Alfa Romeo has introduced a new diesel engine for its Giulietta range

The new second-gen MultiJet diesel engine, dubbed 2.0 JTDM-2, produces 138bhp and up to 258lb ft of torque in ‘dynamic’ mode, as opposed to 236lb ft in ‘normal.’

The company claims CO2 emissions of 119 g/km and a fuel economy figure of 62.8mpg, and says it will allow the Giulietta to hit a top speed of 127mph, with a 0-60mph sprint time of nine seconds. This, the company claims, is ‘the engine is designed for customers who appreciate excellent throttle response but are also concerned with fuel consumption and running costs.’

Compliant with Euro 5 regulations, the new unit features start-stop as standard and, according to Alfa Romeo, only needs servicing every 21,000 miles.

Prices for the new 138bhp diesel Giulietta start from £20,750 for the entry-level Lusso variant.

Alfa Romeo Sport Cars

The Performance Car Show that will take place in Birmingham, UK, 14-17 January 2010, Autodelta will unveil the world’s first tuned Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione. Alfa Romeo’s awesome Alfa 8C Competizione supercar has scooped the award for Best Design of the Year in Auto Express’s 2008 New Car Honours.

The announcement came after more than 4000 Auto Express readers voted in the category, putting the Italian 4.7 V8 head and shoulders above its rivals. Auto Express’s judging panel agreed with their verdict.

Editor of Auto Express, David Johns, said: “Choosing the best designed cars of the year is never easy, so we turned to the experts for help – Auto Express readers. Only one car was ever going to win – Alfa Romeo’s Sport Cars 8C Competizione simply blew the opposition away.”

Autodelta Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione

Marketing Director of Alfa Romeo UK, Nicholas Bernard, added: “It’s fabulous to know that this supercar has stirred the emotions and unified car fans across the UK. It is the epitome of the Alfa Romeo Sport Cars marque and will provide the design inspiration for future models.”

The 4.7-liter V8 engine in the car masterpiece is obviously a slightly higher performance using a new engine management software. The engine develops 444 hp at its plant stock and Autodelta incarnation promises to 17 more to offer. Technical refinements to the chassis of the car and the suspension was also promised, but no further details were released by the company.

Few details are known at this point, but a remapped ECU should squeeze out a modest 17 horsepower boost from the stock 444-hp, 4.7-liter Ferrari-developed V8. Alfa Romeo Sport Cars Autodelta Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione is also working on fine-tuning the chassis, taking their 8C around some of the finest tracks in Europe to get it just right.

Autodelta Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione

Autodelta also announced that they are working on chassis and suspension upgrades that will be presented at a later date.

Aston Martin Gauntlet concept

Some of you might remember Ugur Sahin. He's a designer, specializing in grand touring cars that make our mouths water. Starting with already beautiful designs, he somehow manages to make shapely Chevrolet Corvettes and Ferraris look even better. From the Corvette Z03 to the Ferrari Dino and Ferrari-599-based USD GT-S Passionata, he's created some of the most exotic and graceful shapes we've ever had the pleasure to lay eyes on.

The latest automaker to earn Sahin's attention is Aston Martin. His latest design, the Gauntlet, blends some of our favorite design cues into a wholly unique package that's simultaneously sensual and brutal. Study the images and you might see a bit of One-77 in the mix, along with a dash of DB AR1, or perhaps you are carried back to the old DB3S, a car that Ugur mentions specifically as inspiration for the Gauntlet.

There's also some Maserati GranTurismo mixed with a little Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione as well, but we're definitely not complaining. It's a terrific design that has us wishing that Aston is looking at Sahin's designs for the next DBS and V12 Vantage. For those who still lament the loss of the Vanquish, with its broad shoulders and studly swagger, this might be the car for you. It's definitely earned a spot in our dream car garage.

Alfa Romeo

With the new Giulietta now out in the open, Alfa Romeo's attention is turning to its big brother. Set to replace the 159 sometime next year, the highly-anticipated nuova Giulia promises to improve on the outgoing sedan's lackluster driving dynamics.

Based on Alfa's variable C/D platform, the Giulia is tipped to get a McPherson front suspension with a twin-link rear setup. As with the Alfa 159, the Giulia is expected to be front-drive, with the trick Q4 all-wheel-drive system available as an option, hooked up to a variety of turbodiesel and MultiAir gasoline engines.

Unlike the MiTo and Giulietta, both of which are hatchback-only, the Giulia promises both four-door sedan and five-door wagons as part of the mix. The tantalizing end of the range, however, is tipped to include an in-house GTA model – with at least 300 horsepower, all-wheel drive and seven-speed dual-clutch transmission – and a lightweight, front-drive version with 350 horsepower to be co-developed with famed Alfa tuner Autodelta.

We'll have to wait to see if the speculation proves accurate – and, for that matter, if the car will take its design cues from the 8C Competizione, the Bertone Pandion or the Pininfarina 2uettottanta. But in the meantime, you're invited to tinker around with the online configurator that Alfa just launched for the Giulietta hatchback, where you'll find you can order it in any color you want, as long as it's a shade of gray.