ALFA ROMEO GIULIA QUADRIFOGLIO MAKES ITS PUBLIC DEBUT AT FRANKFURT MOTOR SHOW

New Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio - Click for Larger Image

• New Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio high performance saloon makes its public debut on a spectacular new stand which highlights both Alfa Romeo’s illustrious history and technologically advanced future
• Five cars are on display, each in a different colour which will also be available on the production range
• More technical and performance details are announced, including the headline 0-62mph time of 3.9 seconds and top speed of 191 mph
• Light weight and advanced technologies result in class-leading emissions of just 198g/km
• Drive-centred interior features advanced new human-machine interface and state-of-the-art Harmon Kardon audio system
• Pricing for LHD markets is announced – UK pricing will be announced at a later date

The all-new Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio makes its public debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show (Sept 17 – 27) with no fewer than five examples of the high-performance saloon on display across Alfa Romeo’s striking and impressive new stand, each finished in a different colour: Competizione Red, Trofeo White, Vulcano Black, Vesuvio Grey and Montecarlo Blue.

New Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio

Built on an all-new, rear-wheel drive platform with an emphasis on light weight and agility, the sporty underpinnings of the new Giulia define its shape and strongly influence its design with Alfa Romeo stylists wrapping the mechanical components in a taut, muscular package dominated by its long bonnet, short overhangs, muscular haunches and the longest wheelbase in its class. Simple, natural lines enhance its shape and proportions, while the surface is finished with elegance and restraint, exuding the purity and style one comes to expect of Italian design.

Under the bonnet beats the heart of the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio, an all-aluminium, 2.9-litre turbo petrol V6 engine, inspired by Ferrari technology and expertise, which produces 510hp and 600Nm of torque, resulting in a top speed of 191mph (307 km/h) and a 0 – 62mph (100 km/h) time of just 3.9 seconds. Despite this high levels of performance, the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio also returns best in class CO₂ emissions levels at just 198g/km, largely thanks to its electronically-controlled cylinder disabling system and excellent aerodynamics.

Transmitting this performance to the road is a sophisticated and advanced suspension system:
The front employs a new double wishbone suspension with semi-virtual steering axis that was developed to optimise the filtering effect and guarantee rapid, accurate steering – the quickest steering ratio in its class, in fact! This exclusive Alfa Romeo feature keeps the caster trail constant in corners allowing higher levels of lateral accelerations thanks to its always-perfect footprint.

The rear is underpinned by an advanced multi-link set up, with electronically-controlled Torque Vectoring on the rear differential allowing the driver explore the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio’s handling without ever having running up against an invasive stability control system. A new Integrated Brake System (IBS) – an innovative electromechanical system which combines stability control and a traditional servo brake for instantaneous brake response and consequent record-breaking stopping distances – is also being introduced on the new Alfa Romeo, resulting in a stopping distance from 62mph (100km/h) of just 32m. A new Active Aero Splitter, a front aerodynamic aid which actively manages downforce for higher performance and better grip at higher cornering speeds, also debuts on the new Alfa Romeo Giulia.

All of the Alfa Romeo Giulia’s state-of-the-art systems are governed by the Chassis Domain Control (CDC), a technology developed jointly with Magneti Marelli which acts like the car's 'brains' and coordinates all the on-board electronics. The system manages the action of the various features –  Torque Vectoring, Active Aero Splitter, active suspension, brakes, steering and ESC system – according to the mode selected by the driver using the new Alfa DNA Pro.

Four driving configurations are available: Dynamic, Natural, Advanced Efficiency (a new energy efficiency mode) and, of course, Race on high performance versions. Underpinning the dynamic capabilities of the new Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio are its low kerb weight of just 1,524kg and perfect 50:50 weight distribution which are achieved by using ultralight materials including carbon fibre (prop shaft, bonnet, roof), aluminium (engine, brakes, suspension, front suspension turrets, rear subframe, doors, wings) and aluminium composite and plastic (rear crossmember). Carbon ceramic disc brakes and ultra-light carbon fibre Sparco seats are also available.

The same attention to detail has been lavished on the interior of the new Alfa Romeo Giulia, offering the best in terms of quality, safety, equipment and comfort. All the main controls, including the start button, are incorporated in the steering wheel as on a Formula 1 car, while the human-machine interface consists of two simple, user-friendly knobs for adjusting the Alfa DNA Pro selector and the Connect 3D Nav infotainment system.

The Connect 3D Nav of Alfa Romeo Giulia – also developed with Magneti Marelli – offers a sophisticated series of features and functions, including a next-generation HMI human-machine interface. The system is mostly controlled by means of the Rotary Pad and viewed using the 8.8-inch TFT display integrated in the dashboard but it can also be controlled via an advanced voice recognition system and a gesture recognition system with which the driver can interact by simply moving their fingers on the Rotary Pad.

Connect 3D Nav also allows full connectivity with all mobile devices running Apple iOS and Android operating systems, while the navigation system employs high-resolution 3D TomTom maps and Dead Reckoning technology to compensate for areas with poor GPS reception.

Audiophiles will welcome the availability of a sophisticated Harman Kardon Sound Theatre system, which debuts on Alfa Romeo Giulia and uses a 12-channel class D amplifier and Logic 7® technology to distributes rich, clear 5.1 surround sound through high-quality 14 speakers.

UK sales of the new Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio will begin in the autumn of 2016 with pricing to be announced at a later date. Pricing for left-hand drive markets has been announced at the Frankfurt Motor Show, positioning it in direct competition with key performance car rivals while offer higher levels of performance and more advanced technologies.

