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2007 Fiat Bravo Uncovered (Stilo replacement)

These are the first pictures of Fiats all new C-Segment competitor, which will be called Bravo and not Stilo or Grande Stilo as previously thought. Bravo was the name of Stilo predecessor which was penned by BMW Design Chief, Chris Bangle. The stylish Bravo will take on the likes of VW Golf and Ford Focus. Apart from it's Grande Punto derived looks, the Bravo will host new series of turbocharged petrol and diesel engines, including the 1.4 petrol Turbo which will be offered in two versions producing about 120 and 160 Hp. Practically, it's the same engine that is fitted on the Opel Meriva OPC 1.4T that produces 180 Hp as GM and Fiat might have broken up their engagement, but not their ties.

Codenamed Project 198, the Stilo substitute will be produced in partnership with the Austrian contractor Magna Steyr. This is a first for the Italian automaker, as Fiat has never hired a non-Italian contractor to develop a new model. According to Fiat Group CEO, Sergio Marchionne, this choice was taken to reduce the development times. Although the Fiat Bravo will hit European showrooms in early 2007, it is not sure yet if the car will be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in September.

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Honda & Acura: Oops, sorry, wrong,,,hotline

Talk about speaking literately… Im referring to a toll-free number listed in more than a million Honda and Acura owner's manual printed between August 2005 and July 2006 that was intended to direct them to a government hotline for matters of highway safety. But a typing mistake (instead of 880, they wrote 800…) directed owners to a real hotline where a female voice urged them to call 1-800-918-TALK for "just 99 cents per minute"…

Honda sent a letter last week to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, saying that they'll send postcards to dealers and owners in August with the correct NHTSA hotline information -1-888-327-4236- along with instructions to insert the card into the proper section of the manual. via: Windingroad

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