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Alfa Romeo's plans for new 2011 Giulia saloon

Today's Alfa Romeo 159 will be replaced by the Giulia in 2011 By Georg Kacher Motor Industry 25 March 2010 17:31 The big news from Alfa Romeo for 2011 is of course la nuova Giulia, which replaces the 159. Unlike the current car, which shares the so-called premium architecture with the Brera twins, the next midliner from Arese adopts a slightly wider and longer variation of the C/D components set. This new, more space-efficient matrix combines a McPherson front axle with a twin-link rear suspension, and engineers promise great handling benefits will result.

Opel product chief Weber quits to take job with yet-unnamed rival

Frank Weber, the German-born engineer who helped lead development of the Chevrolet Volt and Opel Ampera hybrids, is leaving General Motors' Opel unit to work for an as-yet unnamed competitor. Weber has been Opel's product chief since November 2009. His departure was reported Thursday by Automotive News Europe and confirmed by company sources.

Audi shifts to eight-speeds for most models

A formal press conference probably won't happen until this summer, but we hear that Audi dealers have received their 2011 order guides, and it looks as though the company will be going from 0 to about 70 percent of U.S. sales being eight-speed automatic transmissions. Beginning this fall, the eight-speed will replace today's six-speed automatic in the A4 2.0-liter turbo sedan and wagon, the A5 2.0-liter turbo coupe and cabriolet, the Q5 2.0-liter turbo, the Q7 3.0-liter turbo, the Q7 diesel, the Q7 with the 3.0-liter supercharged V6 and the all-new A8 and A8L with the 4.2-liter V8.