SPECTRE STUNT DRIVER PUTS ASTON MARTIN DB10 THROUGH ITS PACES

DB10 - The 007 James Bond Edition by Aston Martin

Aston Martin is today revealing a short video featuring Spectre stunt driver Mark Higgins at the wheel of James Bond’s newest Aston Martin – the DB10.

007 will once again drive an Aston Martin in the forthcoming James Bond film Spectre.

On this occasion it will be the stunning Aston Martin DB10 - a model developed specifically for the film and built in-house by Aston Martin's design and engineering teams.

The video will be released at 14.00 BST on Friday 11 September

 The DB10 was developed specifically for Spectre and just ten examples have been built. The exclusive sports car celebrates Aston Martin’s half century association with James Bond, which started with the iconic DB5.

JAGUAR LAND ROVER WELCOMES RECORD INTAKE OF 600 GRADUATES AND APPRENTICES – THE TALENT OF THE FUTURE

Jaguar Land Rover's record intake of apprentices and graduates on their first day at the company. Pictured with Kenton Cool and Sarah Richards, Jaguar Land Rover Head of Learning and Development.

• Nearly 600 new graduates and apprentices begin their careers with Jaguar Land Rover
• The recruits are the first to start their training as part of the newly-formed Jaguar Land Rover Academy
• Business Secretary praises Jaguar Land Rover for backing the next generation of British talent
• Some 2,500 have joined tailored graduate and apprenticeship programmes in last five years
• Search for 2016 graduate and undergraduate intake launched this week

 Jaguar Land Rover has welcomed nearly 600 new graduates and apprentices to the business this week, the company’s highest intake to date.  Today the Government’s Business Secretary, Sajid Javid, met some of the company’s trainees and praised Jaguar Land Rover for backing the next generation of British talent.

Sajid Javid said: “It is great for Britain that we have got such a successful automotive industry and the graduates and apprentices joining Jaguar Land Rover this week will have an important role to play in building on that success in the future.  I congratulate the new intake on securing the opportunity to work at the heart of the renaissance of the British car industry.  Companies like Jaguar Land Rover are backing the next generation of British talent, helping people to build careers and boosting the country’s productivity.”

With some 2,500 employees having started their careers on Jaguar Land Rover’s graduate, advanced and higher apprentice programmes over the past five years, this year’s intake is the largest to date and more than 100 up on last year.    

Dr Ralf Speth, Jaguar Land Rover Chief Executive Officer, met the new recruits on Monday.  He commented: “I am proud to welcome tomorrow’s engineers, technicians and innovators at the very beginning of their career with the company.  This is an exciting time to join our business.  We are investing significantly in the future of Jaguar Land Rover by creating very special vehicles for our discerning customers and, just as importantly by employing and developing the highly skilled people that will help ensure our continued success.”

The new graduates and apprentices are the first to start their training as part of the Jaguar Land Rover Academy, which was officially launched this week.  The new Academy will offer learning and development for employees at all stages of their working lives with the company, whether they are new recruits or more experienced employees seeking to move to the next level in the organisation. 

This “lifelong learning” will follow a structured plan, delivering training that is relevant to changing business requirements and enabling employees to progress their careers at Jaguar Land Rover.
The Business Secretary met the apprentices and graduates at a UK car industry event held by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) today, ahead of next week’s Frankfurt international motor show.  At Frankfurt, Jaguar Land Rover will be showcasing its British designed, engineered and produced vehicles.  As part of this, the company promises a dramatic reveal of the all-new Jaguar F-PACE, the brand’s first performance crossover.

The graduates and apprentices have begun their programmes with a joint formal induction week at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry.  Designed to inspire participants, the induction has included motivational talks from Richard Noble, the former land speed record holder and Kenton Cool, one of the world’s leading high-altitude climbers.  Those attending have also had the chance to put questions to Dr Speth and other members of the company’s executive committee, familiarise themselves with the latest vehicles and have a glimpse at the future line-up.

Jaguar Land Rover’s undergraduate placement scheme is increasingly becoming a feeder for the graduate programme, with 85 of the 333 graduates joining this week previously having been on paid undergraduate placements with the company.

Similarly, the company’s Young Women In The Know course has led to an increase in the number of females taking up advanced and higher apprenticeships at Jaguar Land Rover.  14 of the girls who took the course last year are amongst the 46 new female apprentices.  The Young Women In The Know initiative, launched in August 2013 as part of Jaguar Land Rover’s wider education outreach, offers female students aged 15 – 18 a unique insight into engineering, technology and manufacturing careers.

Fourteen of the record intake of apprentices attended the Young Women In The Know course before applying to Jaguar Land Rover

Danella Bagnall, Vehicle Programme Director at Jaguar Land Rover is a great role model: "I started my career as an apprentice 26 years ago which was a great way of continuing education, developing skills, and getting into industry.  I am now an engineering director, which demonstrates the excellent career progression opportunities available to women in a modern engineering-led business like Jaguar Land Rover.  I would thoroughly recommend a career in engineering to girls."

To apply for the 2016 graduate programme or undergraduate work placements, students should go to www.jaguarlandrovercareers.com.  Recruitment for the graduate and undergraduate programmes began this week and closes on 31^st December 2015. 

The recruitment window for advanced and higher apprenticeships opens on 5^th October 2015, with the deadline for apprentice applications also being 31^st December 2015.