Italian tire manufacturer Marangoni presented a beefed-up Alfa Romeo MiTo at the Essen Motorshow that supposedly draws its inspiration from the Ferrari F430 - hence the name MiTo M430. The tuning project was handled by the Florence-based TRC Italia which reworked the car from ground up with considerable changes to the bodywork, engine, interior, braking system and trim.
The MiTo's 1.4-liter turbocharged engine which in stock form produces 155HP has been extensively tuned and now delivers 220HP. The power kit designed by Mariani also includes a new bearing-mounted rotary turbine, downpipe complete with metal catalyst, rear stainless steel exhaust with four pipes, and air filtering with special carbon air box. To improve handling the MiTo M430 has been lowered by around 40mm using KW threaded strut housings that allow height adjustment.
Furthermore, the standard braking system has been replaced with new Tarox B33 10-pot calipers and composite 330x26 diameter brake discs.
The M430's bodywork features several elements that have been inspired from the Ferrari F430 including the redesigned front bumper with the two wide air grills and the large side air-vents, and the new rear bumper with a carbon fibre diffuser made by MB, featuring evident air extractor. Carbon fibre was also used to make the rings around the lights and the spoiler on the rear window while the new side skirts complete the vehicle's body kit. The most snazzy feature of the M430 are of course its Lamborghini-style wing doors.
Marangoni equipped the MiTo with a set of red Mythos tires in the 225/35R18 Y size which are fitted on Oxigin Crystal black 18-inch alloy wheels.
Inside, the seats, roof lining, carpets and uprights have been covered with special open-work fabrics, enhanced by Luna supercar with a tricolor motif. Finally, the gear knob, pedals, footrest and handbrake lever have been made by Isotta with Swarovski stone inserts.
The latest automaker in Europe to resort to laying off employees to cope with the difficult economic climate is Suzuki. The Japanese automaker said on Friday that it plans to slash more than 20 percent of its workforce in its Hungarian unit near Budapest –1,179 jobs out of a total workforce of 5,523. "We are facing a drastic drop in orders and needed to adjust our production schedule as a result," spokeswoman Viktoria Ruska told Reuters. Suzuki, which is one Hungary's biggest exporters, has rediced its production forecast for 2008 from 300,000 units a year earlier to 282,000.
