N.A. three-mode selectable driving mode system. Where fitted, Alfa SDC adaptive suspension and ALFA TCT transmission settings are also adjustable via the Alfa D.N.A. system.

The model line-up has been streamlined with four trim levels now available: Sprint, Distinctive, Sportiva and Quadrifoglio Verde (QV). In addition to the features listed above, all models are equipped with Start& Stop; air conditioning; a leather-trimmed steering wheel and gear knob; electric windows and mirrors; seven airbags; front fog lamps; a rear spoiler and alloy wheels.

“Distinctive” highlights include 17-inch alloy wheels; cruise control; rear parking sensors and a front centre arm rest, while “Sportiva” includes 18-inch QV sports alloy wheels; a QV steering wheel and hand-brake lever (trimmed in black leather with green stitching); satin-effect exterior highlights and special badges. The high-performance QV adds red, four-piston Brembo brake callipers, SDC active suspension system, bespoke sports seats with uprated upholstery and special QV wing badges.

The Alfa Romeo MiTo engine range now comprises five turbo-charged engines, all with Start&Stop as standard – three petrol and two diesel units. The 875cc  TwinAir Turbo engine benefits from a 20hp boost in performance – now 105hp – which translates in a 0-62mph time that’s 1.1 seconds faster than the previous 85hp version. Despite the additional performance, the Alfa Romeo MiTo TwinAir remains impressively efficient, with a combined fuel economy figure of 67.3 mpg and CO₂ emissions of just 99g/km.

A new 1.4 TB MultiAir 140hp, equipped with the ALFA TCT twin dry clutch transmission as standard, will join the line-up shortly - more details to be announced soon - while the diesel range consists of the 1.3 JTDM-285hp and 1.6 JTDM-2 120hp power plants.

Prices for the 2014 Alfa Romeo MiTo start at £14,350 for the 105hp TwinAir Sprint.

Alfa Giulietta

The 2014 Alfa Romeo Giulietta is now on sale in the UK with renewed style, new engines and more technological content than ever before. Launched in the UK in 2010, the Alfa Romeo Giulietta remains the most eye-catching and attractive car and in its segment and, as a consequence, the styling revisions for 2014 have been carefully considered, with a new front grille design; revised front fog light bezels; new 16-, 17- and 18-inch alloy wheel designs and new exterior colours (Luna Pearl, Cobalto Blue and Metallo Bronze) to further enhance its appeal.

The interior of the Alfa Romeo Giulietta benefits from more extensive revisions: The standard Uconnect™ multimedia system takes pride of place in the redesigned, high-quality dashboard, with the associated USB/Aux ports now relocated to a more convenient position in the centre console.

The all-new Uconnect™ system, fitted as standard across the entire 2014 Alfa Romeo Giulietta range, is operated via its five-inch colour touch screen or using voice commands and includes Bluetooth^® connectivity, wireless music streaming, hands-free SMS reading and DAB (digital radio). Alfa Romeo Giulietta models fitted with satellite navigation benefit from a larger 6.5-inch screen with 3D bird's-eye maps, intelligent route guidance and a one-step destination entry function with voice command. Both systems have been developed in collaboration with first-class partners: Harman and Here Auto for Uconnect™ 6.5” and Continental for Uconnect™ 5”.

New door trim panels and a sporty new steering wheel design bring improved quality and more style to the cabin, while the redesigned seats not only exude Italian craftsmanship, they are also more comfortable and more enveloping - particularly in terms of upper-body lateral support - and are presented in a variety of new upholstery and leather finishes. Extensively revised sound insulation also provides a quieter and more relaxed driving environment.

Under the bonnet, every engine in the Alfa Romeo Giulietta range benefits from improved efficiency and lower emissions which doesn’t just make the Alfa Romeo Giulietta more environmentally friendly, it also results in lower fuel bills and reduced Benefit-in-Kind costs for company car drivers. The 1.4 TB MultiAir 170hp ALFA TCT, for example, now drops into the 15% BIK band, while the diesel-powered 1.6 JTDM-2 105hp drops from the 17% BIK band down to the 15% band. The new 150hp 2.0 JTDM-2 engine, which debuts on the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, doesn’t just offer more power and torque compared to the previous 140hp 2.0 JTDM-2engine, it also produces 9g/km less in terms of CO₂ emissions, dropping it into the 17% BIK band.

