I need few excuses to fly to Italy and enjoy the fashion capital of Milan, so when the chance to pop in and say hi to Alfa Romeo for the joint launch of the 2014 Giulietta and Mito cropped up, I didn’t exactly hesitate.
However, as with all the best-laid plans of mice and men, the trip didn’t quite go to plan. First, having blissfully lived in the Middle East for the best part of two decades, I had completely forgotten about Europe’s penchant for bad weather once the short summer is over.
This slight oversight saw me drive the new cars in pelting rain for two days, a situation hardly suited to exploring both cars’ suitability for Gulf roads and conditions. What I can tell you about both cars is that they work really well on greasy, flooded Italian roads. Oh, and the windscreen wipers are fantastic, especially when overtaking large trucks on the highway.
The second problem with the launch was that both cars were virtually the same as the current ones we have in the Gulf market. Let me explain. The Giulietta and the Mito have been knocking around in Europe and other markets for a few years now, but they only popped up on the GCC radar around a year ago. So, although they needed a slight tweak on the styling back in their home markets to keep things fresh, here they were brand new anyway, so it’s all a bit superfluous.
Luckily for Alfa, both are stonkingly good cars, albeit with a few Italian oddities built in to give you that extra Latin flare.
So this is what I flew to a damp Milan for. From the outside it’s a few bits of trim and some funky alloys, and that’s pretty much it. It would take a real car nerd to spot the difference between the 2013 models and the spangly new 2014 ones.
The big change is on the inside, with both cars boasting brand new interiors. This was certainly the weak point with the older Giulietta, so trimming it up a bit will go down well with the buying public.
Let’s start with the Mito. On the outside buyers now get a chrome grille and some extra shiny bits around the lights. And, well, that’s pretty much it. Hardly a facelift to rival Joan Collins.
Inside, there’s a range of new trim options, as well as an excellent five-inch touchscreen, with Bluetooth and built in TomTom navigation. It’s big, bright and easy to use – a big improvement over the old system.
Under its curvaceous hood there’s a new baby 900cc Turbo engine, producing around 105 bhp, but it’s doubtful that unit will come to the region. GCC buyers will almost certainly get the zippy 135 bhp 1.4 Turbo engine for the Gulf’s larger roads.
I can’t really comment on the handling, due to the terrible weather en route, but on the few drying stretches I encountered, it feels tight and nippy. This car needs city streets and dry roads to really enjoy it. Unfortunately I had neither.
On to the Giulietta and again, there’s a trimmed grille and some shiny bits around the fog lights. The Giulietta also gets directional LED lights and LEDs at the back. And buyers now have the option of three new alloy designs.
Inside, it’s all change, with a redesigned centre console and dash. The relationship between the handbrake and the armrest has been improved, as the former was obscured by the latter in the previous model. Drivers can also enjoy some seriously sporty seats, trimmed in a deep black leather/Alcantara mix.
The main engine announcement was centred around the new diesel engine, which is as relevant to the region as flip flops to an Eskimo, so GCC customers will stick with the 1.4 Turbo petrol motor, which is great fun, and very Italian.
Again, I can’t tell you much about the handling, as every car on the road was trying to avoid parting company with the tarmac as the torrential rain swept a deluge of water across the highways.
But from my recent test drive of the 2013 model, the Giulietta is easily a rival to the key protagonists in this market, namely the VW Golf and Ford Focus.
Alfa Romeos are a bit like Marmite. You either love them or hate them. Car lovers tend to love them, which is a good thing, as it prevents the brand becoming boring and mainstream. It’s still cool and edgy, and both the new Giulietta and Mito keep that tradition very much alive.
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If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
MO
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Champion%20v%20Champion%20(PFL%20v%20Bellator)
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Guide to intelligent investing
Investing success often hinges on discipline and perspective. As markets fluctuate, remember these guiding principles:
- Stay invested: Time in the market, not timing the market, is critical to long-term gains.
- Rational thinking: Breathe and avoid emotional decision-making; let logic and planning guide your actions.
- Strategic patience: Understand why you’re investing and allow time for your strategies to unfold.
FIXTURES
December 28
Stan Wawrinka v Pablo Carreno Busta, 5pm
Milos Raonic v Dominic Thiem, no earlier then 7pm
December 29 - semi-finals
Rafael Nadal v Stan Wawrinka / Pablo Carreno Busta, 5pm
Novak Djokovic v Milos Raonic / Dominic Thiem, no earlier then 7pm
December 30
3rd/4th place play-off, 5pm
Final, 7pm
Federer's 11 Wimbledon finals
2003 Beat Mark Philippoussis
2004 Beat Andy Roddick
2005 Beat Andy Roddick
2006 Beat Rafael Nadal
2007 Beat Rafael Nadal
2008 Lost to Rafael Nadal
2009 Beat Andy Roddick
2012 Beat Andy Murray
2014 Lost to Novak Djokovic
2015 Lost to Novak Djokovic
2017 Beat Marin Cilic
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
THE LIGHT
Director: Tom Tykwer
Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger
Rating: 3/5
Disability on screen
Empire — neuromuscular disease myasthenia gravis; bipolar disorder; post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Rosewood and Transparent — heart issues
24: Legacy — PTSD;
Superstore and NCIS: New Orleans — wheelchair-bound
Taken and This Is Us — cancer
Trial & Error — cognitive disorder prosopagnosia (facial blindness and dyslexia)
Grey’s Anatomy — prosthetic leg
Scorpion — obsessive compulsive disorder and anxiety
Switched at Birth — deafness
One Mississippi, Wentworth and Transparent — double mastectomy
Dragons — double amputee
Zodi%20%26%20Tehu%3A%20Princes%20Of%20The%20Desert
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COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAlmouneer%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dr%20Noha%20Khater%20and%20Rania%20Kadry%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EEgypt%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E120%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBootstrapped%2C%20with%20support%20from%20Insead%20and%20Egyptian%20government%2C%20seed%20round%20of%20%3Cbr%3E%243.6%20million%20led%20by%20Global%20Ventures%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
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COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Dubai World Cup Carnival Card:
6.30pm: Handicap US$135,000 (Turf) 1,200m
7.05pm: Handicap $135,000 (Dirt) 1,200m
7.40pm: Zabeel Turf Listed $175,000 (T) 2,000m
8.15pm: Cape Verdi Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,600m
8.50pm: Handicap $135,000 (D) 1,600m
9.25pm: Handicap $175,000 (T) 1,600m
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