ALFAGTV6.COM

[Mats]

Chevy? Where did they enter the picture?

[lucass81]

Holden = Chevy

[Mats]

No, that's like saying Saab = Chevy. Not true at all.

Chevy = Daewoo. (At least more true then Holden)

[PietereQ]

"The 3600 LY7 (and derivative LP1) are members of General Motors' new High Feature (or HFV6) engine family of modern DOHC V6s. This new family of engines was introduced in 2004 with the Cadillac CTS. Holden sells the HFV6 under the name Alloytec. The block was designed to be expandable from 2.8 L to 4.0 L.

It is a 60° 24-valve design with aluminum block and heads and Sequential Electronic Fuel Injection. Most versions feature continuously-variable cam phasing on both intake and exhaust valves and electronic throttle control. Other features include piston oil-jet capability, forged crankshaft and connecting rods, a variable intake manifold, twin knock control sensors and coil-on-plug ignition. It was developed by the same international team responsible for the Ecotec, including the Opel engineers responsible for the 54° V6, with involvement with design and development engineering from Ricardo, Inc.

High Feature V6 engines are produced at Fisherman's Bend in Port Melbourne, Australia, St. Catharines in Canada, and Flint Engine South in Flint, Michigan, United States. [...] Alfa Romeo uses the High Feature engine design, though with many modifications, as the JTS V6. The Alfa unit features lean-burn technology as on many other engines from the company. It displaces 3.2 L (3195 cc) and has an output of 256 hp (191 kW/260 PS) at 6200 rpm and 237 ft·lbf (321 N·m) torque, with gasoline direct injection allowing a high compression ratio of 11.25:1. The engine is also equipped with cam-phasing on both inlet and exhaust side, thus the name "TwinPhaser".

Alfa Romeo only acquires the core designs and productions of the HFV6. It is then taken to their factory and modified for their performance, fuel economy and soundtrack." - pretty much not an alfa engine - just assembled in Italy.

And it looks like utter shite:

[lucass81]

Its a GM engine, used in Holdens, Cadillacs, Opels, Chevys, etc. and Alfa. Thats it today you cant build from nothing a brand new motor for 2 or 3 models that their are not even sold in every Continent. Look at VW, what its doing with Seat, Skoda, Audi, Porsche and Lambo. I heard rumors that even the 2010 Boxter will feature the L4 20v 2.0 turbo 200hp VW motor. The best thing we can hope for the future is getting RWD Alfas using GMs Cadillac or new Camaro platforms.

[MD]

Just a couple of points:

Holden fans would love to believe that Holden = Chevy.

As for Alfa engines. The heart and soul of any car brand that has won the original loyalty for the make.
Lotus,Maserati,Ferrari,Honda (for all I care). Those dickhead accountants , the friggin bean counters that know the price of everything but the value of nothing have just sold out all the years it took to build up that loyalty in one foul swoop.

..like i said many times before. The older my car gets, the more valuebale it is.

[Mats]

The best thing we can hope for the future is getting RWD Alfas using GMs Cadillac or new Camaro platforms.

I seriously hope you are joking? That would delete every bit of Alfa still left..
Besides, GM and Fiat are divorced, very limited cooperation now.

Just a couple of points:

Holden fans would love to believe that Holden = Chevy.

As for Alfa engines. The heart and soul of any car brand that has won the original loyalty for the make.
Lotus,Maserati,Ferrari,Honda (for all I care). Those dickhead accountants , the friggin bean counters that know the price of everything but the value of nothing have just sold out all the years it took to build up that loyalty in one foul swoop.

..like i said many times before. The older my car gets, the more valuebale it is.

Just to point out one thing, if it wasn't for the accountants there wouldn't be more then a handful makes out there today (please don't go into how we only have a handful now because it's not true).
Understand that I really know what it means having a bunch of accountants deciding what to make. Really...

[GarthW]

ha ha so funny after i mentioned holden that this thread takes a twisty turn!

Mats, do i have to remind you that this is an Alfa Forum, other car makers should not have the first letter of their name in Capital..!!