The heart of the new 2.0 JTDM-2 150hp engine is its third-generation Common Rail injection system that uses innovative injectors capable of controlling the amount of diesel injected into the combustion chamber with maximum precision and flexibility, thanks to its balanced hydraulic servo valve. Up to eight injections per stroke are possible together with injection strategies that optimise the combustion process. The Injection Rate Shaping (IRS) system, for example, involves two consecutive injections so close together in time it generates a continuous and modulated fuel supply into the cylinders. In this way the combustion process is improved with quieter operation with reduced particulate and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, and because the injection system has 40% fewer components it also offers greater simplicity and reliability.

Regardless of engine choice, the Alfa Romeo Giulietta driver always has the option of customising their car's driving character using the standard Alfa D.N.A. driving selector, allowing them to find the ideal blend of comfort, performance, safety and efficiency for the prevailing conditions.

Built on Alfa Romeo’s most advanced architecture with a sophisticated multi-link rear suspension, the 2014 Alfa Romeo Giulietta provides not only one of the most enjoyable driving experiences in its class, it’s also one of the safest cars on the road. In addition to VDC, six airbags, three-point seat belts with double pre-tensioner, an anti-whiplash system and a third load line for excellent passenger compartment protection, the Alfa Romeo Giulietta is also fitted with the Alfa D.N.A. driving selector, Electronic Q2 differential, DST (which prompts drivers to apply the correct steering input in the event of an emergency through impulses at the wheel) and a Pre-Fill system which arms the brakes for emergency braking situations when it senses the drive may be losing control of the vehicle. As a further safety measure for 2014, a tyre pressure monitoring system, is also now standard across the Alfa Romeo Giulietta range.

At launch, four trim levels are offered: Progression, Distinctive, Exclusive and Sportiva Nav.

Progression:

Compared to the entry-level Turismo model it replaces, standard equipment on the new Progression model now includes new 16-inch alloy wheels; the Uconnect™ infotainment system with steering wheel remote controls; DAB (digital radio); Bluetooth^® connectivity; tyre pressure monitoring; rear electric windows and new seat fabrics with matching dashboard, door and central tunnel inserts. This equates to almost £1,700 worth of additional standard equipment for a modest £470 price increase compared to the outgoing Turismo.

Carryover standard features include the Alfa D.N.A. driving selector, air conditioning, LED daytime running lights, LED tail-lights, VDC stability control and Alfa Romeo’s Electronic Q2 differential. Two engines are offered with the Progression trim: The 1.4 TB 120hp turbo petrol and the 1.6 JTDM-2 105hp turbo diesel.

Distinctive:

The new Distinctive trim level, which replaces Lusso, benefits from new 16-inch turbine-design alloy wheels and chrome-effect mirrors, while the interior is upgraded with new upholstery; new trim inserts and a cooled glove-box as part of its 2014 revisions. Combined with the DAB and TPMS upgrades, this equates to almost £700 worth of extra equipment for an additional £470. Standard Distinctive equipment, in addition to that already fitted to Progression, also includes rear parking sensors, cruise control, dual-zone automatic climate control, front fog lights, chrome-effect window surrounds, sports dials, an alarm system, a height-adjustable passenger seat and a front armrest with storage. The Distinctive petrol range includes the 1.4 TB 120hp and 1.4 TB MultiAir 170hp engines while the diesel range includes the 1.6 JTDM-2 105hp turbo diesel and Alfa Romeo’s new 2.0 JTDM-2 150hp engine.

