Hamann Abarth 500

Hamann decided to stop messing with Germans and decided to put their hands on some small Italian cars. Good thing they’re Fiat 500s.

Here’s Hamann’s take on the Abarth 500 and the Abarth esseesse. Max power outputs thanks to a range of Hamann treatments include 271-hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. And you thought that the Abarth 500 esseeesse’s the best the little car can get with its 158 hp.

The boost comes from ECU tweaks, turbocharging, intake and exhaust upgrades. To help cope with the power, Hamann also had the great German sense of putting four-piston brake calipers. The car also sits on top of 18-inch matte black wheels. The car’s lowered for good measure as well.

Hamann’s packages are

Alfa Romeo Set for US Return in 2012

So we guess that Fiat’s indecision on how to streamline their brands is still an ongoing issue. Reports earlier indicated that Fiat is looking at consolidating several brands including Alfa Romeo, Abarth and Maserati under one marquee.

But that doesn’t stop them from teasing the US market on the possibility of finally getting Alfa Romeos stateside. Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne said that the Alfa Romeo is a brand that can compete in a wider market especially in North America.

“There is a strong likelihood that the brand will be back here within the next 24 months,” said Marchionne.

Initial plans on brining the brand over included platform sharing with Chrysler but it looks like Fiat is seeing some value in selling cars with the Alfa badge.

Fiat came to the rescue of Chrysler when it neared its demise due to the sales crash of 2009.

Top 10 Best Cars of the Decade

So it’s the year and the decades end and it’s all about lists. So we’ve made our own and checked it twice on our pics for the best cars of the decade. Largely our basis for choosing is the car’s impact to motoring. If it’s all about speed and performance supercars will pepper the list. For some reason, it does, but that doesn’t stop us from looking at the sensible side of things.

10. Toyota Prius

While die-hard gear- and petrolheads aren’t throwing in the towel yet in this econmentalist revolution that has affected the motoring industry, we have to admit the the impact of the hybrid. It might be slow to drive and you might look like a smug and sanctimonious bastard who likes the smell of his own farts owning one. But it did challenge the status quo regarding cars and saving the planet. And quite frankly, whether we like it or not, that’s where motoring is headed.
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Romeo Ferrari Fiat 500 Abarth

And you would’ve thought that you can only pack as much inside a small car like the Fiat 500. Italian tuning firm Romeo Ferraris found a way to make the 500 a virtual cannonball.

This Romeo Ferraris-tuned Fiat 500 Abarth is set to join the 6 Hours of Vallenlunga endurance race in Italy later this year. The car basically reminds me of Stewie Griffin dressed as Darth Vader in that Family Guy Star Wars Episode with the black paint job and a huge rear wing.

The 1.4L turbocharged engine has been heavily tweak for it to dish out a bonkers 360 hp. That’s almost triple of what the standard 500 Abarth dishes out.

This Romeo Ferraris 500 Abarth will be driven by Italians Aldo Cerruti, Michela Cerruti, and Mario Ferraris.

Fiat Reveals Punto Evo

Here’s another debutant for the coming Frankfurt Motor Show – the Fiat Punto Evo. It’s basically a revised Grande Punto. However, don’t get deceived by the “Evo” label. It’s not like the “Evo” that goes with the Mitsubishi Lancer.

The Punto Evo gets an engine range update. The engine choices now include the 1.4L gasoline Multiair unit. The range will also feature a 1.3L diesel. So what’s Multiair?

Its a system that allows direct control of air and combustion for each cylinder and stroke. That just basically means that it is energy-efficient cutting down on consumption and CO2 emissions. Aside from the eco benefits, the system also boost the power by 10% and the torque by 15%.

For added measure, Fiat will be making the stop-start system across its engines.

As for aesthetics and design concerns, the car has been restyled now featuring new bumpers and light clusters with the interior getting a complete rework. The Punto Evo has 7 airbags including one for the driver’s knees, a new sat-nav and information systems.

Source: Autocar

Bid Now for the Fiat Used by Mussolini and Hitler

If you’ve never had something in common with Adolf Hitler, now’s your chance—by sitting in the same Fiat 2800 Torpedo from 1939 that carried the Nazi leader when he visited Benito Mussolini in Rome.

“The example that we are offering at our sale ‘The Legende et Passion’ is the most famous of them all,” said Chris Routledge, the managing director of Coys, where the car is being auctioned. “It is known that the car was used by Pope Pious XII, Benito Mussolini as well as his mistress Claretta Petacci and by Aldolf Hitler and General Franco when they visited Rome.”

The 1939 Fiat Torpedo had also been previously displayed at the Villa d’Este Concorso d’Eleganza. The Torpedo was a luxury car that indicated high class, as shown by this one’s former ownership. Over a third of the total Torpedo run was used for chauffeur duty—for heads of the Fascist military and dignitaries.

If you’ve got the dough to spare, this is certainly one of the most interesting used cars you’ll find anywhere. The auctioneers are expecting the car to fetch somewhere in the neighborhood of 240,000 to 270,000 euros ($326,472 to $367,281).l a confidential movie abbott and costello in who done it divx movie online download oscar

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