Buy an Alfa 147 or 156...
Buy an Alfa 147 or 156 before the end of March and you"ll get the peace of mind of a five-year warranty. The deal guarantees all major mechanical parts for the period, or 60,000 miles. A spokesman for the firm said: "This demonstrates our complete confidence in the quality, durability and longevity of Alfa Romeo cars." Included in the package is a five-year AA policy, which includes Roadside Assistance, Relay Plus, Home Start and European cover.
Cars get their glossy...
Cars get their glossy shine from a special transparent layer on top of the coloured paint. But this ultra-thin coating is scratched by thousands of tiny impacts from road grit and from rubbing when the car is washed. Now, boffins at German firm Bayer have worked out how to make this vital top layer heal itself. The magic formula is called 2K-PUR Clear Coat, and a spokesman told us: "It heals right before your eyes in a few minutes."
In laboratory tests, a panel painted with the new coating was scratched until it had lost 30 per cent of its shine. But after being gently warmed, it recovered virtually all its former sparkle. "Now, we"re working on making the scratches disappear in cold weather," explained the spokesman.
The coating won"t make production until long-term tests are completed. But preliminary trials show it can withstand being washed with sand and even doused in acid.