Exclusive:

The new Exclusive trim level takes the place of Veloce for 2014 and benefits from new 17-inch alloy wheels and new leather and micro-fibre upholstery, plus rain-sensing wipers; automatic headlights; electric-folding door mirrors; dark tinted windows; an electro-chromatic rear-view mirror; a rear arm-rest and electric front-seat lumbar support. In total, close to £2,000 worth of additional features are now standard while the price increase is just £920. Exclusive models are also equipped with a sports suspension; sports leather steering wheel with red stitching; aluminium sports pedals and kick-plates; darkened headlight clusters; satin-effect mirror covers and side body skirts. The Exclusive engine range is comprised of the 1.4 TB MultiAir 170hp (available as a six-speed manual or with the six-speed ALFA TCT transmission); the 1.6 JTDM-2 105hp and the new 2.0 JTDM-2 150hp.

Sportiva Nav:

The new Sportiva Nav trim level benefits from the standard features of the outgoing Sportiva model - its sports suspension; 18-inch alloy wheels in a dark titanium finish; red Brembo brake callipers with uprated discs and unique badging - but is now fitted with a sports steering wheel with white stitching; leather and Alcantara upholstery; front parking sensors and, as the name suggests, a new 6.5-inch Uconnect™ satellite navigation system, with TMS, all as standard. The 2014 Sportiva Nav engine range is comprised of the 1.4 TB MultiAir 170hp (available as a manual or with the ALFA TCT transmission) and the new 2.0 JTDM-2 150hp engine, with prices increasing by just £810 despite more than £2,500 worth of additional equipment now being offered as standard.

Prices for the 2014 Alfa Romeo Giulietta start at £18,235 for the 1.4 TB 120hp Progression, while the diesel range starts at £19,170 for the 1.6 JTDM-2 105hp Progression. Prices for Alfa Romeo Giulietta models powered by the new 2.0 JTDM-2 150hp engine start at £21,720 in Distinctive trim. The 2014 Alfa Romeo Giulietta is on sale in the UK now and is available for customers to test drive at Alfa Romeo dealerships nationwide.

Alfa Romeo 4C

Designed and engineered by Alfa Romeo and built at the Maserati plant in Modena, the mid-engined Alfa Romeo 4C employs the latest technologies of Alfa Romeo's newest models: The new, all-aluminium 1750 Turbo Petrol engine; the latest-generation "ALFA TCT" dry twin clutch transmission and the Alfa D.N.A. driving mode selector - now with a new “Race” mode.

Carbon-fibre was chosen for the one-piece monocoque due its high levels of structural rigidity and exceptionally low weight – just 65kg – and is built using sophisticated Formula 1-derived technologies, evolved especially for Alfa Romeo for series production of up to 1,000 units per year. SMC (Sheet Moulding Compound), which is lighter than both steel and aluminium, is used for the bodywork while even the thickness of the glass has been slimmed down by 15% to help reduce the Alfa Romeo 4C’s overall weight.

Less than 4m in length and with a wheelbase of 2.38m, the Alfa Romeo 4C’s compact shape accentuates its remarkable agility: With a dry weight of 895kg and a 40:60 front-to-rear weight distribution, the Alfa Romeo 4C is capable of generating 1.1g of lateral acceleration and in excess of 1.2g of deceleration force.

To optimise handling, its double-wishbone front suspension is secured directly to the monocoque while the rear uses a performance-tuned McPherson arrangement. The brakes, engineered with track use in mind, employ a patented aluminium/cast iron hybrid construction complete with ventilated, cross-drilled 305mm/292mm discs (F/R) clamped by Brembo callipers. 17-inch front and 18-inch rear wheels are standard, while 18/19-inch wheels with Alfa Romeo’s signature, five-hole “telephone dial” design are optional.

Power comes courtesy of a new four-cylinder turbo engine which, thanks to its aluminium block, is 22kg lighter than the engine that powers the Alfa Romeo Giulietta Quadrifoglio Verde. Turbo-charged and with direct injection, this new 1750 Turbo Petrol unit sets new torque and specific power records for this size of engine, at over 200Nm- and 137hp-per-litre respectively. Its maximum power output is 240hp at 6,000 rpm while its maximum torque output is 350Nm (258 lb ft), available between 2,100 and 4,000 rpm. To underline the flexible nature of this new engine, 80% of its torque is available from just 1,800 rpm.

