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Marchionne's dilemma: To sell or not to sell Alfa to Volkswagen?

Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne's self-confidence has helped him tackle problems that lesser executives would duck, but he may have met his match. In a public test of Marchionne's faith in his own turnaround strategy, in September Volkswagen Chairman Ferdinand Piech bluntly announced that he wants to buy Alfa Romeo. Piech was suggesting that VW--and only VW--could transform Fiat's perennial money-losing brand into a real moneymaker.

How to buy a secondhand Ferrari 456

By Chris Chilton Motoring Issues 10 April 2009 10:00 The value of Ferrari’s big 2+2s have always gone down the tubes like used toilet roll, but not all have looked as beautiful as the 456, whose Pininfarina lines so cleverly disguise the car’s practicality. It can’t quite match a 612 for rear space but the back seats aren’t the joke you might expect and the ride quality is great – perfect for that imaginary trip to the south of France. Mike Wheeler of Surrey-based Rardley Motors (www.rardleymotors.co.uk) reckons he shifts more 456s than anyone else in the country and says the big coupés make real sense, but only if you service them at independents.

Citroën C4 Picasso

The all-new Citroën C4 Picasso will come as no surprise to anyone who saw the Thechnospace concept at last month's Geneva motor show as it's essentially identical, bar some color and trim details. This five-seat, C-segment MPV/minivan is shorter than the car it replaces by 40mm at 4,430mm, meaning it's closer to the old Xsara Picasso in size. It is a little wider than the old C4 at 1,830mm and its wheelbase spans an extra 55mm at 2,785mm, which Citroën says means it boast more interior and luggage space than before.