Especially holden lol, arrrgh. Ever raced one of those in the wet..? Its really laughable. damn inbreds.

[lucass81]

Many car makers werent going to survive the 80s. But when you see how VW managed Audi and how Fiat managed Alfa, mmmmmm Those Fiat managers from the early 90s got it all wrong. They could not only not destroying Alfa but improving Fiat too. But that´s history, today almost every sport car in the street is either from Germany or Japan. Italians destroyed themselves in the auto industry. Remember how Lancia used to kick butt in rally. In the 90s Mitsubishi, Toyota and Subaru erased Lancia from rally. How did Italians manage to destroy, begining in the 80s, all the prestige that they build through so many decades. Today I see so many ugly and bad sportcars in the market that I cant believe how Alfa cant get a proper car to fight in the sportcar market.
One big problem today is that company managers arent the people that created the marque. They are Bussyness Administrators, economists, etc. that are specialists in making a company save a lot of money and having positive financial results really fast. But most of the time they forget about the long run. Sharing platforms with cheaper cars its a great way for this people to save money. They think that people would never realize they are selling a Fiat with an Alfa badge. They got it wrong. But how does VW sell VW with an Audi badge and even VW with a Porsche badge. Well it was a great marketing job and also maintaining quality levels to be competitive. It worked out so well that I always have to discuse with VW owners that think their GTi its an Audi with a VW badge.

[Mats]

Have you forgotten about the 8C Competizione already?

[rz]

ferrari,lamborghini,maserati, no italian sportcars??

[PietereQ]

The best thing we can hope for the future is getting RWD Alfas using GMs Cadillac or new Camaro platforms.

Actually alfa is rumored to use BMW RWD platform, in exchange bmw getting the fiat "small diesel technology". Btw MiTo's are going to be sold @ MINI dealerships in the U.S. ... End of times isn't it? But honestly I'm happy for the rwd return, deffinately bmw seems like more "proper" technology donor than the GM IMHO.

[lucass81]

Maserati are Ferraris today. That is great for Maserati but both marques are very expensive. Lambos are getting better every day thanks to VW and are super expensive. The 8C its a expensive special edition and a Maserati dressed as an Alfa.
There are no GTs, sedans, sportcars, etc. from Alfa, Lancia and Fiat to compete with Japan and Germany. I´ve seen many tests of actual Alfas and some comparing them with other modern cars. They lose all the time. FWD Alfas are not worthy. The Brera is a joke. A beautifull car that would get beat up by a 335i in any condition. Remember how our GTV6s kicked butt to 323is and 528s during the early 80s. Read the magazines tests from that time and compare how the GTV6 did in those times against its competition. Offcourse from 85 ownwards ALfa didnt improve the car and others makers did so Alfa started to lose ground.

[MR2 Zig]

The thing that gets me is that "sports cars" today are these big heavy overcomplicated barcloungers. The only simple light sports car out now is the lotus. Everything else has overstuffed chairs and cup holders. The japanese are doing a fine job of copying little british cars....all but what made them interesting. The shape of cars looks like a blop of runny dog doo by and large. When the cars start to look interesting the price goes WAY out of my reach (8c here).


waaaaaa.

ok I'll quit crying now. maybe I'll get my flight instructors ticket back....I can make a little money there....if the economy is good.

Scott

[Fernando]

I am with Lucas on this one and it pains me no end to say so. I watched the pre Prodrive tuned Brera on Top Gear.....body roll that requires sea sickness pills,I wanted to frikken cry watching that.Compared to what South Africa achieved with the GTV6 3 litre,the Brera is a joke with the exception that it looks good and the interior is fantastic.

EVO reckons with the Prodrive suspension it is the chassis it should have been the first time around.

Here in SA it sells for the same price as a BMW 335i and that is going to rip you a new a..hole in performance I am sorry to say.

Why don't Alfa themselves build big bore motors ala Nissan's 350Z and the next 370Z ?

Please Alfa,give us rear wheel drive and a proper ITALIAN engine before I need to take medication to keep my sanity.