Accelerating from 0 to 62mph takes just 4.5 seconds in the new Alfa Romeo 4C and top speed is 160mph, but this supercar performance isn’t at the expense of the environment. Due to its light weight and advanced engine and transmission technologies, the emissions of the Alfa Romeo 4C fall well within the strict limits of Euro 6. Its official combined-cycle fuel economy figure is 41.5MPG and its CO₂ emissions are just 157g/km.

Being an Alfa Romeo, the driving experience is more than just raw statistics. The exhaust has been tuned to emit a full, rich sound and particular attention paid to the seat design so the movement and reactions of the car can be 'felt' properly. The steering, unassisted, is progressive, direct and engineered to convey as much feedback and feel as possible. The steering ratio (16.2) is such as to allow 90% of bends to be taken without having take to your hands off the steering wheel. Both brake and throttle responsiveness have also been tuned to match with the dynamic nature of the Alfa Romeo 4C.

Inside the Alfa Romeo 4C, the exposed carbon-fibre chassis and driver-oriented controls leave you in no doubt as to the purposeful nature of the car. In place of traditional dials, a multi-function, digital display occupies the instrument binnacle and the steering wheel is a bespoke, flat-bottomed, two-spoke item with integrated paddle gear-shifters. The remaining controls are grouped together on the tunnel console, including the button-operated ALFA TCT transmission selector and the Alfa D.N.A. system selector, which alters the operational parameters of the engine, transmission, ESC and Electronic Q2 differential depending on the driver’s requirements. Composite bucket seats and aluminium pedals complete the minimalistic, drive-focussed cabin.

The Alfa Romeo 4C is on sale in the UK priced from £45,000 on the road.

About the Isle of Man

With an approximate area of just 221 square miles, and located in the Irish sea between England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, the Isle of Man has a population of 84,000 and its capital is Douglas to the east. Interestingly, despite the Isle’s location, it is not a member of the EU. Its economy is based around tourism, financial services, manufacturing and e-business.

The island has a total of 688 miles of public roads and in areas denoted by derestricted signs, there is no national speed limit. A mecca for motorcycle racing fans, the Isle of Man “Tourist Trophy” attracted 39,224 visitors in 2013 and entries for the 2014 TT are over-subscribed meaning only 200 entrants will be lucky enough to make the start line. The first motor race on the island took place in 1904 and was actually a car race: The Gordon Bennett Eliminating Trial, which was limited to touring automobiles. The first motorcycle race took place the following year: The 1905 International Motor-Cycle Cup Race.

The first TT race over the Snaefell Mountain Course took place in 1911, the year after Alfa Romeo was established, with the current 37 ¾ mile course established in 1920. The modern king of the TT Mountain Course is John McGuiness who currently holds four TT records including the outright 17m11.572s lap record at an average speed of 131.671mph. The most successful TT rider was Joey Dunlop who has 26 wins in various classes between 1977 and 2000, followed by John McGuiness who currently has 20 victories.

The Isle of Man’s extensive coastline, stunning natural landscapes and unspoilt beaches make it a natural holiday destination for adventure-seekers. Water sports, mountain-biking and walking excursions are amongst the most popular active pursuits, while marine creatures such as seals, basking sharks and dolphins can often be spotted around the south of the Island and the huge population of birds that visit the Island each year visible in the north. The indigenous Manx cat is distinguished by a naturally-occurring mutation, which shortens its tail, and cats are classified according to the length of their tails, ranging from Rumpies and Stumpies, which have no tail or a partial tail, to Longies, which have a half- to normal-length tail.

Those seeking less vigorous pursuits can avail of the year-round programme of arts and cultural entertainment, while local Manx delicacies include Loughton lamb, award-winning cheeses, kippers (smoked herring), Manx Queenies (scallops) and local ales.

The island is also home to the world’s largest working waterwheel, Lady Isabella; Castle Rushen, one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval fortresses as well as fully-functional Victorian steam trains and electric trams.